Kings and Queens

Words for king and related things in Celtic languages.

Brian Boru, High King of Ireland (1002-1014)
Brian Boru, High King of Ireland (1002-1014) / Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, Ard-Rí ar Éirinn

Proto-Celtic *rīxs/*rig- = king
Celtiberian reikis = king
Gaulish rīx = king – appears in names like Katurīx, Suādurīx, *Werkingetorīx (Vercingetorix) and Asterix
Primitive Irish ᚏᚔᚌᚐᚄ (rigas) = (of the) king
Old Irish (Goídelc) [r͈ʲiː] = king
rígdae = regal, kingly
rígdún = palace
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) rí, ríg, rig = king, head, chief
rígán = a sub-king, chief
rígamail, rioghamhail = royal
rígdacht = kingliness, kingly qualities, a kingdom
rígda(e) = a royal dwelling place, palace
rígrach = = royal, kingly
Irish (Gaeilge) [ɾˠiː] = king, sovereign, monarch
ríoga = regal, royal
ríora = kings, royal persons, royalty, dynasty
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) rìgh [r̪ʲiː] = king
banrìgh = queen
àrd-rìgh = high king
mòr-rìgh = emperor
rìoghachadh = reigning, reign
rìoghachd = kingdom, realm
Manx (Gaelg) ree = king
reejerey = cavalier, chevalier, king, knight, lord, paladin, prince
reeoil = kinglike, monarchy, regal, royal
reeaght, reeriaght, riaght, ream = kingdom
Proto-Brythonic *riɣ [ˈriːɣ] = king
Old Welsh rig = king
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) ri, rhi = king
rhiaidd, rhïaidd = regal, royal, noble, generous
rieu, riav = king, lord, ruler, chieftain
rriawdr, riawdr = lord, ruler, chieftain, God
Welsh (Cymraeg) rhi [r̥iː] = king, prince, lord, ruler, chieftain
rhiaidd = regal, noble, aristocratic, dignified
rhiau = king, lord, ruler, chieftain
rhiawdr = lord, ruler, chieftain, God
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) ruy, ruif = king, sovereign, ruler
ryal, real = royal, kingly
Cornish (Kernewek) riel = regal, royal
Old Breton ri = king
Middle Breton (Brezonec) ri, rí = king

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rḗǵs (king, ruler) [source], which is also the root of the German word Reich (empire, realm), and the English suffix -ric, as in bishopric (a diocese or region of a church which a bishop governs) [source].

Proto-Celtic *rīganī= queen
Gaulish rigani = queen
Old Irish (Goídelc) rígan = queen
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) rígain, rígan, rígnae = queen, noble lady
Irish (Gaeilge) ríon = queen, queenly, noble, lady, fair maiden
banríon = queen
(ban)ríonacht = queenship
ríonaí = queenly
ríonaigh = to queen (chess)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) rìghinn [r̪ʲi.ɪn̪ʲ] = princess (archaic)
rìbhinn [r̪ʲiːvɪn̪ʲ] = maid, maiden, girl, Venus, adder, queen (archaic)
banrìgh = queen
Manx (Gaelg) reeven = queen
rein = queen
ben-rein = queen
Proto-Brythonic *rriɣėn [r͈iˈɣe̝ːn] = queen
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) riein, riain = (young) woman, girl, damsel, lass, maiden, virgin, queen, noble girl, lady
Welsh (Cymraeg) rhiain = (young) woman, girl, damsel, lass, maiden, virgin, queen, noble girl, lady

