Words for free and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *su-wiros = free (“good man”) |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | saer [soːi̯r] = free, freeman, noble, craftsman saeraid [ˈsoːi̯rɨðʲ] = to free, liberate, deliver, save, exempt saire [ˈsai̯.rʲe] = freedom, liberty |
| Middle Irish | saer, soer, sóer = free, freeman, noble, ready, skilled, sáeraid = to free, liberate, save, rescue, deliver saíre, sóire = freedom, liberty, nobility, |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | saor [sˠeːɾˠ/sˠiːɾˠ] = free, enfranchised; noble; independent saoradh = liberation, deliverance, release, acquittal, assurance, confirmation saoráid = ease, facility, ease, freedom from constraint saoráideach = easy, facile saoráidí = easiness, facileness saoráil = freedom, bargin saorálach = voluntary, free, unconstrained saorálaí = volunteer saoirse = freedom, immunity, exemption |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | saor [sɯːr] = free (not captive); cheap; frank saora [sɯːr̪ˠsə] = freedom, liberty, redemption saorachd [sɯːrəxg] = freedom, cheapness saoradair [sɯːrədɪrʲ] = liberator saoradh [sɯːrəɣ] = freeing, libterating, liberation saorsach = [sɯːr̪ˠsəx] = free, unrestrained saorsachd = [sɯːr̪ˠsəxg] = freedom, exemption saorsainn [sɯːr̪ˠsɪn̪ʲ] = liberty |
| Manx (Gaelg) | seyr [seːr] = free, gratuitous, gratis, complimentary, immune, floating, independent, unforced seyrsnys = autonomy, exemption, freedom, immunity, independence seyrey = absolution, exemption, liberation; to absolve, acquite, exempt, free, libterate |
Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *su- (good, well), from PIE *h₁su- (good, well), and Proto-Celtic *wiros (man, husband), from PIE *wiHrós (man, husband) [source]
The Irish name Fearghal (Fergal, Feargal), and the English name Farrell come from the Proto-Celtic name *Wirogalos, from *wiros (man) and *galā (valour, ability) [source], and the Irish name Fearghas and the English version, Fergus, come from the Proto-Celtic name *Wirogustus, from *wiros (man) and *gustus (excellence, force) [source]
| Proto-Celtic | *ɸriyos = free |
|---|---|
| Proto-Brythonic | *rɨð [ˈrɨːð] = free |
| Middle Welsh (Cymraeg) | ryd, rit = free, nonconformist; unrestricted, unrestrained; open; liberal ryddd-dab, rydd-deb = freedom, liberation, deliverance, immunity ryddhâd, rhyddhaad = release, libteration, freedom rydhaw, rydhaa, rytha = to free, release, liberate |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | rhydd [r̥ɨːð / r̥iːð] = free, nonconformist; unrestricted, unrestrained; open; liberal rhyddd-deb = freedom, liberation, deliverance, immunity rhyddhad = release, libteration, freedom rhyddhaf, rhyddhau = to free, release, liberate |
| Old Cornish | rid = free |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | rid, ruid = free, unconstrained |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | rydh [rɪ:ð / ri:ð] = free rydhses = freedom, liberty |
| Old Breton (Brethonoc | rid = free |
Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *priHós (dear, beloved, happy, free), from *preyH- (like, love) [source]. English words from the same PIE roots include free(dom), friend and proper [source].
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Lexicon Cornu-britannicum: A Dictionary of the Ancient Celtic Language of Cornwall, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic