Starlings

25th July 202017th April 2023 By Simon

Words for starling (sturnus vulgaris) in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*trozdis = starling
Old Irish (Goídelc)	truit = starling
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	truit = starling
Irish (Gaeilge)	druid [d̪ˠɾˠɪdʲ] = starling
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	druid [drɯdʲ] = starling, thrush
Manx (Gaelg)	truitlag = starling
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	trydw, drydwen, drudwy, drydw, drudw = starling
Welsh (Cymraeg)	drudw [ˈdrɨ̞dʊ/ˈdrɪdʊ], drudwy, drydwy, drydw = starling, stare
Old Cornish	troet = starling
Cornish (Kernewek)	trojen = starling
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	tret = starling
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tred [ˈtʁeːt], tridig = starling

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *trosdos (thrush) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Herons

19th July 202016th August 2025 By Simon

Words for heron and related creatures in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	korxsā / korxsiyos = heron, crane
Celtiberian	*cárcia = heron
Gaulish	curcio- = heron
Old Irish (Goídelc)	corr = crane, heron, stork, crane
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	corr = (grey) heron, stork, crane, leg-necked person
Irish (Gaeilge)	corr [kəuɾˠ] = (grey) heron, stork, crane, leg-necked person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	corra [kɔr̪ˠə] = heron, stork, crane
Manx (Gaelg)	coar = heron, stork, crane
Proto-Brythonic	*krɨxɨð = heron
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	crychyd, krechydd, crechydd = heron
Welsh (Cymraeg)	crychydd [ˈkrəχɨ̞ð / ˈkrəχɪð] = heron
Old Cornish	cherhit = heron
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	cerhidh = heron
Cornish (Kernewek)	kerghydh = heron
Old Breton	corcid = heron
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	quercheiz, querch-eïz, querc’heiz, qarc’hleyz kerc’heiz = heron
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kercʼheiz [kɛrˈɣɛjs] = heron

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreik- / *(s)kreig- (to screech, creak), which is imitative in origin [source]. Words for heron in Galician & Spanish (garza) and Portuguese (garça), probably come from the Celtiberian root [source].

Words from the same PIE root may include reiger (heron) in Dutch, Reiher (heron) in German, häger (heron) in Swedish, heron and egret in English, and haikara (heron, stork) in Finnish [source].

Gaulish	crehyr = heron
Proto-Brythonic	*krexVr = heron
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	crehyr, creir, cr(e)yr = heron
Welsh (Cymraeg)	crëyr [ˈkrɛ.ɨ̞r / kreː.ɪr] = heron
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	querhair = heron

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱrey- (to scream, screech) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*garanos = crane
Gaulish	garanus = crane
Proto-Brythonic	*garan = crane, heron
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	caran, garan = crane, heron
Welsh (Cymraeg)	garan [ˈɡaran] = crane, heron
Old Cornish	garan = crane
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	garan = crane
Cornish (Kernewek)	garan = crane
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	garan = crane
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	garan = crane
Breton (Brezhoneg)	garan [ˈɡɑː.rãn] = crane (bird, tool), groove, gallery garanadur = grooving garanan = to groove

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *gérh₂n-o-s, from *gerh₂- (crane, to cry hoarsely) [source]. Words from the same roots include crack, croon, crow and possibly grouse in English, kraai (crow) in Dutch, Krähe (crow) in German [source].

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, An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Gaelg Corpus, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis

Pigeons and Doves

11th July 202014th June 2022 By Simon

Words for pigeon and doves in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	columb [ˈkolumb] = dove colmán = wood-pigeon, ring-dove
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	colum [ˈkolumb] = dove
Irish (Gaeilge)	colm [ˈkɔl̪ˠəmˠ / ˈkʌl̪ˠəmˠ] = dove, pigeon colmán = (little) dove, pigeon
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	calman [kal̪ˠaman] = dove, pigeon colman [kɔl̪ˠɔman] = dove, pigeon
Manx (Gaelg)	calmane / colmane = pigeon, dove
Welsh (Cymraeg)	colomen / clomen = dove, pigeon, culver; symbol of peace
Old Cornish	colom = dove, pigeon
Middle Cornish	colomen = dove, pigeon
Cornish (Kernewek)	kolom = dove, pigeon
Breton (Brezhoneg)	koulm / koulom = dove

Etymology: from the Latin columbus (dove, pigeon), from Ancient Greek κόλυμβος (kólumbos – a diver), from κολυμβάω (kolumbáō – dive, plunge headlong, swim) [source].

