Category: Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)

Narrow

By Simon

Words for narrow in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *koilos = thin
Old Irish (Goídelc) cáel / cóel = thin, slender, narrow, fine, delicate
Irish (Gaeilge) caol [keːl̪ˠ / kiːlˠ] = thin, slender; fine; narrow; shrill; slender; palatalized; weak, dilute; slight; subtle
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) caol [kɯːl̪ˠ] = narrow, slender; slim, thin, lean, skinny; lanky
Manx (Gaelg) keyl [keːl] = thin, fine, attenuated, lanky, lean, slim, slight, willowy, gracile, tapered, slender, hairline, narrow, spare, small, drawn out, watery (soup), weak (solution)
Proto-Brythonic *kʉl = narrow
Welsh (Cymraeg) cul [kɨːl / ˈkiːl] = narrow; lean; illiberal; bigoted, narrow-minded
Cornish (Kernewek) kul [ky:l / ki:l] = narrow

The word for narrow in Breton in strizh, which comes from the Latin strictus (tightened, compressed) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Low

By Simon

Words for low in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *ɸīsselos = low
Old Irish (Goídelc) ísel [ˈiːsʲel] = low
Irish (Gaeilge) íseal [ˈiːʃəlˠ] = low, low-lying
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ìosal [iəsəl̪ˠ] = low, humble, mean lowly
ìseal [iːʃəl̪ˠ] = low, commoner
Manx (Gaelg) ishil = low
injil = low, low-necked, low-lying, low-level, low down, low-built, low-pitched, low-grade, common (vulgar), depressed, subdued, subaltern
Welsh (Cymraeg) isel [ˈɨ̞sɛl / ˈiːsɛl / ˈɪsɛl] = low, low down, low-lying, low-flying; lower than the average or usual level, running low, shallow (water, lake)
Cornish (Kernewek) isel [‘izɛl / ‘izɐl] = low, modest, vulgar
Old Breton isel = low
Breton (Brezhoneg) izel = low

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European pedsú, from *pṓds (foot) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

High, Elevated, Noble

By Simon

Words for high in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *ardwos = high
Gaulish *arduenna = high
Old Irish (Goídelc) ard [ar͈d] = high
Irish (Gaeilge) ard [ɑːɾˠd̪ˠ / æːɾˠd̪ˠ] = high, tall; loud; ambitious
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) àrd [aːr̪ˠd] = high, lofty, tall; great; loud; chief, eminent, superior, supreme
Manx (Gaelg) ard = high, towering, tall, big, loud, height, high place, fell, incline, district, region, direction, compass point, pole
Proto-Brythonic *arð = high
Welsh (Cymraeg) ardd = hill, highland, top; high, upland
Cornish (Kernewek) arth = high
Breton (Brezhoneg) arz = high

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *h₃r̥dʰwós, from *h₃erdʰ- (to increase, grow; upright, high) [source].

Proto-Celtic *ouxselos = high, elevated
Gaulish *uxelos = high
Old Irish (Goídelc) úasal = high
Irish (Gaeilge) uasal [ˈuəsˠəlˠ] = noble, high-born; gentle, gentlemanly; precious, fine; (of place) sacred to the dead; hallowed; enchanted, inhabited by fairies
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) uasal [uəsəl̻ˠ] = noble, highminded, genteel
Manx (Gaelg) ooasle = aristocratic, lofty, illustrious, esteemed, gentlemanly, patrician, honourable, dignified, lordly, magnificent, classy, respected
Proto-Brythonic *ʉxel [ʉˈxɛːl] = high, elevated
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) uchel = high, loud
Welsh (Cymraeg) uchel [ˈɨ̞χɛl / ˈiːχɛl /ˈɪχɛl] = hill, tall; high(-ranking), exalted, important, solemn, sublime, splendid, excellent, noble, stately, respectable, commendable; proud, haughty, arrogant, presumptuous, snobbish
Cornish (Kernewek) ughel [‘ʏhɛl / ‘ɪʍɐl] = high, grand, loud, tall
Old Breton uchel, uhel = high
Middle Breton huel, uhel = high
Breton (Brezhoneg) uhel = high, upstream, uphill

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *h₃ewps- (height) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Broad & Wide

By Simon

Words for broad & wide in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *ɸlitanos = broad, wide
Gaulish litana = broad, wide
Old Irish (Goídelc) lethan [l͈ʲeθan] = broad, wide
Irish (Gaeilge) leathan [ˈl̠ʲahənˠ] = broad, wide, extensive
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) leathann [l̪ˠʲɛhən̪ˠ] = broad, wide, extensive
Manx (Gaelg) lhean = wide, sheet, sweeping, flat of nose, extensive, broad, full (of chin)
Proto-Brythonic *lɨdan [lɨˈdan] = broad, wide
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) llydan = broad, wide
Welsh (Cymraeg) llydan [ˈɬədan] = broad, wide, long or wide (stride); sturdy, stout
Cornish (Kernewek) ledan [‘lɛdan] = broad
Old Breton litan = broad, wide
Breton (Brezhoneg) ledan = wide, broad

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *pl̥th₂-enos, from *pleth₂- (flat). [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Gods, Deities & Days