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rḗǵnih₂ (queen), from *h₃rḗǵs (king, ruler) [source]. Words from the same roots include reine (queen) in French, reina (queen) in Spanish, erregina (queen) in Basque, and regină (queen) in Romanian [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec) rhỼyf, rwyf, rỼy = king, lord, ruler, chieftain, leader
rwyfaỼ, rwyfaỼ = to have dominion over, govern, rule
rwyuannus, rhwyvanus = royal, kinglike, governing
ruyvenit = prince, king, ruler
rhwyfiadur, ruyfadur, rwyfyadur, rỼyfyadur = chief(tain), lord, leader, ruler, protector
Welsh (Cymraeg) rhwy(f) = king, lord, ruler, chieftain, leader
rhwyfo = to have dominion over, govern, rule, lead, be ostentatious, live in splendour
rhwyfanes = queen, lady
rhwyfaniad = reign, government, rule, kingdom
rhwyfanus = royal, kinglike, governing
rhwyfenydd = prince, king, ruler
rhwyf(i)adur = chief(tain), lord, leader, ruler, protector
Old Cornish ruifanes = queen
ruifadur = chief(tain), lord, leader
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) ruy, ruif = king, sovereign, ruler
ruifanes, ruivanes = a female ruler, queen
Cornish (Kernewek) ruvanes = queen
ruvaneth = kingdom
Old Breton roe = king
Middle Breton (Brezonec) roe, roé, roue, rouè = king
rouanes, roanez, rouanés = queen
rouantelez, roeantelez = kingdom
roueel = royal
roueeler = royalist
roueelezh = royalty
roueelouriezh = royalism
roueoni = reign
Breton (Brezhoneg) roue = king
rouanez = queen
rouantelezh = kingdom, monarchy
roueel = royal
roueelezh = royalty
roueelouriezh = royalism

Etymology: from Old French roi (king), from Latin rēgem (king, ruler, despot, tyrant), from Proto-Italic *rēks (king), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rḗǵs (king, ruler) [source].

Words from the same Latin root include re (king) in Italian, roi (king) in French, viceroy in English and rey (king) in Spanish [source].

Proto-Celtic *brigantīnos = (someone) pre-eminent, outstanding
Proto-Brythonic *brɨɣėntin [brɨɣe̝nˈtiːn] = lord, king
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) breenhin, breennin, breyenhin, brenhin = king
brenhynes, brenhines = queen, goddess, queen bee
brenineiziaw = to become kingly
brenhynyaeth, brenhinyaeth = royalty, kingship, reign
Welsh (Cymraeg) brenin [ˈbrɛnɪn / ˈbreːnɪn] = king, sovereign, monarch, head of region
brenineiddio = to make/become regal/kingly, make (sb) a king
breninesaidd = queen-like, queenly
breninesol = queen-like, queenly, pertaining to a queen
breningarol = royalist
breniniaethu = to reign, govern
breninoldeb = kingship, royalty
brenhines = queen, goddess, queen bee
brenhiniaeth = royalty, kingship, reign, government
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) brentyn, bryntyn = privileged, sovereign, noble, excellent
Cornish (KerneweK) bryntin, brentin = grand, great, noble, splendid, superb
Old Breton brientin, brientinion = king
Middle Breton (Brezonec) brientin = aristocrat
brientinelezh = aristocracy
Breton (Brezhoneg) brientin = aristocrat
brientinel = aristocratic
brientinelezh = aristocracy
brienteg, brientek = privileged
brientekaat = to favour
briental = royalties

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰérǵʰonts (high), from *bʰerǵʰ- (to rise up, ascend) [source].

From the same Proto-Celtic root, , we get the tribal name *Brigantī (Brigantes – a Celtic tribe that occupied much of what is now northern England), Brigantia (a Celtic goddess of victory, and the territory of the Brigantes), the name Bridget, the Irish name Bríd, the Scottish Gaelic name Brìghde, the Manx name Breeshey, and the placenames such as Bragança (a city in northeastern Portugal), Bregenz (a city in western Austria) and Brianza (a city in northern Italy), [source].

