In this post we’re looking at words for me, myself, I and related pronouns in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *mī = I, me *me = me *mene = my |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | mi = I me = me mon = my moi = to me |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | mé [ˈmʲeː] = I, me messe = I, me (emphatic) mo = my |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | mé = I, me mes(s)e, meisse, mis(s)e = I, me (emphatic) mo, mu = my |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | mé [mʲeː / mʲə] = I, me mise[ˈmʲiʃə] = I, me (emphatic) mé féin = myself mo, m’ = my |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | mi [mi] = I mise [ˈmiʃə] = I (emphatic) mi fhìn = myself mo [mə] = my, mine |
| Manx (Gaelg) | mee [miː] = I, me mish [miʃ] = I, me, myself (emphatic) mee hene = myself my = my |
| Proto-Brythonic | *mi = I, me |
| Old Welsh (Kembraec) | mi = I, me vi = my |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | mi, my, vi, i = I, me minnev, minheu, minne, vinneu, finne, ynnev, inheu, ynneu, inneu = I (me) too, I (me) too, even I (me) myhun [və] = myself vy, my, vym, veu = my |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | mi, fi, i [mi, viː, iː] = I, me minnau, finnau, innau [ˈmɪna(i̯) / ˈvɪna(i̯), ina(i̯)] = I, me (emphatic), I (me) also, I (me) too, even I (me), I (me) on the other hand, I (me) for my part fy hun(an), my hun(an) [və hɨːn(an) / mə hiːn(an)] = myself fy (… fi) [və viː] = my |
| Old Cornish | mi = I, me |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak) | mi, my, me, vy = I, me ma, mv = my, mine ow honan, ow honyn = myself |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | my, me, vy = I, me evy = I, me (emphatic) ma = my ow honan, ow honen = myself |
| Old Breton (Brethonoc) | ti, te = I, me |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | me = I, me ma = my mahunan, ma hunan = myself |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | me [meː] = I, me ma, va, ‘m = my ma-unan, va-unan = myself |
Etymology: from PIE *me (me), the accusative form of éǵh₂ (I) [source]. Many words for I, me, my and myself in other Indo-European languages come from the same roots, as does the English word ego [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
