Decades

6th July 20237th July 2023 By Simon

Words for ten and related things in Celtic languages:

ten

Proto-Celtic	dekam = ten dekametos = tenth
Celtiberian	tekametam = tenth
Gaulish	decan = ten decametos = tenth
Old Irish (Goídelc)	deich [dʲexʲ] = ten dechmad = tenth, ten days deichenbor = ten people
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	deich, dech = ten dechmad, deachmadh = tenth, ten days deichenbor, dechnabar, dechnebur = ten people deichenborach = belonging to a company of ten deichthriub = The Ten Tribes of Israel
Irish (Gaeilge)	deich [dʲɛç/dʲɛh/dʲɛ] = ten (an) deichiú = tenth, tenth part deichniúr = ten people deichbhliantúil = decennial (consisting of or lasting 10 years; occuring every 10 years) deachú = tenth part, tithe deachúil = decimal deachúlaigh = to decimalize deachúlú = decimalization
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	deich [dʲeç] = ten deicheamh [dʲeçəv] (10ᵐʰ) = tenth (10ᵗʰ) deichnear [dʲeçnər] = ten (people) deich ar fhichead = thirty Na Deich Àitheantan = The Ten Commandments deichead [dʲeçəd] = decade, decimal deicheachadh = (act of) decimalising, decimalisation deich-fillte = tenfold
Manx (Gaelg)	jeih [d͡ʒɛi] = ten (yn) jeihoo = (the) tenth jeihaght = decade, ten jeih keead = thousand jeih filley = ten-fold Jeih Annaghyn = Ten Commandments
Proto-Brythonic	deg [dɛːɡ] = ten degβ̃ed [dɛɡˈβ̃ɛːd] = tenth
Cumbric	dig, dick, dik = ten
Old Welsh	dec = ten
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	dec = ten decuet, decvet, decfed = tenth decuettyd = tenth day dec a hugein(t) = thirty dec a dugein(t) = fifty dec a phedwar ugein(t) = ninety degeir = the Ten Commandments, Decalogue degniev = ten days deguyr, degwyr = ten men
Welsh (Cymraeg)	deg [deːɡ] = ten degfed [ˈdɛɡvɛd/ˈdɛɡvad] (10fed) = tenth degfetydd = tenth day deg ar hugain = thirty deg a thrigain = seventy deg a phedwar ugain = ninety dega(w)d = decade degiad = decimal degoes = ten ages or lifetimes, prolonged life degol = decimal, metric, tenth part degolaf, degoli = to decimalize; decimate, tithe degoliad = decimalization, decmiation, a tithing dengair = the Ten Commandments, Decalogue dengnïau = ten days dengnyn, dengw(y)r = ten men, ten persons
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	dec, dék, dég = ten dege, degves = tenth dek warn-ugens, dék war-nugens, degwarnygnas = thirty deg ha dugans = fifty
Cornish (Kernewek)	deg = ten degves = tenth deg warn ugens = thirty deg ha dew ugens = fifty deg ha tri ugens = seventy deg ha peswar ugens = ninety degowek, degoweges = teenage, teenager degvledhen = decade
Old Breton	dec = ten
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	dec, dêc, deg, dégeu, dek = ten decuet, dekved = tenth dec ha triuguent, dec ha tri vguent = seventy dec ha peuaruguent = ninety dek kant, dec-cant, dek-kant = thousand
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dek = ten dekvet = tenth dek ha tri-ugent = seventy dek ha pevar-ugent = ninety Dekalog = Decalogue, the Ten Commandments

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *déḱm̥ (ten) and *deḱm̥tós (tenth) [source].

English words from the same roots include ten, decade, decimal and decathlon [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

Nine

30th June 20236th July 2023 By Simon

Words for nine and related things in Celtic languages:

nine

Proto-Celtic	nowan = nine naumetos = ninth
Gaulish	nau = nine nametos* = ninth
Old Irish (Goídelc)	noí [n͈oːi̯] = nine nómad = ninth nónbor = nine people noínden = nine days
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	noí, noi = nine nómad, nomad = ninth nónbor = nine people noínden = nine days noíchtige = a period of 29 days nócha, nocha, nochat = ninety
Irish (Gaeilge)	naoi [n̪ˠiː/n̪ˠɰiː] = nine (an) naoú = ninth naonúr = nine people naoi déag = nineteen nócha = ninety naoichodach = ninefold, having nine parts
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	naoi(dh) [n̪ˠɯj] = nine naodh [n̪ˠɯːɣ] = nine naoitheamh [n̪ˠɤjəv] (9ᵐʰ) = ninth (9ᵗʰ) naoinear [n̪ˠɯːn̪ʲər] = nine (people) naoi deug = nineteen naochad [n̪ˠɯːxəd] = ninety naoidh-fillte = nonuple, ninefold, nine-ply
Manx (Gaelg)	nuy [nɛi/niː] = nine (yn) nuyoo = (the) ninth nuy jeig = nineteen nuy-cheayrtyn, nuy-filley = ninefold nuy-uillinagh = nonagonal, nonagon
Proto-Brythonic	naw [n͈oːi̯] = nine nọβ̃ed = ninth
Old Welsh	naw = nine
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	nav, nau, naw = nine navuet, nauuet, nawued, nawuet = ninth naw deg, naw-deg = ninety nawkan, naw cant, nawcant = nine hundred, many, numerous naw ugein(t) = 180 nawbann, nowban = (having) nine syllables (in Welsh poetry) nawwell, nawell = nine times better (than), much better naun, nawn, naon = the ninth hour of the day naw nyn, nawnyn = nine men
Welsh (Cymraeg)	naw [naːu̯/nau̯] = nine nawfed [ˈnau̯vɛd/ˈnau̯vad] (9fed) = ninth, one of nine, nones (in Roman calendar) deunaw = eighteen (two nines) naw deg = ninety nawcant = nine hundred, many, numerous nawban, naw ban = (having) nine syllables (in Welsh poetry) nawell = nine times better (than), much better nawn = the ninth hour of the day (approx. 3pm) midday, nooon, afternoon nawnbryd = evening meal, dinner, supper nawnyn, naw nyn = nine men nawplyg = ninefold
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	naw = nine nawnzac, nawntek, nownsec, nowndzhak = nineteen naiv cans = nine hundred
Cornish (Kernewek)	naw = nine nawves = ninth nownsek = nineteen nowsegves = nineteenth
Old Breton	nau = nine
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	nau, nao, naou, naff, nauë, naü = nine navet = ninth nauntec, nantec, nandec = nineteen naontecvet, nandecvèd, naontekved, naoñteget = nineteenth nao ugent = 180
Breton (Brezhoneg)	nav [ˈnaw] = nine navet = ninth naontek = nineteen

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *h₁néwn̥ (nine) and *h₁newn̥nós (ninth) [source].

English words from the same roots include nine, and words beginning with ennea-, such as enneagon (a 9-sided polygon) and enneastyle (having 9 columns) [source].

Eightsome

22nd June 202322nd June 2023 By Simon

Words for eight and related things in Celtic languages:

eight

Proto-Celtic	oxtū = eight oxtūmetos = eighth
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ocht [ˈoxt] = eight ochtmad [ˈoxtṽað] = eighth ochtar = a group of eight people ochtmoga = eighty
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	ocht = eight ochtmad = eighth ochtur, ochtor, ochtar = eight people/things ochta = a group of eight things, an octad ochtmoga, ochtmogo, ochtmogat = eighty
Irish (Gaeilge)	ocht [ɔxt̪ˠ/ʌxt̪ˠ]= eight ochtar = eight (people) ochtú = eighth, eighth part ocht déag = eighteen ochtó = eighty ochtddach = having eight parts, eightfold ochtábhó = octavo ochtach, ochtáibh = octave ochtagán = octagon ochtapas = octopus
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ochd [ɔxg] = eight ochdamh [ɔxgəv] (8ᵐʰ) = eighth (8ᵗʰ) ochdnar [ɔxgnər] = eight people ochd-fillte = octuple, eightfold, eight-ply ochd-shliosach = octagon, octahedron ochd-chasach = octopus
Manx (Gaelg)	hoght [hoːx(t)] = eight, octuple hoghtoo = eighth hoght jeig = eighteen hoghtad = eighty hoght filley, hoght keayrtyn = eightfold oght-lhiatteeane, hoghtin = octagon hoght lhiatteeagh = octagonal hoght-choshagh = octopus
Gaulish	oxtu = eight oxtumetos = eighth
Proto-Brythonic	üiθ [yɨ̯θ] = eight üɨθβ̃ed = eighth
Cumbric	owera, hovera, haoves = eight
Old Welsh	oith = eight
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	uith, wyth, vyth, ỽyth, oeth [sei̯θ] = eight wythuet, wythued, ỽythuet = eighth wythnos, vythnos, ỽythnos = week petheunos, pytheonos, pethawnos = fortnight (two weeks)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	wyth [uːɨ̯θ/ʊi̯θ] = eight, octave, wythfed (8fed) [ˈʊɨ̯θvɛd/ˈʊi̯θvɛd] = eighth, one of eight wyth deg = eighty wythdegai = eighties wythawd = octet, octave wythblyg = octavo, eightfold, having eight parts wythnyn = eight persons, eight men wythochr = octahedron, octagon, octagonal wythnos [ˈʊɨ̯θnɔs] = week penwythnos = weekend pythefnos = fortnight (two weeks)
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	eath = eight eathas = eighth eitag, eythek = eighteen
Cornish (Kernewek)	eth = eight ethves = eighth. octave etek = eighteen etegves = eighteenth
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	eith = eight
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	eiz = eight eizuet, aihuet, eizved = eighth eiz-ugeñt, heiz-ugent = 160 eiz-cognecq = octagonal eiz-cornecq = octagonal, octagon eizuet, aihuet, eizvet, eizved, eihvet = eighth éih dyad, ein-déad, eih-diat = about eight eizdezyeg, eizdeziek = weekly eizvedi = to divide into eight
Breton (Brezhoneg)	eizh = eight eizhved = eighth eikont = eighty (usually pevar-ugent) eizhkognek = octagonal

