Words for mountain and related words in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *slēbos = mountain, slope |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | sliab [sʲl͈ʲiːa̯v] = mountain, mountain range; moor |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | sliab = mountain, mountain range, moor, moorland |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | sliabh [ʃlʲiəvˠ / ʃl̠ʲiəvˠ / ʃl̠ʲiəw] = mountain, moor, moorland sliabhraon = mountain range sléibhteánach = mountain dweller sléibhteoir = mountaineer sléibhteoireacht = mountaineering sléibhtiúil = mountainous, hilly,moorish sléibhtiúlacht = hilliness |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | sliabh [ʃl̪ʲiəv] = hillside, slope, mountain sliabh-mònach = peat moor sliabhach, slèibhteach = mountainous sliabhair [ʃl̪ʲiəvɛrʲ] = mountaineer slèibhteag [ʃl̪ʲeːvdʲag] = small hillside/slope, small mountain |
| Manx (Gaelg) | slieau [slʲuː / ʃlʲuː] = mountain, fell, hillside, moor, berg |
Etymology: possibly from PIE *sley-bʰo- from *sley- (to smear), or from PIE *slewb(ʰ)- (to slip, glide) [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *moniyos = mountain |
|---|---|
| Pictish | monid = mountain |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | moned, monad = mountain |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | monadh [mɔnəɣ] = mountain (covered with moors), high-lying moorland; expanse of heather |
| Manx (Gaelg) | muyne = mountain |
| Proto-Brythonic | *mönɨð = mountain |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | minid, menyd, mynyd, mynyth [ˈmənɨð] = mountain mynyddig, mynyddic = mountainous, hilly, highland, wild, rustic |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | mynydd [ˈmənɨ̞ð / ˈmənɪð] = mountain, (large) hill, large pile, great amount; common, unenclosed land, mountain land, moorland; agricultural land; plain mynydda = to climb mountains, go mountain walking, plough and harrow mynyddaidd = mountainous, like a mountain mynyddbarth = mountainous region mynyddig = mountainous, hilly, highland, wild, rustic mynyddigion = inhabitants of the mountains mynyddwr = mountain dweller, highlander, mountaineer |
| Old Cornish | menit = mountain |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | menedh, menydh, mynydh = mountain |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | menydh, menedh [‘mɛnɪð] = mountain, hill, uphill menydh rew / menydh yey = iceberg |
| Old Breton | monid = mountain |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | menez, = mount, mountain |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | menez = mount, mountain menezeg = mountainous meneziad = mountaineer menezus = mountainous |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *men- (to tower, stand out) [source], which is also the root of English words such as mount, mountain, prominent and eminent [source].
See the post about Peaks for other mountain-related words, such as beann in Irish and Scottish Gaelic.
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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
