Category: Etymology

Calling Words

By Simon

Words for to call in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *garyo- = to cry, shout
Old Irish (Goídelc) gairid [ˈɡarʲiðʲ] = to call, cry out, summon, name
Irish (Gaeilge) gair [ɡaɾʲ] = to call, summon, invoke, name, proclaim, inaugurate, acclaim
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) gàir [gaːrʲ] = to laugh, shout, cry, make a noise, resound
Manx (Gaelg) guee = to invoke, crave, beseech, entreat, appeal, swear by, pray, beg, swear, curse
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) garddu = word
Welsh (Cymraeg) gair [ɡai̯r] = word; speech, phrase; greeting, salutation; short extempore address or exhortation; saying, proverb
Cornish (Kernewek) ger = word
Old Breton gerent = word
Breton (Brezhoneg) ger [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = word, phrase, question

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵeh₂r- (to call, cry out) [Source].

Proto-Brythonic *gėlwɨd = to call
Welsh (Cymraeg) galw [ˈɡalu / ˈɡaːlu] = to call, shout, bawl, summon, invite
Cornish (Kernewek) gelwel = to call, appeal, invite, summon
Breton (Brezhoneg) galven [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = to call, summon

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gal(o)s- (voice, cry) [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

Eating

By Simon

Words for to eat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *essi = to eat
Old Irish (Goídelc) ithid [ˈiθʲiðʲ] = to eat
Irish (Gaeilge) ith [ɪ / ɪh] = to eat, feed, graze, bite, corrode, erode, consume, destroy, abuse, scold, revile, chew
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ith [iç] = to eat, gnaw, chew, devour, corrode, consume
Manx (Gaelg) ee [i] = to eat, devour, feed, erode, kill off, dispose; consumption, eating, depletion
Welsh (Cymraeg) ysu [ˈəsɨ / ˈəsi] = to consume, eat, devour, destroy, ruin, corrode, erode, wear away, torment, itch
Old Cornish esat = to eat, eating

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁édti (to eat) [Source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) bwyta [ˈbʊɨ̯ta / ˈbʊi̯ta] = to eat, consume, devour, ravage, waste, wear away, corrode, rust

Etymology: bwyd (food) +‎ –ha (denominative suffix) [Source].

Cornish (Kernewek) dybri / debry = to eat
Old Breton diprim = to eat
Breton (Brezhoneg) debriñ [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = to eat

Etymology: uncertain

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

Going, Going, Gone

By Simon

Words for to go in Celtic languages.

Note: this is one of the few irregular verbs in the celtic languages, and some different parts of the conjugations come from different roots.

Proto-Celtic *tēgeti = to go, step
Old Irish (Goídelc) téít [tʲeːdʲ] = to go, process, depart leave
Irish (Gaeilge) téigh [tʲeːɟ / tʲeːj / tʲeː] = to go, move, proceed, get on, fare, make, cost
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) tèid = will go – (future form of rach)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *stéygʰeti (to be walking, to be climbing) [Source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) dul = to go, going
Irish (Gaeilge) dul [d̪ˠʊlˠ] = going, passing, departure, way, method, means, proper, natural, arrangement, style – (verb noun of téigh)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) dol [dɔl̪ˠ] = (act of) going, (act of) proceeding
Manx (Gaelg) goll = to go, show out, disembark, going, sinking, passage, departure

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic *monītor = go
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) muinithir = goes around
Proto-Brythonic *moned = go
Welsh (Cymraeg) mynd [mɨ̞nd / mɪnd] = to go, leave, depart, die, disappear, perish, come to an end, elapse, pass
Cornish (Kernewek) mos = to go, become
Breton (Brezhoneg) monet = to go, to become

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *menH- [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

Deafness

By Simon

Words for deaf in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *bodaros = deaf
Old Irish (Goídelc) bodar [ˈboðar] = deaf
Irish (Gaeilge) bodhar [bˠəuɾˠ] = deaf; bothered, confused; dull; numb; immovable, stagnant
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bodhar [bo.ər] = deaf; dull; diseased (of cattle, esp. with anthrax)
Manx (Gaelg) bouyr = deaf
Proto-Brythonic *boðar = deaf
Welsh (Cymraeg) byddar = deaf, hard of hearing, deaf person; not giving ear to request, pigheaded; dead, deadened, numb
Cornish (Kernewek) bodhar = deaf
Breton (Brezhoneg) bouzar = deaf; on the house (free of charge)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰodʰHrós (deaf) [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

Roundness

By Simon

Words for round in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *krundis = round
Old Irish (Goídelc) cruind, cruinn = round
Irish (Gaeilge) cruinn [kɾˠiːnʲ / kɾˠɪn̠ʲ] = round; gathered; exact, accurate; clear, coherent; concentrated; frugal, sparing, miserly
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cruinn [krɯin̪ʲ] = round, circular, spherical; rotund; neat, succinct, well-formed; assembled, gathered together
Manx (Gaelg) cruinn = accurate, detailed, unambigous, round, spherical, circular, circumstantial, compact, consummate, exact, scrupulous, strict
Proto-Brythonic *krunn = round
Welsh (Cymraeg) crwn [krʊn] = round, circular, rotund, spherical, globular; cylindrical; fat, plump, fleshy; complete, entire; young, small
Cornish (Kernewek) krenn = round
Breton (Brezhoneg) krenn = medium, clean, full, round,

Etymology: unknown, possibly borrowed from a non-Indo-European language [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

On the roundabout / Ar y cwmpasog

Wickedly Bad

By Simon

Words for bad in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *drukos = bad
Old Irish (Goídelc) droch [drox] = bad
Irish (Gaeilge) droch = bad, poor, evil, ill
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) droch [drɔx] = bad, evil, wicked
Manx (Gaelg) drogh = evil, wicked, bad, abusive, unenviable, misfortune, badness
Proto-Brythonic *drug = bad
Welsh (Cymraeg) drwg [druːɡ] = bad, rotten, putrid, poor, piteous, wretched, sorry, grievous, sad; unfavourable, injurious, harmful, unpleasant, indecent, obscene, counterfeit, false, harsh, cruel, severe, ruthless
Cornish (Kernewek) drog = bad, evil, invalid, naughty, wicked, nasty
Breton (Brezhoneg) drouk [ˈdruːk] = bad, evil

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ- (to deceive) [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

Clean & Pure

By Simon

Words for clean in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *glanos = clean, clear
Old Irish (Goídelc) glan [ɡlan] = clear, pure, clear
Irish (Gaeilge) glan [ɡlˠanˠ] = clean, clear, pure, bright, well-made, distinct; complete, extact
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) glan [gl̪ˠan] = clean, pure, bright, sheer, downright, great, grand, grovy
Manx (Gaelg) glen = clean, fair, fresh-coloured, clear, pure, chaste, hygienic, sheer, emphatic, downright, peremptory, flat (refusal), cloudless, undefiled, clearcut, unclouded
Proto-Brythonic *glan [ˈɡlan] = clean, clear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) glan = clean, clear
Welsh (Cymraeg) glân [glan] = clean, cleansed, neat; clear of sin, pure, good, virtuous, uncorrupted, undefiled, fair, honest, sincere; holy; fair of countenance, beautiful, handsome; complete, clean, utter, entire
Cornish (Kernewek) glan = clear, clean, pure
Old Breton glan = pure
Middle Breton glan = pure
Breton (Brezhoneg) glan = pure

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰl̥h₃-nó-s, *ǵʰelh₃- (green, yellow) [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