By Simon

Words for gods, deities & days in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *dēwos = god, deity, day
*dēwā = goddess
Gaulish deuognata, teuoxtonio-, dēuos, dēwos, dēvona = god
Celtiberian teiuoreikis, deobriga = god
Galician deva = goddess (in river names)
Old Irish (Goídelc) día [dʲiːa̯] = god
Irish (Gaeilge) dia [dʲiə] = god, deity (plural: déithe)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) dia [dʲiə] = god (plural: diathan)
Manx (Gaelg) jee = god, deity, godhead (plural: jeeaghyn)
Proto-Brythonic *duɨw [ˈduɨ̯w] = god
Old Welsh duiu = god
Welsh (Cymraeg) duw [dɨu̯ / dɪu̯] = god, the Supreme Being, the Almighty, the Christian Trinity; O God! (plural: duwiau)
Old Cornish duy = god
Cornish (Kernewek) duw [dyˑʊ / diˑʊ] = god (plural: duwow)
Old Breton doi = god
Middle Breton doe = god
Breton (Brezhoneg) doue = god

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *deywós (god), from *dyew- (sky, heaven) [source]. 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, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Small

By Simon

Words for small and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *bikkos = small, little
Old Irish (Goídelc) bec(c) [ˈbʲeɡ] = small, little
Irish (Gaeilge) beag [bʲɔɡ / bʲɞɡ / bʲɛɡ] = little, small, small amount; few
beagadán = diminutive person, little one
beagaigh = to lesson, diminish
beagán = little, a few, a little, somewhat
beagchainteach = silent, taciturn
beagchéillí = senseless, foolish
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) beag [beg] = small, little, wee; minor; petty, puny, trifling; slight
beag(adh) = to diminish, lessen, reduce
Manx (Gaelg) beg = small, short, slight, few, poky, model, narrow, quiet, dwarf
beggan = somewhat, slightly, partly, faintly, a few, little, small piece
Proto-Brythonic *bɨx = small
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) bychan [ˈbəχan] = small, little
Welsh (Cymraeg) bach [baːχ] = small, little, short; not fully grown or developed, young; insignificant, unimportant, humble; small (business); lower-case (letter); dear, beloved; poor
bach (y) nyth = runt, spoilt youngest child
fy mach i = my dear
pen bach = big-head, conceited person
bychan [ˈbəχan] = little, small, minute, diminutive; inconspicuous, obscure, unimportant, petty; young inexperienced; little one, young child
bychanaf, bychanu = to abase, disparage, disregard, slight, minimize
bychander, bychandod = littleness, smallness, scarcity, contempt, pettiness
bychanig = very little/small, minute, diminutive, bit, piece
bychan bach very little
Cornish (Kernewek) byghan [‘bɪhan] = little, small
byghanhe = to reduce, make smaller
byghanna = smaller
bara byghan = roll
bys byghan = little finger
flogh byghan = baby
lavrek byghan = underpants, briefs
Breton (Brezhoneg) bihan = small, insufficient, modest, little
bihanaat = diminutive, pet name
bihanadur = miniature
bihanniver = minority

Etmology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰég-ko-s, from *bʰeg- (to break) +‎ the suffix *-kos

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis

Big, Large & Great

By Simon

Words for big. large & great in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *māros = big, great
Gaulish maros
Lepontic 𐌌𐌀𐌓𐌖𐌉 (marui)
Old Irish (Goídelc) mór, máar, már = big, great
Irish (Gaeilge) mór [mˠoːɾˠ / mˠɔːɾˠ] = big, great, large
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) mòr [moːr] = big, great, large, grand, strapping; ample, bulky; high, lofty, tall; spacious; large amount
Manx (Gaelg) mooar [muːr / muːɹ̝ / muːə̯ / muː] = big, great, grand, heavy, tall, chief, major, familiar, powerful, marked, commodious, intimate, capacious, extravagant, intense, extensive, grievous, bold (promintary), loose-fitting, difficult
Proto-Brythonic *mọr [mɔːr] = great, large
Old Welsh maur = great
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) mawr = large, big, great
Welsh (Cymraeg) mawr [mau̯r / mou̯r] = large, big; fully grown; capital (of letter); heavy (rain); long (hair); deep (water)
Old Cornish maur = big
Cornish (Kernewek) meur [mø:r / me:r ] = great, grand, large, substantial
Old Breton mor = big
Breton (Brezhoneg) meur [møʁ] = big, many

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *moh₁ros (great) [source]

Proto-Celtic *brassos = great, violent
Irish (Gaeilge) bras = great, strong, swift (literary)
Welsh (Cymraeg) bras [braːs] = thick, fat, plump, stout, bulky, fatted, large, strong; coarse (sand); heavy (rain)
Cornish (Kernewek) bras [bra:z] = big, bulky, large
Breton (Brezhoneg) bras [bʁaz] = big, huge, important

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *gʷrod-to- from *gʷred- [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Celtiadur – an Etymological Dictionary of Celtic Languages

By Simon

Fáilte / Fàilte / Failt ort / Croeso / Dynnargh dhis / Degemer mat / Welcome

This site contains words that are similar or cognate, in Celtic languages, including Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Manx, Welsh, Cornish and Breton, as well as their historical versions and ancestors.

You can find out more about the Celtic languages on Omniglot – the online encyclopedia of writing systems and languages.

The name Celtiadur is one I coined which combines the word celt and the Welsh suffix -adur, which appears in such words as geiriadur (dictionary), dyddiadur (diary), gwyddoniadur (encyclopedia) and ieithiadur (grammar, dictionary, vocabulary). It is also used in Breton.