In this post we’re looking at words for service, to serve and related words in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *uɸognīmus, *uɸognīmā = service *uɸognītus = service *uɸogniyeti = to serve |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | fognam [ˈɸoɣ.nəβ̃] = serving, work fognad = service fo·gní [ɸoˈɡʲnʲiː] = to serve |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | fognam, fognom, foghnamh = serving, rendering service, use, utility, profit fognad, fóghanta = serving, doing service fognaid = to serve fognamaid, fognamthid = one who serves, a servitor, vassal fo-gní, fognaid, fognad, fognid = to serve, to be of use, to be subject to |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | fóin = to serve, to be of use, to avail, to benefit fóinteach = helpful, practical, person, servant, attendant fónamh [ˈfˠoːn̪ˠəvˠ / ˈfˠoːnˠu] = service, usefulness, benefit, validity fónamhaí = one who serves, servitor, servant |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | fòghnadh [foːn̪əɣ] = (act of) sufficiing, being sufficient, availing, sufficiency foghain [fo.ɪn̪ʲ] = suffice, be sufficient, avail, do |
| Manx (Gaelg) | foaynoo = utility, worth, reputation, function |
| Proto-Brythonic | *gwöɣniβ̃, *gwöɣnid = service (?) *gwöɣnɨðɨd = to serve |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | gueini, gueyny, gweini = to serve, to be in service, to wait (on) gweinyt, gweinyd = servant, attendant gueynydauc, gweinidog, gwenidawc = servant, attendant, minister, ambassador gueini, gueyny, gweini, gweinyd = to serve, wait, minister, attend, officiate |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | gweini [ˈɡwei̯nɨ / ˈɡwei̯nɪ] = to serve, to be in service, to wait (on) gweinidog [ɡwei̯ˈnɪdɔɡ] = servant, attendant, minister, ambassador gweinydd [ˈɡwei̯nɨ̞ð / ˈɡwei̯nɪð] = servant, attendant, waiter, provider, administrator, minster gweinyddes = nurse, waitress, maid-servant, maid gweinyddiaeth = administration gweinyddol = serving, ministering, officiating, subserviant, servile, administrative, executive gweinyddu = to serve, wait, minister, attend, officiate gweinyddwr, gweinyddydd = servant, waiter, administrator, executor |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak) | gonedhic, gonydhic, gonythick = husbandman, farmer gonedhy = to labour, work, till, cultivate, plant, set gones, gonys = to labour, till, cultivate goneseg = workman, labourer gonidoc = servant |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | gonis = service, work; to cultivate, to labour, to till; cultivation, culture, farming gonisek = servant; cultivator, rotavator, soil cultivator gonisoges = servant (female) gonisogeth = agriculture, farming, husbandry; culture, cultivation, farming gonisogethek = agricultural gonisyow = workings |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | gonit = to conquer, to cultivate, to win, to obtain, to defeat |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | gounid [ˈɡũː.nit] = advantage, windfall, profit, victory gounit [ˈɡũː.nit] = to conquer, to cultivate, to win, to obtain, to defeat gounideg = farmer gounidek = lucrative, profitable, advantageous gounider = winner |
Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *uɸo- (sub-, under) and *gnīmus (doing, act, action, work) [source]. Words from the same roots include gníomh (there) in Irish, gnìomh (there) in Scottish Gaelic, gnif (there, that) in Welsh [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 Kernehe, itk, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
