Words for clouds and mist in Celtic languages.
Words for cloud, mist and fog in Proto-Celtic:
- *moudo, *neglo = cloud
- *dumāko = mist
- *dengwo = mist, smoke
- *kewok / kiw-o- = fog
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | nél [n͈ʲeːl] = cloud |
|---|---|
| Irish (Gaeilge) | néal [n̠ʲeːlˠ] = cloud; depression; fit, spasm; nap, snooze; dazed condition; swoon, trance néaladóir = cloud-watcher, weather observer; look-out man; furtive person, sneak, spy néaladóireacht = cloud-watching, weather-reading; sneaking, snooping, around, prying furtively, spying néalmhar = nebulous, nebular; clouded, gloomy; sleepy néaltach = cloudy |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | neul [n̪ʲial̪ˠ] = cloud; hue, complexion; swoon, fainting fit neulach = cloudy, nebulous; obscure; ghostly, sickly neulag = small cloud; slow women, dimwit |
| Manx (Gaelg) | niaul = cloud neeal = cloud, nebula, swoon, nap, ashen (colour), faint |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | nywl = mist, fog, haze nywlawc [nɪu̯l] = foggy, misty |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | niwl [nɪu̯l] = fog, mist, vapour, haze, cloud(s), obscured eyesight niwlen = (thin) mist, patch of mist or haze, cloudy film, cloudiness, cataract niwlio = to be(come)/make misty, foggy or cloudy niwlog [ˈnɪu̯lɔɡ] = foggy, misty |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | niwl = fog, haze, mist niwlek = misty, hazy, vague niwlvlok = smog |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | nivlenn = mist, fog |
Etymology: from the Vulgar Latin *nibulus, a modification of nūbilus (cloudy), from the Proto-Germanic *nebulaz (fog, mist, darkness), from the Proto-Indo-European *nébʰos (cloud, mist, moisture) [source].
| Irish (Gaeilge) | scamall [ˈsˠkamˠəl̪ˠ] = cloud scamallach = cloudy, clouded scamallaigh = to cloud (over), mist, obscure |
|---|---|
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | sgòth [sgɔː] = cloud (bank) sgòthach [sgɔː.əx] = cloudy |
Etymology unknown
| Proto-Celtic | *kiw-o- = fog |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | ceó = mist, fog |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | ceo [kʲoː / kʲɔː] = fog, mist, haze; cloud; vapour; blog blemish ceobháísteach = heavy drizzle, Scotch mist ceobhrán = light drizzle, mist haze; thin layer ceobhránach = misty, drizzly ceoch = foggy, misty, clouded |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | ceò [kʲɔː] = mist, fog, smoke, vapour ceò-mara / ceò na mara = sea fog ceò-uisge = drizzle ceòban = small drizzling rain accompanied by mist ceòbhran [kʲɔːran] = drizzle, drizzling rain ceòthlach [kʲɔːl̪ˠəx] = thin mist; light drizzle |
| Manx (Gaelg) | kay [kʲeː] = fog, haze, cloud, top (of milk), blur (on a mirror) kyeoh [kʲoː] = fog kayeeagh / kayagh = hazy, misty, nebulous, foggy |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)kew- (to cover, hide, cloud). The English word sky comes from the same root, via the Old Norse ský (cloud), as does the Old English word sċēo (cloud), via the Proto-Germanic *skiwô/skiwją (cloud, cloud cover, haze) [source].
| Proto-Brythonic | *kuml = cloud |
|---|---|
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | cwmwl = cloud |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cwmwl [ˈkʊmʊl] = fog, mist, vapour, haze, cloud(s), obscured eyesight cymylog [kəˈməlɔɡ] = cloudy, overcast; sad; obscure, lacking clearness cymylu [kəˈməlɨ / kəˈməli] = to cloud (over), become overcast; darken,; overshadow, obscure, dim |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kommol = fog, haze, mist komolek = misty, hazy, vague |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | koumoul [ˈku.mu] = mist, fog koumoulek = cloudly |
Etymology: from the Latin *cumulus (heap, pile, surplus, summit), from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱewh₁- (to swell) [source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek