Words for to sing & to say in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *kaneti [ke̝ˈnɨːd] = to sing |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | canaid [ˈkaniðʲ] = to sing |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | can [kanˠ] = to chant, sing; to speak, talk; to call, name |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | can [kan] = to sing, rehearse, say, name, call |
| Manx (Gaelg) | caayn = bray, whine; song; (poetry) lay |
| Proto-Brythonic | *kėnɨd [ke̝ˈnɨːd] = to sing |
| Old Welsh | canam [ke̝ˈnɨːd] = to sing |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | canu [ke̝ˈnɨːd] = to sing |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | canu [ˈkanɨ̞] / ˈkaːni] = to sing; to intone, chant; to state, say; to produce musical sounds; to compose poetry, celebrate in song |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kana [‘kana / ‘kɒnɐ] = to sing |
| Middle Breton | canaff = to sing |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kanañ = to sing |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n- / *kan- / *kana- (to sing) [source], which is also the root of the English word hen [source].
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Teaglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau