Words for whale and related sea monsters in Celtic languages.
Some species of whales that may be found around the Celtic lands include the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), the common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), the sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), and the killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca). Other species are available.
| Proto-Celtic | *mori-mīlo = whale |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | míl mór / bled / bledmil = whale, sea monster |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | murimil / bled = whale, sea monster |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | míol mór = whale míol mór an oighir = humpback whale míol mór an oighir = North Atlantic right whale droimeiteach beag = common minke whale droimeiteach = fin whale mhadadh-cuain = killer whale |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | mial-mhór / muc-mhara / blaoch / bleth / bleidh mhiol = whale muc-mhara dhronnach, muc-mhara chrotach = humpback whale muc-mhara cheart thuathach = North Atlantic right whale muc-mhionc choitcheann, rorcual-beag = common minke whale muc-mhara nan saoidhean = sei whale muc-mhara dhruim-iteach / muc-an-sgadain = fin whale cráin dhubh / grampar = killer whale |
| Manx (Gaelg) | meeyl mooar, muc varrey = whale feer-whale = right whale muc-varrey Minke = minke whale |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | morfil = whale, sea monster, the constellation Cetus (the Whale) morfil cefngrwm = humpback whale morfil cywir / morfil walbon = right whale morfil pigfain = common minke whale morfil sei / morfil asgellog sei = sei whale morfil asgellog llwyd = fin whale morfil danheddog / morfil ffyrnig / lleiddiad = killer whale |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | morvil = whale |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | morvil = whale balum askellek = humpback whale balum reizh du = North Atlantic right whale skoazog = killer whale |
Etymology: these words mean ‘sea creature’, ‘large beast’, ‘sea pig’ or something similar.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
The Gaelg (Manx Gaelic) words meeyl mooar mean, literally, ‘big louse’ or ‘big gnat’ so, presumably, they are a joking reference to the size of the beast (a bit like the nickname ‘Tiny’ for someone very tall). Since the words in Gaeilge and Gàidhlig are very similar, this must have been a shared joke!