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *oḱtṓw (eight) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include eight, and words beginning with octa-/octo-, such as October, octane and octopus in English, and words related to eight in other Indo-European languages [source].

Sevenfold

15th June 202318th June 2023 By Simon

Words for seven and related things in Celtic languages:

seven

Proto-Celtic	sextam = seven sextametos = seventh
Old Irish (Goídelc)	secht [sʲext] = seven sechtmad = seventh sechtae = seven things sechtmoga = seventy sechtmain = week
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	secht [ɕext] = seven, seven times, seven things sechtmad, sechtmet, ṡec[t]maid = seventh, one of seven; a period of seven days sechtae, sechta = sevenfold, septenary, septenary sechtmoga, sechtmogo, sechtmogat = seventy sechtmain(e) = week
Irish (Gaeilge)	seacht [ʃaxt̪ˠ/ʃæxt̪ˠ]= seven seacht déag = seventeen seachtú = seventh (7ᵗʰ), seventh part seachtach = seventh (in music) seachtain = week seachtainiúil = weekly seachtar = seven people/things seachtó = seventy seachtbhliantúil = septennial (a period or cycle of seven years) seachtchodach = sevenfold seachtfhillte = folded in seven, sevenfold
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	seachd [ʃɛxg] = seven seachdamh [ʃɛxgəv] (7ᵐʰ) = seventh (7ᵗʰ) seachdnar [ʃɛxgn̪ər] = seven people seachd-fillte = sevenfold seachd-shliosach [ʃesgəd] = heptagon(al) seachd deug = seventeen seachdad [ʃɛxgəd] = seventy, the 70s seachdain [ʃɛxgɛn̪ʲ] = week seachdaineil [ʃɛxgɪn̪ʲal] = weekly deireadh-seachdain, ceann-seachdain = weekend Na Seachd-Reultan = the Pleiades, the Seven Sisters
Manx (Gaelg)	shiaght [ʃaːxt] = seven, septet shiaghtoo, (yn) chiaghtoo = seventh shiaght jeig = seventeen shiaght jeigoo = seventeenth shiaght filley = septuple, sevenfold shiaghtin = week, heptagon jerrey shiaghtin = weekend
Gaulish	sextam = seven sextametos = seventh
Proto-Brythonic	seiθ [sɛi̯θ] = seven seɨθβ̃ed [hwɛˈxɛːd] = seventh
Cumbric	mithy, lethera, saites = seven
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	sseith, seith [sei̯θ] = seven seithued, seythuet, seithuet = seventh seith dyblyc, saith ddyblyg = sevenfold seyth nyn, seyth dyn = seven persons, seven men
Welsh (Cymraeg)	saith [sai̯θ] = seven, sevenpence seithfed (7ed) [ˈsei̯θvɛd/ˈsei̯θvad] = seventh saithdeg = seventy saithdegau = seventies saithdegfed = sevenieth saithddyblyg = sevenfold seithawd = a group of seven people or things, septet, seventh (in music) seithblyg = sevenfold, septuple, have 7 parts or arms (candelabrum) seithliw = seven colours, seven-coloured, iridescent seithnyn = seven persons, seven men seithochr = heptagon(al), septangular
Old Cornish	syth = seven
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	seith, syth, sŷth = seven seithvas, sythvas = seventh seitag, seitek = seventeen seithun, seithan, sythyn = week
Cornish (Kernewek)	seyth [səiθ] = seven seythves = seventh seythen = week seythennyek, seythednek = weekly pennseythen = weekend
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	seith = seven
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	seiz, seyz = seven seizuet, seizüet, seihuit, seizved = seventh seizdec, seitec, seytecq, zeitec = seventeen seitêcvèd, seitekved, zeiteget = seventeenth sizun, syzun, sehun, siun = week
Breton (Brezhoneg)	seizh [ˈxwɛx] = seven seizhved = seventh seitek = seventeen seitegvet = seventeenth sizhun = week

