Mice

3rd May 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for mice in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*lukoss = mouse
Old Irish (Goídelc)	luch [l͈ux] = mouse, rat
Irish (Gaeilge)	luch [l̪ˠʊx / l̪ˠɔx / l̪ˠʌx] = mouse luchóg = mouse
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	luch [l̪ˠux] = mouse
Manx (Gaelg)	lugh [ɫɔx] = mouse
Proto-Brythonic	llug = mouse llugod = mice
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	lleyc = shrew, shrewmouse, (field) mouse
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llyg = shrew, shrewmouse, (field) mouse llygod [ˈɬəɡɔd] = mice, rats, shrews, voles llygoden = mouse, rat, shrew, vole
Middle Cornish	logoden, logosan = mouse
Cornish (Kernewek)	logos = mice logosen / logojen = mouse
Old Breton	loc = mouse
Breton (Brezhoneg)	logod = mice, yarn balls, meatballs, varicose veins logodenn = mouse

Etymology: unknown, most likely from a non-Indo-European substrate language – only found in Celtic languages [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

Here’s a tune I wrote called The Field Mouse’s Delight / Llawenydd Llygoden y Coed:

Simon Ager · The Field Mouse’s Delight / Llawenydd Llygoden y Coed

Hedgehogs

13th April 2020 By Simon

Words for hedgehog in Celtic languages.

Irish (Gaeilge)	gráinneog [ˈɡɾˠɑːnʲoːɡ] = hedgehog; bristly, short-tempered, person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	gràineag [ˈgraːnʲag] = hedgehog
Manx (Gaelg)	graynoge = hedgehog

Etymology: from gráin/gràin/grayn (hatred, abhorrence), from the Proto-Celtic *grā̆gnis (disgust), & -eog/eag/oge (a noun suffix) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	draenog [ˈdrɑːɨ̯nɔɡ / ˈdrai̯nɔɡ] = hedgehog, (sea-)urchin, procupine; a cross-grained peevish person; ferret, bittern, thorny, prickly
Breton (Brezhoneg)	draeneg = hedgehog, wolf, barbel

Etymology: from draen (prickle, thorn), from the Proto-Celtic *dragino-, & -og/eg (a noun suffix) [source].

Cornish (Kernewek)	sort = hedgehog

Etymology: unkonwn

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Deer

7th April 20208th May 2022 By Simon

Words for deer in Celtic languages. There were several different words for deer in Proto-Celtic: *wēdus, *karwos, *ellan(t)ī-, *danī- and *yorkos, and also *sidos (stag). They may have referred to different types of deer, but it is not certain which types, apart from *yorkos, which is a roe deer.

Proto-Celtic	*wēdus [ˈweː.dus] = wild
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fíad [fʲiːa̯ð] = wild animals, game, especially deer
Irish (Gaeilge)	fia [fʲiə] = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fiadh [fiəɣ] = deer
Manx (Gaelg)	feeaih = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *weydʰ- (wood, wilderness) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*karwos = deer, stag
Gaulish	caruus / carvos = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc)	carbh = deer
Irish (Gaeilge)	carria / cairrfhiadh = deer, stag
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cair-fhiadh / carbh-fheadh = hart, stag
Manx (Gaelg)	çharroo = stag
Proto-Brythonic	*karw = deer, stag
Old Welsh	*caru = deer
Middle Welsh (kymraec)	caru, carv, carw = deer, hart, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg)	carw [ˈkaru / ˈkaːru] = deer, hart, stag; lord, nobleman, patron
Old Cornish	caruu = stag
Middle Cornish	carow = stag
Cornish (Kernewek)	karow = stag
Middle Breton	caro, qaro = deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	karv = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂wós, from *ḱerh₂- (horn) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*sidos = stag
Old Irish (Goídelc)	séd = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	hydd = stag, hart
Breton (Brezhoneg)	heizes = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: uncertain

Proto-Celtic	ellan(t)ī- / agliones = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ag [aɣ] = bullock, cow, ox; deer, stag
Irish (Gaeilge)	agh = cow, ox agh alla = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	agh [ɤɣ] = heifer, hind
Welsh (Cymraeg)	eilon/eilion = stag, hart

Etymology: possible from the same root as the English word eland (a type of antelope found in South Africa), which from the Dutch eland (elk), from the Old High German elent.

Proto-Celtic	*ou̯ījkā = ?
Gaulish	cerua = ?
Old Cornish	euhic = hind, deer
Old Welsh	eguic = hind, deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ewig = hind, doe, roe; graceful light-footed woman; deer, hart

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ówis (sheep) [source]

Proto-Celtic	*yorkos = roebuck, deer
Gaulish	iorkos = deer
Proto-Brythonic	*jorx = deer, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg)	iwrch [jʊrχ] = roe-deer, roebuck
Old Cornish	yorch = roe-deer
Cornish (Kernewek)	yorgh = roe-deer
Old Breton	iorch = roe-deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	yourc’h = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *york- (antelope, gazelle) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*danī- = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	danas = deer, fallow deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	demm = deer, fallow deer

Etymology: related to the French daim (hind, doe), from the Latin dāma (fallow deer, buck, doe) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Water Dogs

3rd April 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for otter in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*dubrokū = otter, beaver
Old Irish (Goídelc)	doburchú [ˈdovurˌxuː] = otter dobrán = otter, beaver
Irish (Gaeilge)	dobharchú = otter dobhrán = otter, dull-witted, stupid, person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dobhar-chù [do.ərxu] = otter dòbhran [dɔːran] = otter
Manx (Gaelg)	dooarchoo = otter, beaver
Proto-Celtic	*düβrgi = otter, beaver
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	deuerky, deifyrgi, dyfyrgi, dwfyrgi = otter
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dyfrgi [ˈdəvrɡɪ / ˈdəvrɡi] = otter dyfrast = she-otter dwrgi = otter ci dŵr = otter
Old Cornish	doferghi = otter
Middle Cornish	dofergi = otter
Cornish (Kernewek)	dowrgi = otter
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dourgi = otter

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *dubros (water) and *kū (dog) [source].