Gentle treasure

By Simon

Words for gift, treasure, benefit in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *moinis = treasure, precious object
Old Irish (Goídelc) moín = gift, benefit
Irish (Gaeilge) maoin [mˠiːnʲ] = gift, benefit, property, wealth, treasure (term of endearment)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) maoin [mɯːn̪ʲ] = asset, wealth, fund, gear, goods
Manx (Gaelg) mayn = property, good order
Proto-Brythonic *muɨn = beautiful
Old Welsh muin = worth, value
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) mwyn = worth, value
Welsh (Cymraeg) mwyn [muːɨ̯n / mʊi̯n] = tender, mild, gentle, meek, amiable, loving, kind, obliging, courteous, noble, fair, pleasant, sweet-sounding, melodious, soft, soothing
Old Cornish muin = gracile
Old Breton moin = delicate
Middle Breton moen = thin
Breton (Brezhoneg) moan [ˈmwãːn] = thin, slender

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European moynis [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

Treasure 013-1

Animals

By Simon

Words for animals in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *mīlom = animal
Old Irish (Goídelc) míl [mʲiːl] = animal, louse
Irish (Gaeilge) míol [mʲiːlˠ, mʲiːl] = animal, creature, insect, louse
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) mial [miəl̪ˠ] = louse, tick, animal (archaic)
Manx (Gaelg) meeyl [miːl] = insect, louse, gnat
Proto-Brythonic *mil [ˈmiːl] = animal
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) *mil = animal
Welsh (Cymraeg) mil [miːl] = animal, beast, creature
Cornish (Kernewek) mil = animal
Middle Breton mil = animal
Breton (Brezhoneg) mil [ˈmiːl] = animal

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)meh₁l- (small animal) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) ainmide = living creature, animal, beast, animate
Irish (Gaeilge) ainmhí [anʲəvʲiː]= animal, brute, monster
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ainmhidh [ɛnɛvɪ] = animal, beast of burden, heifer

Etymology: from the Old Irish ainim(m) (soul, life), from the Latin anima (soul, spirt, life; breath), or from the Proto-Celtic *anaman (soul, spirit), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁mos, from *h₂enh₁- (breathe) [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec) anyueyl, anieuil = animal, beast, creature
Welsh (Cymraeg) anifail [aˈnɪvai̯l / aˈniːvai̯l] = animal, beast, creature
Cornish (Kernewek) eneval = animal
Breton (Brezhoneg) aneval = animal

Etymology: from the Latin animal (animal, living creature), from animālis (animate, living), from anima (soul, spirt, life; breath) [source].

Proto-Celtic *betrixs = (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc) bethach = beast, brute, animal
bethadach = animal
Irish (Gaeilge) beithíoch [bʲɛˈhiəx / ˈbʲɛhiəx / ˈbʲɛhiə(h)] = beast, (large) animal, brute; (large) specimen of creature, bovine animal; heifer, cow, cattle, horse
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) beathach [bɛhəx] = animal, beast, head of cattle, brute
beithir [behɪrʲ] = any wild or savage thing, beast; thunderbolt; lightning; strong gust of wind; warrior, hero
Manx (Gaelg) baagh = animal, pet, beast

Etymology: from the Middle Irish betha (life) [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

Newborough beach

Donkeys

By Simon

Words for donkeys in Celtic languages.

The Donkey Sanctuary

Old Irish (Goídelc) asal = ass, she-ass
Irish (Gaeilge) asal [ˈasˠəlˠ] = ass, donkey
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) asal [asal̪ˠ]= ass, donkey
Manx (Gaelg) assyl = ass, donkey
Welsh (Cymraeg) asyn [ˈasɨ̞n / ˈasɪn] = (male) donkey / (he-)ass
asen [ˈasɛn] = donkey, ass; female donkey, she-ass, jenny
asennig = little or young (female) donke
Cornish (Kernewek) asen = donkey
Breton (Brezhoneg) azen = donkey, haddock

Etymology: Brythonic words from the Latin asina from asinus (donkey, ass) [source]. Goidelic words from the Latin asellus (young ass / donkey) from asinus (donkey, ass) [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