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *septḿ̥ (seven) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include seven, and words beginning with hepta-/sept(a/i)-, such as heptastyle (having 7 columns), septemplex (sevenfold), septasyllabic (having 7 syllables) and septilateral (having 7 sides) in English, and words related to seven in other Indo-European languages [source].

The Old Irish word sechtmain was borrowed from the Late Latin septimāna (week), from septimānus (related to the 7th element of a series), from the Latin septimus (7th) [source]. Words for week in Cornish and Breton probably came from the same roots.

A week in Welsh is wythnos (“8-night”), as weeks in Wales have an extra night. A weekend is penwythnos and a fortnight (2 weeks) is pythefnos (“15-night”).

Hexagonal

1st June 202318th June 2023 By Simon

Words for six and related things in Celtic languages:

Six

Proto-Celtic	swexs = six suexos = sixth
Old Irish (Goídelc)	sé [sʲeː] = six seisser = six people séda = six things seissed [ˈsʲesʲeð] = sixth sesca [ˈsʲeska] = sixty
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	sé, se, sē = six seisser, seissiur, seissir = six people seissed, sesset, sesedh, seisedh = sixth, one of six sé déc = sixteen sesca, sescot, sescat = sixty
Irish (Gaeilge)	sé [ʃeː/ʃɛ/ʃə]= six (an) seú = sixth seisear = six people sé déag = sixteen seasca = sixty
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sia [ʃia] = six (an) siathamh [ʃiə.əv] (6ᵐʰ) = sixth (6ᵗʰ) sianar [ʃianər] = six people sia deug = sixteen seasgad [ʃesgəd] = sixty sia-cheàrnach = hexagon
Manx (Gaelg)	shey = six, sextet sheyoo, (yn) çheyoo = sixth shey jeig = sixteen shey jeigoo = sixteenth shey keayrtyn = sextuple, six times shey pingyn = sixpence
Gaulish	suex = six suexos = sixth
Proto-Brythonic	hwex [ˈhwɛːx] = six hwexed [hwɛˈxɛːd] = sixth
Cumbric	sethera, hither = six
Old Welsh	chwech = six
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	chwech, whech, whe, hwech, chwe = six hhuechet, cchuehet, chwechet, whechet = sixth
Welsh (Cymraeg)	chwech [χweːχ/hweːχ] = six, sixpence chweched (6ed) [ˈχwɛχɛd/ˈχwɛχad] = sixth chwedeg = sixty chwedegfed = sixieth chwechant = six hundred chwecheiniog = sixpenny bit, sixpence
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	huih, hweh, whéh = six hweffas, wheffes = sixth whehdeg = sixteen whehdegvas = sixteenth
Cornish (Kernewek)	hwegh = six hweghves, hweffes = sixth hwetek = sixteen hwetegves = sixteenth hweghmis = semester
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	chouech = six
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	huech, huec, c’huec’h, chouech, hueh = six huechuet, huehuet, c’huec’hved = sixth c’huezec, c’houezek = sixteen c’houezekved = sixteenth
Breton (Brezhoneg)	c’hwec’h [ˈxwɛx] = six c’hwec’hvet = sixth c’hwezek = sixteen c’hwezekvet = sixteenth c’hwec’h-ugent = 120 (620) c’hwec’h-kement* = sextuple c’hwec’h-kogn = hexagon c’hwec’h-miz = semester

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European swéḱs (six). Words from the same PIE root include six, sextuple, and words beginning with hex-, such as hexagon in English, and words for six in other Indo-European languages [source].