English words from the same PIE root include bourgeois, burrow, fort and maybe burgler [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec) mechdeyrn, mychdeyrn, machdeyrn = king, lord, monarch, emperor
mechteyrnged, mychteyrnged = tribute due to an overlord from an inferior lord
Welsh (Cymraeg) mechdeyrn, mychdeyrn, machdeyrn = king, lord, monarch, emperor, God, tributary prince, viceroy
mechdeyrnged, mychdeyrnged = tribute due to an overlord from an inferior lord
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) mychtern = sovereign, king
mychternes = queen
mychterneth = sovereignity, dominion, royalty, kingdom
Cornish (Kernewek) myghtern, metern [mɪx’tɛrn] = king, monarch
myghternes, meternes = monarch, queen
myghterneth, meterneth = kingdom
myghternses, meternses = kingship, monarchy
Old Breton machtiern = king

Etymology: from Welsh mach (surety, guarantor, sponsor, hostage) and teyrn (sovereign, monarch, king) [source].

Source: Gerlyver Kernewek, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru

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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

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Man / Husband

Words for man / husband in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *wiros = man, husband
Celtiberian *uiros = man, husband
Gaulish *wiros = man, husband
Primitive Irish *ᚃᚔᚏᚐᚄ (*viras) [u̯irah] = man
Old Irish (Goídelc) fer [fʲer] = man, husband
Irish (Gaeilge) fear [fʲaɾˠ] = man, husband
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) fear [fɛr] = man, husband, male
Manx (Gaelg) fer [fɛr] = male, man, gentleman, individual, fellow, bloke, chap
Proto-Brythonic *gwur [ˈˠwur] = man, husband
Old Welsh gur = man, husband
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) gur = man, husband
Welsh (Cymraeg) gŵr [ɡuːr] = man, person, anyone, valiant warrior, brave man, hero; vassal; married man, husband; chessman, pawn
Old Cornish uir = husband
Cornish (Kernewek) gour [ɡu:r] = husband
Middle Breton gur = man, husband
Breton (Brezhoneg) gour [ˈɡuːʁ] = man, person, husband (rare)

Selfie / Hunlun

Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European *wiHrós (man, husband, warrior, hero) [source], which is also the root of the English words virile and werewolf.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

To Stand

Words for to stand in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *sista- = to stand
Celtiberian sistat = to stand
Old Irish (Gaídelc) sessam = standing (by/fast), defending, standing resisting, holding out, making a stand
Irish (Gaeilge) seas [ʃasˠ] = to stand, stop, stay, last, keep, remain valid, bear, endure, resist, withstand, stand up for, defend
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) seas [ʃes] = to stand, maintain, support, defend, continue, endure, stop, stand by
Manx (Gaelg) shass [ʃas] = to stand
Proto-Brythonic *stab- = to stand
Welsh (Cymraeg) sefyll [ˈsɛvɨ̞ɬ / ˈseːvɪɬ] = to stand, be standing or upright, be or remain on one’s feet; stand (up), get up; stand or tread (on); to be located, lie; to come to a halt, stand still, stop, come to end, cease, fail
Cornish (Kernewek) sevel [‘sɛvɛl / ‘zɛvɐl] = to stand, arise, get up, rise, halt, raise up, abstain from
Breton (Brezhoneg) sevel = to rise, lift, remove, draw, build, train, compose, sell, invent, push, repay

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Note: the Brythonic words may not come from the same root as the Goidelic words.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *stísteh₂ti (to be standing up, be getting up), from *steh₂- (to stand) [source].

The sist part of exist, resist, desist, consist, etc comes from the same root, via the Latin sisto (I stand, set, place, appear) [source]

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Silver & Money

Words for silver and money in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *argantom = silver
Gaulish arangto- / *argantom = silver
Celtiberian arkanta / arkato- = silver
Old Irish (Goídelc) argat [ˈarɡad] = silver, money
Irish (Gaeilge) airgead [ˈaɾʲɪɟəd̪ˠ / ˈæɾʲɪɟəd̪ˠ] = silver, money, sum of money
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) airgead [ɛrʲɛgʲəd] = money, silver, cash, currency
Manx (Gaelg) argid = money, silver, coinage, wages, finance, exchequer
Proto-Brythonic *arɣant [arˈɣant] = silver, money
Old Welsh argant = silver
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) ariant = silver
Welsh (Cymraeg) arian [ˈarjan] = silver, silvery; silver vessel; money, coin(s), coinage, currency, wealth
Cornish (Kernewek) arghans [‘arhans / ‘ærhɐnz] = silver, money
Old Breton argant = silver
Middle Breton archant = silver
Breton (Brezhoneg) arc’hant = silver, money

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *h₂erǵn̥tom (silver), from *h₂erǵ- (white) [source]

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

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Fresh & New

Words for fresh and new in Celtic languages.

