Words for dear, gentle, sweet and related things in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *koimos = dear, nice |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | Coemo = name |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | cáem [koːi̯ṽ] = beloved, dear, fair, lovely, friend, noble caíme = beauty, loveliness, charity, kindliness |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | cáem, cáomh = dear, precious, beloved, belonging to the family; fair, beautiful, lovely cáemach = a noble cáemaid = treats kindly, is gracious towards, cherishes cáemaigid = to make smooth cáemdae = fair, beautiful cáemthach = friend, companion; company, companionship |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | caomh [keːvˠ/kiːvˠ/kiːw] = dear one, companion, gentle, noble, person, dear, mild, pleasant, lovely, smooth caomhantas = conservation, preservation caoimhe = gentleness, mildness, sweetness, loveliness, smoothness caomhach = attendant, protective caomhnaí = companion caoimhnaigh to cherish, preserve, conserve, protect caomhnóir = guardian, protector, patron caomhnú = preservation, conservation, protection macaomh = young person, youth, boy, lad, cub (scout) |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | caomh [kɯːv] = kind, gentle, tender, beloved; kindness, gentleness, friend, beloved, object caomhnadh [kɯ̃ːvnəɣ] = saving, conservation, economising, reserving, booking, reservation, sparing caomhnachas [kɯ͂vnəxəs] = economy, frugality caomhail [kɯːval] = friendly, gentle, kind caomhan [kɯːvan] = kind/mild-mannered person, nobleman caomhag [kɯːvag] = affectionate/gentle woman, lass(ie) caomhalachd [kɯːvəl̪ˠəxg] = kindness caomhradh [kɯ̃ːvra] = euphemism caomh-chompanach = bosom friend/pal |
| Proto-Brythonic | *kʉβ̃ = ? |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | ku, cu, cû = dear, beloved kideb, kudeb = fondness, affection, dearness |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cu [kɨː/kiː] = dear, beloved, amiable, pleasant, precious, beautiful; dear one, precious thing cuaidd = loving, affectionate, precious cudeb, cudab = fondness, affection, dearness cudeg = fair and amiable cuder = fondness, affection mamgu = grandmother tadcu = grandfather |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | cuf, cûf = dear, amiable, beloved, loving cuef = dear, kindly |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kuv = affectionate, amiable, amicable, dear, kind, kindly, pleasant; beloved, darling kuv kolon = sweetheart kuvder = kindness |
| Old Breton | cum = bright, brilliant, light, candle |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | cuff, cûn, cuñ, kunv = affable, soft, sweet, gentle, mild cuffhat, cuñhaat, kuñvaat = to become affable cuffhadur, cuñhadur, kuñvadur = affability, moral sweetness cuffheat, kuneet, kuñvaet = softened, soothed |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kuñv [ˈkỹː] = benign, mild kuñvded = mildness tad-kuñv = great grandfather mab-kuñv = great grandson moereb-kuñv = great aunt |
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Etymology uncertain [source].
The name Kevin comes from the Irish name Caoimhín [ˈkiːvʲiːnʲ] from the Middle Irish Caoimhghín [ˈkəiṽʲʝiːnʲ] from the Old Irish Cóemgein [ˈkoiṽʲɣʲinʲ], (also written Cáemgein/Cǽimgen), from cáem (beloved, dear) and gein (birth). Variants include Kevan, from the Irish diminutive version Caoimheán, and Caoimhe (anglicised as Keeva or Kweeva), a feminie version [source].
Versions of Kevin in other Celtic languages include Caomhan in Scottish Gaelic, Keveen in Manx, and Cefin in Welsh.
| Proto-Celtic | *kanis/*kani- = good, nice |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | caín [ˈkaːi̯nʲ] = fine, good, fair, beautiful, lovely caíngním [ˈkaːi̯nʲɣʲnʲiːṽ] = good deed |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | caín = fine, good, fair, beautiful, soft, smooth, clement |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | caoin [kiːnʲ] = smooth, delicate, gentle, refined caoinbhéas = gentle, decent, habit caoinbhéasach = gentle-mannered, decent caoindéanta = fine, delicate (feature/figure) caoine = smoothness, gentleness |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | caoin [kɯːn̪ʲ] = kind, mild, pleasant gentle, tender, delightful; dry, seasoned (hay) caoin-bheusach = refined feur-caoin = hay |
| Manx (Gaelg) | keain = sweet-tempered, tender (memory) |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | cein, kein = fine, fair, beautiful; the first and best liquor brought to the hall |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cain [kai̯n] = fine, fair, beautiful, bright, excellent, refined cain wybodau, celfau cain = belles lettres, fine arts |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | qan, qen, quen = beautiful, brilliant |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | ken = beautiful, brilliant |
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Etymology: unknown, possibly from a non-Proto-Indo-European language [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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