Short Cuts

26th May 202326th May 2023 By Simon

Words for short, cut and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*birros = short
Old Irish (Goídelc)	berr [bʲer͈] = short berraid = to shear, clip, shave, cut, shear, tonsure
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	berr, bearr = short berrad = to cut, clip, shave, cut, tonsure
Irish (Gaeilge)	bearr [bʲɑːɾˠ/bʲaːɾˠ] = to clip, cut, trim, cut (hair), shave, fleece (sb) bearradh = cutting bearrthóir = trimmer, shearer bearrthóireacht = trimming, cutting speech
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	beàrr = short, brief (archaic) beàrr [bjaːr̪ˠ] = to cut, shave, crop, shear, pare, prune, clip, poll, dehorn
Manx (Gaelg)	baarey = to bare, clip, cut, dress, poll, prune, shave, trimmed baareyder = barber, cutter, shaver, clipper baarys = tonsure
Gaulish	*birros = a coarse kind of thick woollen cloth; a woollen cap or hood worn over the shoulders or head<
Proto-Brythonic	*bɨrr [ˈbɨr͈] = short
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	birr, byrr = short, small, brief bŷr-brŷd = a short meal of meat uyrder, byrder = shortness, brevity
Welsh (Cymraeg)	byr [bɨ̞r/bɪr] = short, small, brief, concise, condensed, abrupt, curt, stingy, sparing, deficient, faulty byrbryd = light meal, lunch, snack byrbwyll = rash, reckless, thoughtless byrder = shortness, brevity, smallness, conciseness, scarity, deficiency byrdra = shortness, brevity, smallness, curtness
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ber = short, diminutive, brief beranal = asthma, shortness of breath
Cornish (Kernewek)	berr [bɛɹ] = short, brief berrhe = to abbreviate, shorten berrheans = abrreviation berrskrifa = to summarise berrwelyek = short-sighted
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	berr, ber, bèr = short, brief berr-ha-berr = very short, shortly briefly berraat = to shorten, abbreivate, reduce berradenn = shortening berradur = abbreviation
Breton (Brezhoneg)	berr = short, brief berr-ha-berr = very short, shortly briefly berradenn = shortening berradur = abbreviation

Etymology: unknown

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Latin and Gaulish, include beret in English, béret (beret) in French, berret (cap) in Gascon, biretta (a square cap worm by Roman Catholic priests) in English and Italian, berretto (beanie, cap) in Italian, barrete (biretta, cap) in Portuguese, birrete (biretta) in French, and βίρρος [ˈβir.ros] (a type of cloak or mantle) in Ancient Greek [source].

Proto-Celtic	gerros = short gari- = short
Old Irish (Goídelc)	gerr, gearr = short, a short time, castrated gerraid = to cut, mutilate, shorten, carve garait [ˈɡarədʲ] = short
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	gerr [ɡʲer͈] = short gairaid = to cut short, cut off, mutilate garit, garait, gairit = short (time/distance/length)
Irish (Gaeilge)	gearr [ɟɑːɾˠ/ɟaːɾˠ] = short; to cut, shorten, reduce gearrachán = cutting remark gearradh = cutting, cut, levy, rate, speed gearrán = gelding, pack-horse, small horse, nag, strong-boned woman gearróg = short bit, scrap, short drill or furrow, short stocky girl, short answer gearrthóg = cutting, snippet, trimmings, cutlet gearrthóir = cutter, chisel gairid [ˈɡaɾʲədʲ] = short, near, close
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	geàrr [gʲaːr̪ˠ] = short, thick-set, squat, dumpy, brief, concise, succinct, scanty; to cut, carve, sever, dock goirid [gɤrʲɪdʲ] = short, brief, brusque giorraich [gʲir̪ɪç] = abbreviate, abrige, shorten, curtail giorrachadh [gʲir̪ˠəxəɣ] = abbreviation, abridgement, summary
Manx (Gaelg)	giare = abbreviated, abridged, abrupt, brief, brusque, compact, concise, curt, short, summary giarey = to abbreviate, abridge, axe, carve castrate, clip, cut girraghey = to abbreviate, abridge, contract, shorten

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰer- (short). Words from the same PIE root include ह्रस्व [ˈɦɾɐs̪.ʋɐ] (short, small, dwarfish, little, low; a dwarf) in Sanskrit, and ह्रस्व [ɦɾəs̪.ʋᵊ] (a short vowel) in Hindi, and possibly girl in English [source].

Quintuple

23rd May 202323rd May 2023 By Simon

Words for five and related things in Celtic languages:

five

Proto-Celtic	kʷenkʷe = five kʷenkʷetos = fifth
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cóic [koːɡʲ] = five cóiced [ˈkoːɡʲeð] = fifth cóicer = five people, five things coíca = fifty
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cóic, cúic = five cóiced, cúced, coigid = fifth cóicer, cóicir, cuicir = five people/things cóic deac = fifteen coíca, coícad, cóic deich = fifty
Irish (Gaeilge)	cúig [kuːɟ] = five cúigiú [kuːˈɟuː/ˈkuːɟu] = fifth cúigear [ˈkuːɟəɾˠ] = five people/things cúige = one of five divisions of Ireland, province caoga = fifty cúigbhliantúil = five-yearly, quinquennial cúigchodach = fivefold, quintuple cúigréad = quintet
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	còig [koːgʲ] = five còigeamh(5ᵐʰ) fifth (4ᵗʰ)) còignear [koːgʲn̪ʲər] = five (people) còigearan [koːgʲəran] = quintuplet còig-fillte = quintuple, fivefold caogad [kɯːgəd] = fifty
Manx (Gaelg)	queig [kwɛɡ] = five queigagh, queigoo = fifth queigad = fifty queigin, queig-lhiatteean = pentagon queigane = quintuplet queig-filley = quintuple, five-fold
Proto-Brythonic	pɨmp [pɨmp] = five pɨmped [pɘmˈpɛːd] = fifth
Gaulish	pimpe, pempe = five pimpetos = fifth
Old Welsh	pimp = five petguaret = fifth pimmunt = fifty
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pimp, pym(p), pvmp, pum(p) = five pimphet, pemhet, pimhed, pymhed, pymhet = fifth pymthec = fifteen pymwnt, pumhwnt, pemhwnt, pummwnt = fifty pvmplyc, pymplyg, pumplyg = quintuple, fivefold
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pump [pɨ̞mp/pɪmp] = five pumed [pɛdˈwɛrɨ̞ð] (5ed) = fifth pumplyg = quintuple, fivefold, folded five times pumpunt = five pounds, five-pound note, fiver pedwaraid = set of five, fivesome pumseiniol = pentatonic (music)
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	pymp, pemp = five pympes = fifth pymthec, pemdhac = fifteen
Cornish (Kernewek)	pymp = five pympes, pempes = fifth pymthek, pemdhek = fifteen pympbys, pempbes = starfish (“five finger”)
Old Breton	pemp = five
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	pemp, puemb = five pempet, peempet, pempvet = fifth pempaat = to group into five pempkement = quintuple pempkementiñ = to quintuple pempkogneg = pentagon
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pemp [pɛmp/pɛ̃mp] = five pemp(v)et = fifth pemzek = fifteen pempad = quintet pempkorneg = pentagon

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe (five) [source].

English words from the same roots include five, fifth, fifty, fifty, quintet, and words beginning with penta-, such as pentathlon and pentameter [source].

Fourfold

18th May 202324th June 2023 By Simon

Words for four and related things in Celtic languages:

four

Proto-Celtic	kʷetwares = four kʷetwariyos = fourth
Gaulish	petru, petuar = four petuarios = fourth
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cethair [ˈkʲeθirʲ] = four cethramad [ˈkʲeθraṽað] = fourth cethracha = forty cethrar = four people cethardúil = four elements
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cethair = four cethramad = fourth cethrar = four people cethracha = forty cetharchair = four-sided, square, rectangular cethairríad = four-wheeled chariot or carriage cethardenus = space of four days cethardóit = group of four cetharaird = the four points of the compass, the four quarters, the world, universe
Irish (Gaeilge)	ceathair [ˈcahəɾʲ/ˈcæɾʲ] = four, quadruped ceithre [ˈcɛɾʲə/ˈçɛɾʲə] = four ceathrar [ˈcahɾˠəɾˠ/cæːɾˠ] = four people ceathracha = forty ceathrú [cahˈɾˠuː] = quarter, thigh, quatrain ceathrúnach = quartermaster ceathairbhliantúil = quadrennial ceathairchodach = fourfold, quadruple ceathairchosach = fourfooted, quadruped ceathairéad = quartet ceathairfhillte = quarto, fourfold
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ceithir [kʲehɪrʲ] = four ceathramh [kʲɛrəv] (4mh) fourth (4th) ceathrar [kʲɛrər] = four (people) ceathrad [kʲɛrəd] = forty cairteal [kar̪ˠʃdʲal] = quarter; quarters, lodgings ceithir-chasach = quadruped, four-legged animal ceithir-cheàrnach = quadrilateral ceithir-fillte = quadruple, fourfold, four-ply
Manx (Gaelg)	kiare [kʲeːə(r)] = four, foursome, quartet kiarroo, (yn) chiarroo = (the) fourth kerroo = fourth, quarter, quatrain kiarad = forty kiare-fillagh, kiare-filley = fourfold, quadruple kiare-lhiatteeagh, kiare-lhiatteean = four-sided, quadrilateral kiare-chassagh = four-footed, four-legged, quadruped
Proto-Brythonic	pedwar [pɛdˈwaːr] = four pėdwėrɨð [pe̝dwe̝ˈrˑɨːð] = fourth
Old Welsh	petguar = four petguaret = fourth
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pedwar, peduar = four (m) pedeyr, pedair, pedeir = four (f) pedweryd = fourth (m) pedwyred = fourth (m) pedwar deg, pedeir deg = fourteen pedwar/pedeir ar bymthec = nineteen pedwar ugein(t) = eighty
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pedwar [ˈpɛdwar] = four (m) pedair [ˈpɛdai̯r/ˈpeːdai̯r] = four (f) pedwerydd [pɛdˈwɛrɨ̞ð] (4ydd) = fourth (m) pedwaredd [pɛdˈwarɛð] (4edd) = fourth (f) pedwarplyg = quadruple pedwaraf, pedwaru = to divide into four, quarter pedwaraid = set of four, foursome pedwar ar ddeg = fourteen pedwar ar bymtheg = nineteen pedwar deg = forty pedwar ugain = eighty
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	peswar = four (m) pedar = four (f) peswere, pyswere = fourth peswardhec, pazawardhak = fourteen padzhar iganz = eighty padzhar iganz ha deg = ninety
Cornish (Kernewek)	peswar, pajar = four (m) peder = four (f) peswora, pajwora = fourth peswartrosek = fourfooted peswardhek = fourteen peswar ugens = eighty
Old Breton	petguar = four petguare = fourth
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	peuar, puar = four peuare, pevare = fourth peuarzec, pévarzecq, piarzeg = fourteen peuaruguent, pêver huguent, pévar uguent = eighty pevar-benveg = quartet pevarc’hartier = to cut in quarters pévar c’hemend = quadruple pevar(-)c’hementi(ñ) = to quadruple
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pevar = four (m) peder = four (f) pevare = fourth pevarved = fourth (m) pedervet = fourth (f) pevarzek = fourteen pevar-ugent = eighty pevarad = quartet pevarzuek = quadrilatéral

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwóres (four) and *kʷetwr̥yós (fourth) [source].

English words from the same roots include four, quarter, quart, quartet, quaruple, and words beginning with tetra-, such as tetradecimal (a 14-base counting system) [source].

Threesome

15th May 202313th July 2023 By Simon

Words for three and related things in Celtic languages:

three

Proto-Celtic	trīs = three tritiyos = third (in a sequence) trisano- = third (fraction*)
Celtiberian	Tiriś = three
Gaulish	treis = three (m) tiđres = three (f)
Lusitanian	*trīs = three
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tri, trí [tʲrʲiː] = three tress = third (in a sequence) trían = third (fraction) tríar = three (people) tréide = three things trédenus = three days tréimse = three months
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	trí = three tress = third (in a sequence), one of three trímad = third (in a sequence) trían = third (fraction) tríar = three persons, trio, three things tréimse = three months, a quarter (of a year)
Irish (Gaeilge)	trí [tʲɾʲiː] = three tríú [tʲɾʲiːuː] = third (in a sequence), third part triúr [tʲɾʲuːɾˠ] = three (people) triantán = triangle triantánacht = trigonometry triantánaigh = to triangulate tríoiseach = three-dimensional
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	trì [triː] = three treas [tres] (3ˢ) third (3ʳᵈ) treasamh (3ᵐʰ) third (3ʳᵈ) triùir [truːrʲ] = three (people) trì-fillte = triple, threefold, three-ply trian [triən] = third (part) triantan [triəndan] = triangle iantanachd [iantanachd] = trigonometry
Manx (Gaelg)	tree [t̪riː] = three troor = three (people), threesome, triad, Trinity, trio, trinity treeoo, trass = third trooane, troorane = triangle
Proto-Brythonic	tri [triː] = three (m) teir = three (f) trɨdɨð [trɨˈdɨːð] = third (m) trɨdeð = third (f)
Old Welsh	tri [triː] = three (m) teir = three (f) tritid = third (in a sequence) trean = third (fraction)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tri = three (m) teir, tair = three (f) trited, trydet, trydyd = third teir coglaỼc, trichonglaỼc, trichongloc = triangular, three-cornered trydeblyc, tridyblic = three times, threefold, triple
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tri [triː] = three (m), tair [tai̯r] = three (f) triawd = trio, threesome, triology, triple trichorn = three-horned, three-cornered, tricorn hat tric(h)onglog = triangular, three-cornered tri deg = thirty tridyblyg = three times, threefold, triple, triplicate trionglyn = triangle trydydd (3ydd) = third (m) trydedd (3edd) = third (f) teirgwaith = three times, thrice, on three occasions
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	tri, trei = three (m) teir, teyr = three (f) triddydh = the space of three days tridzha = third trihans = three hundred trindas, trinsys = Trinity triugans = three score, sixty trivorh = three-pronged
Cornish (Kernewek)	tri, trei = three (m) trei = three (f) tredhek, terdhek = thirteen tressa, tryja = third triasen = triplet trihorn = triangle tryflek = threefold, triple teyrgweyth = three times
Old Breton	tri = three
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	tri, try = three (m) teir, teyr = three (m) tri-c’hard = three quarters tri-ugent = sixty tri-chant = three hundred triad = trio, group of three tric’hogn, tricoign, tric’horn = triangle
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tri = three (m) teir [ˈte.iʁ] = three (f) trived (m) teirved (f) = third trizek = thirteen tri-ugent = sixty trifarzh = three quarters tric’horn, tric’hogn = triangle

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *tréyes (three – m) and *tisres (three – f) [source].

English words from the same roots include tertiary, three, thrice, three, triad, tripod, triple and triplex [source].

Top Peaks

20th April 202320th April 2023 By Simon

Words for top, peaks and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*barros = top, point, peak
Gaulish	Cunobarrus = personal name
Old Irish (Goídelc)	barr = abundance, crop, crown, surplus, top, top, tree-top
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	barr = top, tip, end, crop, produce, climax, end, crown, supremacy, preeminence, transcendence
Irish (Gaeilge)	barr [bˠɑːɾˠ] = tip, point, top, summit, upper part, surface, crop, yield, result, addition, excess, superiority, extremity barrachas = predominance, surplus barradh = hindrance barraí = champion, superior person, arrogant person, bully barraicín = tip, toe (of foot, stocking), toe-cap barraíocht = excess
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bàrr [baːr̪ˠ] = apex, crest, crown, summit, tip, top, zenith, surface, crop, produce, cream, son barrachd = more, predominance, preponderance barraidheachd = more, predominance, preponderance barran = crest, hood, band(age), swaddling clothes
Manx (Gaelg)	baare = apex, cap, climax, end, point, summit, tip, top, crest (of a wave), curl, interval, ruin, bare, film on milk, surface, crown baarey = to bare, clip, dress, poll, prune, shave; trimmed
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	barr, bar [bar] = top, summit crest
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bar [bar] = head, top, summit, crest, bush, tuft, branch barbiaf, barbio = to trim, shave
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	bar = top, summit, branch
Cornish (Kernewek)	barr = summit
Old Breton	barr = branch, summit, ridge, peak
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	barr, bar = branch, summit, ridge, peak
Breton (Brezhoneg)	barr = summit, surface, access, paroxysm

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰr̥s-ó-s, from *bʰers- (point, top, tip). Words from the same PIE roots include barley in English, farine (flour) in French, bara (bread) in Welsh, Cornish and Breton, bairín (loaf) in Irish, and related words in Celtic languages [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via Gaulish, include baràz (bramble) in Romansh, barra (garret, loft, upper platform) in Galician [source].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Gaulish