# removes the FIRST character
cut -c2-
# removes the FIRST 5 characters
cut -c6-
# removes the LAST 3 characters
rev | cut -c4- | rev
# returns the charcaters INBETWEEN the 2. and 4. character
cut -c2-4
country="portugal"
modified=${country::-3}
echo $modified
Output:
"portu"
myString=${myString::-1}