Words for bright, light and related things in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *ɸlenstus, *flenstu- = light |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | solus [ˈsolus] = bright, clear, light lés [l͈ʲeːs] = light, radiance, daylight, illumination (of the mind) |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | solus = (adj) bright, clear, light-giving, happy, prosperous; (noun) light, clarity, intelligibility solusta = bright, shining solustacht = brightness, radiance lés = light, radiance, daylight, flush, blush |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | solas [ˈsˠɔl̪ˠəsˠ] = light, brightness, illumination, lamp, flame, enlightenment, insight, revelation, disclosure, vision, self-interest, limelight solasbhliain = light-year solasmhaire = brightness, luminousness, clarity, lucidity solasmhar = bright, luminous, clear, lucid léas = ray of light, light, radiane; weal, welt, red spot, blister |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | solas [sɔl̪ˠəs] = light, phases (of the moon, etc) solasach = luminous, shining solasta = luminous, shining solasachadh [sɔl̪ˠəsɪç] = lighting, illuminating leòs = light, ray, torch, blister, blush |
| Manx (Gaelg) | sollys = bright, brilliant, clear, resplendent, shining, shiny, transparent, brightness, lamp, light sollysagh = luminous soilsheanagh = beaming, brilliant, glistening, glowing, luminous, lustrous, radiant, shiny, splendid, vivid |
| Proto-Brythonic | *gwoluɣʉ = light |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | golau = light, illumination, brightness, clearness, enlightment |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | golau [ˈɡɔlaɨ̯/ˈɡoːlai̯] = light, illumination, brightness, clearness, enlightment golau dydd = daylight golau lleuad= moonlight golau tân = fire light goleuad = light, illumination, enlightenment goleuaf, goleuo, golau = to light(en), illuminate, set light to, kindle, set fire to, enlighten, explain goleudy = lighthouse goleuddal = candlestick, sconce, chandelier |
| Old Cornish | golou = light |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | golow = light golowa, gylywa, gouloua, gylywi = to enlighten, give light, illuminate, shine golowas = an enlightening, illumination, lightning golowder = light, brightness golowlester = a light-vessel, lamp |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | golow = glow, light, luminous Golowan = Misummer golowboyntya = to hightlight golowbren = lamp-post golowhe = to glow, illuminate, light up, lighten golowi = to enlighten, glow, illuminate, light up, lighten, shine golowji = lighthouse golowyans = enlightenment, lighting golowyn (X) (X-)ray golowys = lit |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | gouloù, goulou = bright, brilliant, light, candle |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | gouloù = light, current, fire |
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Etymology (Goidelic languages): from Old Irish so- (very) and lés (light, radiance, daylight, illumination). so- come s from Proto-Celtic *su- (good, well), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁su- (good). lés comes from the Proto-Celtic ɸlenstus (light), possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (bright, to shine, to see) [source].
Etymology: (Brythonic languages): from the Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (bright, to shine, to see) [source].
From the same PIE root we get the Irish word luchair (glittering, resplendent), llug (light, radiance, brightness) and llygad (eye) in Welsh, lagas (eye) in Cornish and lagad (eye) in Breton [source],
English words from the PIE root *lewk- include light, lucid, luminous, Lucifer, luna and lynx [source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
