Words for eel in the Celtic languages.
In Celtic-speaking areas, the most common species of eels are the European eel or silver eel (Anguilla anguilla) ,and the European conger (eel) (Conger conger). Other eels are available.
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | escong / escumg / esconga / escuma = eel |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | eascann [ˈasˠkən̪ˠ] = eel, reptile, snake eascann abhann = freshwater eel eascann choncair / eascann mhara = conger eel |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | easgann [esgən̪ˠ] / feasgainn [fesgɪn̪ʲ] = eel easgann-mhara / easgann-dhubh a’ chladaich = conger eel |
| Manx (Gaelg) | astan = eel astan marrey = sea eel, conger eel |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | llysywen / ‘slywen = eel llysywen ariannaidd = silver eel llysywen fôr (y môr) / congren = European conger eel |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | sylli = eel |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | silienn = eel silienn-dour-dous = European eel silienn-vor = European conger eel |
Etymology: possibly from *esc (water) and the Proto-Indo-European *h₂éngʷʰis (snake).
Should you find that eels have infested your hovercraft, as they often do, here’s how you can say that in Celtic languages:
- Irish: Tá m’árthach foluaineach lán d’eascanna
- Scottish Gaelic: Tha a’ bàta-falbhain agam loma-làn easgannan
- Manx: Ta my lhong chrowal lane dy astanyn
- Cornish: Leun a sylli yw ow skath bargesi
- Welsh: Mae fy hofrenfad yn llawn llyswennod
- Breton: Leun gant sili eo ma dourruzer
This phrase in many more languages
Here’s a song I wrote some years ago which features hovercrafts and eels and has verses in Welsh and Irish.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau, TermOfis