Words for new in Celtic languages

Proto-Celtic *ɸūros = new
Old Irish (Goídelc) úr = fresh, new
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) úr = fresh, new, bright, noble, generous, fair, active, recent
Irish (Gaeilge) úr [uːɾˠ] = fresh; free, liberal, moist
úrach = green timber
úraigh = to freshen, scour, cleanse, become moist, damp
úras = new milk
úrchneasach = fresh-complexioned
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ùr [uːr] = new, fresh
ùrachadh = refreshing, renewing, renovating, renewal
ùr-ghnàthaich = innovative, innovatory
ùr-ghnàthaichear = innovator
ùrad = degree of newness, novelty
Manx (Gaelg) oor = new, sweet, novel, sappy, crisp, span, fresh, hour, raw
ooragh = hourly, refreshing
ooraghey = to freshen, purify, refresh, relieve, sweeten
ooraghtoil, oorey = refreshing
Welsh (Cymraeg) ir [iːr] = verdant, green, juicy, sappy, moist, succulent, not withered, not dried up or coagulated, fresh, undried; mild; alive, thriving, lively, vigorous; new, fresh, young, unripe
iraidd = fresh, verdant, green, juicy, sappy, moist, liquid
Cornish (Kernewek) yr [ɪ:r/iːr] = fresh

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *puHrós (wheat), possibly from *pewH- (to be clean, pure) [Source].

Words from the same PIE roots include pure in English, პური (ṗuri – bread, wheat) in Georgian, and պուրի (puri – a type of bread) in Armenian [Source].

Proto-Celtic *nouyos = new
Gaulish *novios = (used in place names)
Celtiberian nouiza = new
Old Irish (Goídelc) núa [n͈uːa̯] = new
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) núa(e) = new, recent, fresh, lusty, vigorous, fair, clear, bright, lately, anew, again, recently
Irish (Gaeilge) nua [n̪ˠuə / n̪ˠuː] = new, fresh, recent, novel; newness, new thing
nua-aimseartha = modern
nuachan = novation
nuacht = news, novelty
nuachtóir = reporter, journalist
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) nuadh [nuəɣ] = new, fresh, recent, novel, modern, unfamiliar
a-nuadh = anew
nua-aimsireach = modern, up to date
nua-fhasanta = newfangled
nuadhachadh = renewing, renovating
nuadhachas = novelty, innovation
Manx (Gaelg) noa = fresh, modern, new, novel, original, recent, unused
noa-emshiragh = modern
noaght = freshness, modernity, newness, novelty
noaid = freshness, innovation, newness, novelty, originality
aanoaghey = to rejuvenate, renew, renovate
Proto-Brythonic *newɨð = new
Old Welsh neguid = new
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) newyt, newyd = new, recent, modern, late, novel
newydhau, newyddhau = to renew, renovate, restore
Welsh (Cymraeg) newydd [ˈnɛu̯.ɨ̞ð/ˈnɛu̯.ɪð] = new, recent, newly-grown, modern, late, novel, changed, different; new (moon), unused, fresh
newyddaf, newyddu = to renew, renovate, restore, be renewed or restored, replace, change, reform, modernize, innovate
newyddaidd = newish, new, modern, newfangled, fresh, renewed
newyddair = neologism, new word or spelling
newyddeb = novelty, innovation
newyddiadur = newspaper
newyddiadura = to be a journalist
newyddiadureg = jouralese, journalism
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) newydh, nowydh, nowedh = new, fresh, late, recent
Cornish nowydh = fresh, new, novel, newly, just
nowydh flamm = brand new
nowydh genys = newborn
Old Breton nouuid = new
Breton (Brezhoneg) nevez [ˈne.ve] = new
nevezadeg restoration campaign
nevezadenn = innovation
nevezadenniñ = to innovate
nevezadur = innovation, updating, actualisation
nevezer = innovator

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *néw(y)os (new) [Source]. The town of Noia in A Coruña in Galicia in the northwest of Spain probably gets its new from the same Proto-Celtic root possibly via Celtiberian [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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

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Gods and Goddesses

Words for gods, deities & days in Celtic languages.

celts - the horse goddess epona
The Gallo-Roman Horse Goddess Epona

Proto-Celtic *dēwos = god, deity, day
*dēwā = goddess
Gaulish deuognata, teuoxtonio-, dēuos, dēwos, dēvona = god
Celtiberian teiuoreikis, deobriga = god
Old Irish (Goídelc) día [dʲiːa̯] = god
bandía = goddess
díadae, deoda = godly, divine, holy
deacht = godhead
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) día, dea, déa, de, dee = god, goddess, supernatural being, object of worship
deacht, déacht = godhead, divity
díadae, díade, diadu = divine, godly, holy
Irish (Gaeilge) dia [dʲiə] = god, deity
bandia = goddess
diaga = divine, godly, godlike, sacred, holy
diagacht = divinity, godhood, godliness, piety, theology
diagaigh = to deify, apotheosize
diagaire = divine, theologian
diaganta = godly, pious
dia-aithis = blasphemy
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) dia [dʲiə] = god, God
ban-dia = goddess
diadhachd [dʲiə.əxg] = deity, divinity, godhead
diadhaidh [dʲiə.ɪ] = divine, godly, pious
diadhaireachd [dʲiə.ɪjəxg] = godliness
diadhaidheachd [dʲiə.ɛrʲ] = theologian
diadhair [dʲiə.ɛrʲ] = theologian
Manx (Gaelg) jee = god, deity, godhead
ben jee = deity, goddess
jeeoil = divine, godlike, godly
jeeoilys = divinity, theology
jeeoilagh = divine, theologian
jeeaght = deity, divinity
jeeaghteyr = theologian
Proto-Brythonic *duɨw [ˈduɨ̯w] = god
Old Welsh duiu = god
Middle Welsh (Kymreac) duiu, duu, dyu, diu, duw = god
dwyes, dwywes = goddess, noble lady, queen
dywdap, dywdot, duwdab = the divine nature, divinity, theology
dywol, duwiol = godly, devout, religious, pious, good, holy, sanctimonious
Welsh (Cymraeg) duw / Duw [dɨu̯ / dɪu̯] = god, the Supreme Being, the Almighty, the Christian Trinity; O God!
duwies, dwywes, dwyes = goddess, noble lady, queen
duwdeb = the divine nature, divinity, theology
duweiddiad = deification, apotheosis
duweiddiaf, duweiddio = to deify, make a god of, turn into an object of worship
duwgar = loving God, pious, devout
duwiol, duwol = godly, devout, religious, pious, good, holy, sanctimonious
Old Cornish duy = god
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) dew, du, duy = god, God, a divinity
dues = goddess
Cornish (Kernewek) duw [dyˑʊ / diˑʊ] = god
duwes = goddess
duwonieth = theology
duwonydh, duwonydhes = theologian
Duw genes = goodbye (“god with you”)
Old Breton doi = god
Middle Breton doe, doué, dou = god
doueadur = apotheosis, deification
doueañ = to deify
doueadur = apotheosis, deification
doueañ = to deify
doueegezh = divinity, deity
doueek, doeel, doueel = divine
Breton (Brezhoneg) doue [du] = god
doueez =goddess
douead = theist
doueadegezh = deism
doueegezh = divinity
doueel = divine

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *deywós (god), from *dyew- (sky, heaven) [source]. The Deva rivers in Galicia get their name from the same Proto-Celtic root, and the Latin name for the city of Chester, Deva, possibly comes from the same Celtic root [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Teanglann.ie, Am Faclair Beag, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis

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