Words for snow in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *snigʷ = snow *snigʷyeti = to snow |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | snechtae [ˈsʲn͈ʲexta] = snow |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | sneachta [ˈʃnʲaxt̪ˠə / ˈʃnʲæːxt̪ˠə] = snow |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | sneachd [ʃn̪ʲɛxg] = snow |
| Manx (Gaelg) | sniaghtey [ˈʃnʲaxt̪ə] = snow |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | nyf = snow |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *snígʷʰs (snow) [source].
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | arg = drop (of water) |
|---|---|
| Proto-Brythonic | *ėrɣ = snow |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | eiry = snow |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | snow [ˈei̯ra] = snow |
| Old Cornish | irch = snow |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | ergh = snow |
| Middle Breton | erch = snow |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | erc’h = snow |
Etymology possibly from the Proto Celtic *argyos (white), from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂r̥ǵ-yó-s, from *h₂erǵ- (white). Or from the Proto Celtic *ɸarg(y)os (sprinkling, spatter) from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)pregʰ- (to scatter, jerk). [source].
The English word freckle comes from the same root, via the Old Norse freknur (speckles) [source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Here are a few snow-related songs:
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek
There is also the Welsh term ‘ôd’ (snow), as seen in the term ‘manod’ (‘mân’ + ‘ôd’ = fine snow; driven snow).