Words for early, soon and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *moxs = soon, early |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | moch [mox] = early mochrád, mochtráth = morning (“early hour”) mos [mos] = soon mó [moː] = soon |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | moch = early, betimes, prompt, speedy, premature mos = soon, quickly mó = soon |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | moch [mˠʊx/mˠɔx/mˠʌx] = early mochánach = early riser mochdháil = early morning mochdhúnadh = early closing mochóirí = early rising, early riser mocháthráth = early hour |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | moch [mɔx] = early mocheirigh [mɔxərʲɪ] = early rising mochthrath [mɔxra] = morning, dawn, very early |
| Manx (Gaelg) | mogh = early moch-irree = early rising moch-appee = forward, precocious moghrey = morning |
| Proto-Brythonic | *mox = soon, early |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | moch = soon, early moch dwyreawc = early-rising |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | moch = soon, early mochddwyreog = early-rising |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | meuch = quickly, soon |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *moḱs (quickly, early). The Goidelic words were borrowed from Proto-Brythonic. Words from the same root include mox (soon, afterwards, then) in Latin and मक्षू (makṣū́ – soon, rapidly, quickly, speedily) in Sanskrit [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *ɸlowto- = to go, flow, be swift |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | luath [l͈uːa̯θ] = swift, fast lúas [l͈uːa̯s] = swiftness, speecd |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | lúath = quick, swift, swiftness, speed lúath(ug)ad = act of hastening, accelerating, expediting |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | luath [mˠʊx/mˠɔx/mˠʌx] = quick, fast, speed, early, soon, fickle luaithe = quickness, swiftness, earliness luas = speed, velocity, earliness luathaigh = to quicken, hasten, accelerate luathaitheach = accelerating, accelerative |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | luath [l̪ˠuə] = quick, fast, fleet, swift, express, feisty luathachadh = accelerating, speeding up, hastening, hurrying luathaichear = accelerator luath-aireach = precocious, early, immature, quick-witted luath-bheul = a person who is quick to criticize luath-chasach = fleet-footed luath no mall = sooner or later, fast or slow luath-sgeul = brief/short news, newsflash bàta-luath = speedboat |
| Manx (Gaelg) | leah = early, prompt, swift, soon, betimes leahid = earliness laueys = alacrity, elbow grease, skilfulness |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | lleygys, lleiges = soon, immediately, directly, forthwith, anon, presently, by and by, in a little while |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | lleighys, llegys = soon, immediately, directly, forthwith, anon, presently, by and by, in a little while |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *plew- (to fly, flow, run). The Welsh words might not come from the same roots. Words from the same PIE root include fleet, float, flood, and Pluto in English [source].
Note: in Breton early is abred, and soon is bremaik. I don’t know the origins of these words.
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
