Words for blessing, benediction and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *bendixtyū = blessing, benediction |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | bendacht [ˈbʲen͈daxt] = blessing, benediction bennachaid = to bless, greet |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | bennacht, bendacht, beandacht = blessing bennach = act of blessing, a blessing bennachaid [ˈbʲen͈axɨðʲ] = to bless |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | beannacht [bʲəˈn̪ˠaxt̪ˠ / ˈbʲan̪ˠəxt̪ˠ / ˈbʲan̪ˠa(h)t̪ˠ] = blessing, benediction beannachtach = (act of) calling down blessings, blessed, benign, prosperous beannaigh = to bless, greet beannaíocht = piety, sanctimony beannaithe = blessed, holy beannaitheach = beatific beannaitheacht = beatitude slán agus beannacht = goodbye and God bless beir beannacht = best wishes |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | beannachd [bjan̪ˠəxg] = blessing, compliments beannachd leat/leibh = goodbye beannaich [bjan̪ʲɪçʲ] = bless you! (when sneezing) leis na beannachdan = with best wishes |
| Manx (Gaelg) | bannaght = blessing, greeting, compliments, salute bannaght ayd/eu = cheerio, adieu bannaghey = to bless, greet, salute, send off bannaghtagh = benedictory, blessing, greeter bannee = to bless, holy, saintly, blessed |
| Proto-Brythonic | *bendɨxθ / *bendiθ = blessing |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | bendith = blessing bendithio = blessing |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | bendith [ˈbɛndɪθ] = blessing, benediction, blessedness, boon, godsend, bliss, grace, praise, thanks bendith(i)af, bendith(i)o = to bless, consecrate, say grace, praise, glorify, thank bendithiad = the act of blessing, benediction, a blessing bendithiol = full of blessings, beneficial bendithiwr, bendithydd = blesser |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | bennath, benneth, banneth = blessing |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | bennath, bednath = blessing benyga = to bless benygys = blessed, hallowed |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | bennoez, bennoz = blessing, benediction |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | bennozh [ˈbɛnːos] = blessing, benediction, thanks bennigañ [bɛˈniːɡã] = to bless bennigadenn = blessing, benediction |
Etymology: from Latin benedictiō (blessing, benediction, extolling, praising), from benedicō (to speak well of sb, commend, bless, praise), from bene (well) *dīcō (speak)[source].
From the same roots we get words such as bension (blessing, benediction) and benediction in English, bénédiction (blessing, benediction) in French, and bendición (blessing) in Spanish [source].
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