Breton (Brezhoneg)	pichon = pigeon

Etymology: unknown

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s a tune I wrote called The Curious Pigeon / Y Colomen Chwilfrydig:

Simon Ager · The Curious Pigeon / Y Colomen Chwilfrydig

Hawks and Falcons

4th July 20204th July 2020 By Simon

Words for hawk / falcon in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	sebac [ˈsʲevak] = hawk
Irish (Gaeilge)	seabhac [ʃəuk] = hawk; warrior seabhac gorm/seilge = peregrine falcon seabhac buí/gaoithe = kestrel, windhover seabhac mara = sea-hawk, skua
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	seabhag [ʃo.ag] = falcon, especially peregrine falcon seabhag na seilge / seabhag-ghorm / seabhag-shealgair = peregrine falcon (falco peregrinus) seabhag-ghorm an fhraoich / seabhag-bheag ghlas = merlin (falco columbarius) seabhac mara = sea-hawk, skua seabhag nan uiseag = hobby (falco subbuteo)
Manx (Gaelg)	shawk = hawk, falcon shawk eeastee = osprey shawk ny sperriu = goshawk shawk sperriu = sparrow hawk shirragh = buzzard, falcon, seeker, bird of prey, kite shirragh ny bogleeyn = marsh harrier shirragh ny giark = hen harrier shirragh ny ree = peregrine falcon
Welsh (Cymraeg)	hebog = hawk, lanner falcon; noble chieftian, brave fighter, hero hebog chwyldro = gerfalcon hebog yr ehedydd = hobby hebog (g)las = hen harrier hebog y weru = marsh harrier hebog tramor = peregrine falcon gwlach = hawk, falcon; fine soldier, brave fighter, nobleman, hero; wily knave, rascal, rogue, wag gwalch bach = merlin gwalch banred = sparrow-hawk gwalch glas = peregrine falcon gwalch gweilgi = osprey
Cornish (Kernewek)	hok = hawk
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwalc’h = falcon, hawk, sea bream

Etymology: from the Old English heafoc/hafoc (hawk), from Proto-Germanic *habukaz (hawk). The English word hawk comes from the same root [source].

The Welsh gwalch and the Breton gwalc’h come from the Old English wealh-hafoc / *wealc-hafoc (foreign hawk) [source]

Old Irish (Goídelc)	faucon = falcon
Irish (Gaeilge)	fabhcún = falcon
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	faolchon = falcon
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ffaw(l)cwn = falcon
Cornish (Kernewek)	falghun = falcon
Breton (Brezhoneg)	falc’hun = falcon, hawk

Etymology: from the Old French faucon (falcon), from Latin Latin falcō (falcon). The English word falcon comes from the same root [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Notes
A falcon is a bird of prey of the genus falco. Kestrels, hobbys, merlins and peregrine falcons are all in this genus.

A hawk is a bird of prey of the genus accipitridae. These include buzzards, kites, harriers, eagles, goshawks and sparrowhawks.

Cockerels / Roosters

21st June 202014th June 2022 By Simon

Words for cockerel / rooster in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*kalyākos = cockerel, rooster
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cailech [ˈkalʲex] = cockerel, rooster
Irish (Gaeilge)	coileach [ˈkalʲex / ˈkɛlʲəx / ˈkɛlʲax] = cockerel, rooster
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	coileach [ˈkɤləx] = cockerel, rooster; male bird of any species; male lobster; coilich = cockerels, etc; eddies, rapids, white water
Manx (Gaelg)	kellagh = cock(erel), cock (of anchor), rooster, cock bird
Proto-Brythonic	*kėljọg [ke̝lˈjɔːɡ] = cockerel, rooster
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	keylyauc, keilyawc = cockerel, rooster
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ceiliog [ˈkei̯ljɔɡ / ˈkei̯ljɔɡ] = cock(erel); plucky person; weather-cock; cock of gun; water-cock; clevis of a plough, plough-cock; snack taken by quarrymen to their work
Old Cornish	chelioc = cockerel, rooster
Middle Cornish	kullyek = cockerel, rooster
Cornish (Kernewek)	kulyek = cockerel, rooster
Middle Breton	kilhog = cockerel, rooster
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kilhog [ˈkiljok] = cockerel, rooster

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kerkos [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Hens & Chickens

16th June 202019th June 2023 By Simon

Words for hen, chicken and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*kerkā = hen
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cerc [kʲerk] = hen, female bird
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cerc [kʲerk] = hen, female bird
Irish (Gaeilge)	cearc [kaɾˠk] = hen, female bird cearcach = gallinaceous (relating to, or resembling the domestic fowl)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cearc [kʲɛrxg] = hen, chicken; poultry; female crab or lobster cearc-uisge = moorhen cearc-Fhrangach = turkey cearc-fhraoich = female red grouse, moorhen cearcach = of, or belonging to a hen or hens
Manx (Gaelg)	kiark = fowl, hen, hen bird, female bird kiark

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱer- (to grow, nourish) [source]. These words are possibly related to words for heron and crane in Celtic languages.

English words from the same root include cereal, create, increase, creature, crew and crescent [source].

Proto-Celtic	*yarā = chicken
Gaulish	Iaros = personal name
Old Irish (Goídelc)	eirín = pullet, young hen
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	eréne, éirín(e) = chicken, chick, pullet
Irish (Gaeilge)	eireog = pullet, chicken; young girl, tiny woman
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	eireag [erʲag] = pullet, young chick(en) (between 8 months and 1 year old)
Manx (Gaelg)	earrag = pullet, poult
Old Welsh	iar = hen
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	yar = hen yeyr, yeir = domestic fowls, chickens yares = flock of chichens ieirdy = hen-house, hen-coop
Welsh (Cymraeg)	iâr [jaːr] = hen, hen-bird ieir = domestic fowls, chickens iarbren = perch for hens, hen-roost iardy, ieirdy = hen-house, hen-coop iares = flock of chichens iargyw = chichen, young fowl ieirwr = poulterer
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	iar, yar = hen, female bird
Cornish (Kernewek)	yar = chicken, hen yar frankres = free-range hen yar gowellys = battery hen yar Gyni = turkey bregh/brygh yar = chicken pox yarji = chichen coop, hen house
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	yar, iar = chicken, hen
Breton (Brezhoneg)	yar = chicken, hen

Etymology: unknown

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

Crows and Ravens

9th June 202016th June 2020 By Simon

Words for crow and raven in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*branos = crow, raven
Gaulish	Branodūnon = place name
Primitive Irish	ᚁᚏᚐᚅᚐ brana = crow, raven
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bran [bran] = crow, raven
Irish (Gaeilge)	bran = raven
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bran [bran] = raven (corvus corax)
Proto-Brythonic	*bran = crow, raven
Welsh (Cymraeg)	brân [braːn] = crow, rook, raven; warrior; crowbar branos = little crows, young crows; warriors cigfran = raven
Cornish (Kernewek)	bran [bɹæːn] = crow branvras = raven
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bran = raven, crow

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *werneh₂- (crow), from *wer- (to burn) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	fennóc = a scald; royston crow (hooded crow)
Irish (Gaeilge)	feannóg = (hooded) crow (corvus cornix)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	feannag [fjan̪ˠag] = crow, rook
Manx (Gaelg)	fannag = crow, crake

Etymology: unknown [source].

Proto-Celtic	*wesākos = raven, grebe
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fiach, fíach [fʲi.əx] = raven
Irish (Gaeilge)	fiach [ˈfʲiəx] = raven
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fitheach [fi.əx] = raven
Manx (Gaelg)	feeagh = crake, raven
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwyach [ɡʊɨ̯.aχ /ɡʊi̯.aχ] = grebe

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Celtic *wes- (to feed, feast) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Birds and Larks

6th June 20206th June 2020 By Simon

Words for bird and (sky)lark in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ɸetnos = bird
Gaulish	Etnosus = bird(?)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	én [eːn] = bird
Irish (Gaeilge)	éan [eːnˠ] = bird, young bird, chick
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	eun [ian] = bird, fowl, chicken
Manx (Gaelg)	eean [jiːən] = chick, fowl, young (of birds); juvenile, cheeky child, brat
Proto-Brythonic	edn = bird
Old Welsh	atar = birds
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	edn [ˈɛdn] = bird
Welsh (Cymraeg)	edn [ˈɛdn] = bird, fowl, fly, bee adar [ˈadar] = birds aderyn [aˈdɛrɨ̞n / aˈdeːrɪn] = bird
Old Cornish	hethen = bird
Cornish (Kernewek)	edhen = bird
Middle Breton	ezn = bird
Breton (Brezhoneg)	evn = bird

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *péth₂r̥ (wind, feather), which is also the root of the English word feather [source].

Breton (Brezhoneg)	labous = bird

Etymology: unknown

Old Irish (Goídelc)	uiseóc = lark
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	(f)uiseóg = lark, skylark
Irish (Gaeilge)	fuiseog = lark, skylark
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	uiseag [ɯʃag] = lark, skylark
Manx (Gaelg)	ushag [ˈoʒaɡ] = bird, shuttlecock

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic	*alaudā = bird
Gaulish	*alauda [ˈa.lau.daː] = skylark

Etymology: unknown. Also the root of the Latin alauda (lark, skylark), and words for (sky)lark in Romance languages, such as the French alouette, the Spanish alondra and the Italian allodola [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	ehedydd [ɛˈhɛdɨ̞ð / ɛˈheːdɪð] = lark, skylark; flier, one that flies, bird or fowl
Old Cornish	evidit = lark, skylark
Middle Breton	ehuedez = lark, skylark

Etymology (Welsh): from ehedeg (to fly) and -ydd (-er) [source].

Cornish (Kernewek)	ahwesydh = lark, skylark
Breton (Brezhoneg)	alc’hweder = lark, skylark

Etymology: unknown

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Hound Dogs

28th May 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for dog in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*kū = dog, wolf
Gaulish	cuna = dog
Primitive Irish	ᚉᚒᚅᚐ (cuna) = hound, wolf
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cú [kuː] = dog
Irish (Gaeilge)	cú [kuː] = dog, hound, greyhound; wolf; hero, champion
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cù [kuː] = dog, canine
Manx (Gaelg)	coo [kuː] = dog, cur, hound, wolf-dog
Proto-Brythonic	ki [kiː] = dog
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ci / ki = dog
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ci [kiː] = dog, hound, cur
Old Cornish	ci = dog
Cornish (Kernewek)	ki [kiː] = dog
Middle Breton	ci / qui = dog
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ki [kiː] = dog

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱwṓ (dog), which is also the root of the English words hound and canine [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	madrad, matrad = dog
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	matad = common dog, cur
Irish (Gaeilge)	madra [ˈmˠad̪ˠɾˠə] / madadh [ˈmˠad̪ˠə / ˈmˠad̪ˠu] = dog, cur
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	madadh [madəɣ] = dog, mastiff
Manx (Gaelg)	moddey [ˈmɔːðə] = dog, tyke
Welsh (Cymraeg)	madyn / madog = fox

Etymology: unknown

Old Irish (Goídelc)	gagar [ɡaɣər] = beagle, hunting dog
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	gadar = beagle, hunting dog
Irish (Gaeilge)	gadhar [ɡəiɾˠ] = (hunting) dog, harrier, beagle, cur
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	gadhar [gɤ.ər] = lurcher, mastiff, greyhound

Etymology: from the Old Norse gagarr [source].

Proto-Celtic	*kulēnos = whelp
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cuilén [ˈkulʲeːn] = puppy, cub, kitten
Irish (Gaeilge)	coiléan [kɪˈlʲaːn̪ˠ] = pup, cub, whelp; youth, scion; trickster
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cuilean [kulan] = puppy, whelp; cub; seal pup; darling, dear; short/small bone
Manx (Gaelg)	quallian = puppy
Welsh (Cymraeg)	colwyn [kiː] = whelp, puppy, cub; lap-dog; spaniel
Old Cornish	coloin = puppy
Cornish (Kernewek)	kolen [ˈkɔlɪn] = puppy, cub
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kolen = puppy, fawn, rabbit

Etymology: unknown

Old Irish (Goídelc)	cana [ˈkana] = cub, puppy
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cana [ˈkana] = cub, puppy
Irish (Gaeilge)	cana [ˈkanˠə] = cub, whelp; bardic poet of fourth order
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cana [kanə] = puppy, whelp
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cenau / cenaw = cub, whelp, puppy, kitten; son, descendant, scion, young warrior; knave, imp, rascal; catkin, cat’s tail

Etymology: possibly from the Latin canis (dog), from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱwṓ (dog) [source], or from the Proto-Celtic *kanawo (young animal).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Foxes

23rd May 202024th May 2020 By Simon

Words for fox in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	sinnach / sindach = fox
Irish (Gaeilge)	sionnach [ˈʃɪn̪ˠəx / ʃɪˈn̪ˠɑx / ˈʃɪn̪ˠax] = fox
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sionnach [ˈʃun̪ˠəx] / seannach [ˈʃan̪ˠəx] = fox, bagpipe reed
Manx (Gaelg)	shynnagh = fox

Etymology: unknown

Irish (Gaeilge)	madra rua [madəɣ ‘r̪ˠuəɣ] = fox, red fox
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	madadh-ruadh [madəɣ ‘r̪ˠuəɣ] = fox, red fox

Etymology: from the Old Irish madrad (dog) and the rúad (red) [source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	balgair [bal̪ˠagɛrʲ] = fox

Etymology: unknown.

Proto-Celtic	*loɸernos = fox
Gaulish	*louernos = fox
Old Irish (Goídelc)	loarn = fox
Proto-Brythonic	llowern = fox
Old Welsh	louern = fox
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llewyrn = fox
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llewyrn = foxes
Old Cornish	louuern = fox
Cornish (Kernewek)	lowarn = fox
Old Breton	louuern = fox
Middle Breton	louarn = fox
Breton (Brezhoneg)	louarn [ˈluː.aʁn] / luhern = fox

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wlop- (fox) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	llwynog [ˈɬʊɨ̯nɔɡ] = fox, a cunning, craft or willy person, bundle llwynoges = vixen, female fox llwynogyn = little fox

Etymology: from llwyn (bush, shrub, brake, thicket, copse, grove, arbour, woods, forest) and the suffix -og, from Latin lignum (firewood, tree), Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-no- (that which is collected) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	cadno [ˈkadnɔ] = fox; craft person, foxy, deceptive day; bundle of straw used for constructing an air passage in a stack of corn not well-seasoned; skid, scotch, trigger cadnawes = vixen, female fox

Etymology: probably from the personal name Cadno, from cad (battle), from the Proto-Celtic *katus (battle), from the Proto-Indo-European *kéh₃tus (fight); and the suffix -no, from the Proto-Celtic *gnāw- (knowing) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Welsh (Cymraeg)

Starlings

Herons

Pigeons and Doves

Hawks and Falcons

Cockerels / Roosters

Hens & Chickens

Crows and Ravens

Birds and Larks

Hound Dogs

Foxes