The words for water beginning with d in the Goidelic languages only appear in this compound.

Irish (Gaeilge)	madra uisce [ˈmˠad̪ˠɾˠə ˈɪʃcɪ] = otter
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	madadh-uisge [ˈmadəɣ ˈɯʃgʲə] = otter
Manx (Gaelg)	moddey ushtey = otter

Etymology: from the Old Irish madrad /matrad (dog); and the Old Irish uisce (water), from the Proto-Celtic *udenskyos (water), from the Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ (water) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Rabbits

27th March 2020 By Simon

Words for rabbit in Celtic languages.

Irish (Gaeilge)	coinín = rabbit
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	coineanach [kɔn̪ʲanəx] = rabbit, bunny, coney coinean [kɔn̪ʲan] = rabbit, bunny, coney
Manx (Gaelg)	conning / conneeyn = rabbit, bunny, coney
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cwningen [kʊˈnɪŋɛn] = rabbit, cony, hyrax cwning [ˈkʊnɪŋ] = rabbit, cony, hyrax
Cornish (Kernewek)	konin = rabbit
Breton (Brezhoneg)	koulin / konifl / konikl = rabbit

Etymology: from the Anglo-Norman conil/connil (rabbit, idiot), from Latin cunīculus (rabbit, rabbit burrow, mine, subterranean tunnel) [source]

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	rabaid [r̪ˠabɪdʲ] = rabbit, bunny, coney

Etymology: from the English rabbit, from the Middle English rabet, rabette (rabbit), from the Old French rabbotte / rabouillet (baby rabbit), from the Middle Dutch robbe (rabbit, seal) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Cats

24th March 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for cat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*kattā = cat
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cath = cat
Irish (Gaeilge)	cat = cat cat fireann = tomcat piscín = kitten
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cat [kahd] = cat cat fireann / moth-chat / cullach-cait = tomcat, bossy child baircne = female cat, white cat piseag [piʃag] = kitten
Manx (Gaelg)	kayt = feline, cat, puss kayt firryn = tomcat pishin / pishanagh = kitten
Proto-Brythonic	*kaθ = cat
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cath, kath = cat
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cath [kaθ] = cat, wild cat cwrcath / gwrcath / cwrcyn = tomcat cath fenyw = queen, female cat cath fach = kitten
Old Cornish	kat = cat
Middle Cornish	cath = cat
Cornish (Kernewek)	kath [kaːθ / kæːθ] = cat kathik = kitten
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kazh [ˈkɑːs] = cat, tomcat kazheg [ˈkɑː.zes] = queen, female cat kazhig [ˈkɑː.zik] = kitten

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Badgers

22nd March 2020 By Simon

Words for badger in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*brokkos = badger
Gaulish	broco / brokkos = badger
Primitive Irish	ᚁᚏᚑᚉᚔ (broci) = badger (genitive)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	brocc [brok] = badger
Irish (Gaeilge)	broc [bˠɾˠɔk / bˠɾˠʌk] = badger, dirty-faced person, short thick-set person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	broc [brɔxg] = badger, wolf (obselete)
Manx (Gaelg)	brock = badger
Proto-Brythonic	*brox = badger
Welsh (Cymraeg)	broch [broːχ] = badger
Old Cornish	broch = badger
Cornish (Kernewek)	brogh [bɹoːx] = badger
Breton (Brezhoneg)	broc’h [ˈbʁoːx] = badger, quarrel

Etymology: unknown, possibly cognate with Old High German braccho (sniffer dog) [Source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	mochyn daear / daearfochyn = badger

Etymology: from the Welsh mochyn (pig) and daear (earth, ground) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Bears

18th March 2020 By Simon

Words for bear in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*artos = bear
Noric	*𐌀𐌓𐌕𐌄(𐌁𐌖𐌈𐌆) (Arte(budz)) = bear(?)
Gaulish	*artio = bear
Old Irish (Goídelc)	art [ar͈t] = bear, hero, warrior
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	art [ar̪ˠʃd] = bear (archaic), hero
Proto-Brythonic	*arθ [arθ] = bear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	arth [arθ] = bear
Welsh (Cymraeg)	arth [arθ] = bear, fierce or rough person
Cornish (Kernewek)	arth [ɒɹθ] = bear
Old Breton	ard / arth = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg)	arzh = bear

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ursa [ur̪ˠsə] = bear
Cornish (Kernewek)	ors = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ourz = ourz

Etymology: possibly from the Latin ursa (she-bear), from ursus (bear), from the Proto-Italic *orssos (bear), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	mathgamain [ˈmaθɣəṽənʲ] = bear
Irish (Gaeilge)	mathúin [ˈmˠahuːnʲ] = bear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mathan [ˈmahan] = bear
Manx (Gaelg)	maghouin = bear

Etymology: from the Old Irish math (good) and gamuin (calf) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Calling Words

16th March 2020 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.

Eating

14th March 2020 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.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)

Mice

Hedgehogs

Deer

Water Dogs

Rabbits

Cats

Badgers

Bears

Calling Words

Eating