Category: Gaulish

Yellow & Gold

By Simon

Words for yellow in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *bodyos = yellow
Gaulish Baius = proper name
Old Irish (Goídelc) buide [ˈbuðʲe] = yellow, yellowness, buttercup, honey, pollen
Irish (Gaeilge) buí [bˠiː] = yellow, sallow, tan
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) buidhe [bujə] = yellow, golden, glad, grateful, fortunate, lucky
Manx (Gaelg) bwee / buigh = yellow, jaundiced, tan, sallow, fair headed

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *bodyos (yellow) [source]. Related to the English word bay [source].

Spring blossom / Blodau'r Gwanwyn

Proto-Celtic *melinos = yellow
Welsh (Cymraeg) melyn [ˈmɛlɨ̞n / ˈmɛlɪn] = yellow, golden, (made of) gold; yellow-haired, blond; light-bay (horse); yellow, sallow, livid, or brown (skin); brown (sugar); deadly, implacable, unpleasant
Old Cornish milin = yellow
Cornish (Kernewek) melyn [‘mɛlɪn / ‘mɛlən ] = yellow, fair, blonde
Breton (Brezhoneg) melen = yellow, blonde

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *méli (honey) [source].

Words for gold in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) ór = gold
Irish (Gaeilge) ór [oːɾˠ] = gold
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) òr [ɔːr] = gold
Manx (Gaelg) airh = gold, bullion, gilt
Welsh (Cymraeg) aur [aɨ̯r/ai̯r] = gold, gold money or coin(s), wealth; gold (colour); gold(en)
Cornish (Kernewek) owr [ɔʊr] = gold
Breton (Brezhoneg) aour = gold

Etymology
From Latin aureus (gold, golden, gilded), from aurum (gold) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

yellow

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

Silver & Money

By Simon

Words for silver and money in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *argantom = silver
Gaulish arangto- / *argantom = silver
Celtiberian arkanta / arkato- = silver
Old Irish (Goídelc) argat [ˈarɡad] = silver, money
Irish (Gaeilge) airgead [ˈaɾʲɪɟəd̪ˠ / ˈæɾʲɪɟəd̪ˠ] = silver, money, sum of money
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) airgead [ɛrʲɛgʲəd] = money, silver, cash, currency
Manx (Gaelg) argid = money, silver, coinage, wages, finance, exchequer
Proto-Brythonic *arɣant [arˈɣant] = silver, money
Old Welsh argant = silver
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) ariant = silver
Welsh (Cymraeg) arian [ˈarjan] = silver, silvery; silver vessel; money, coin(s), coinage, currency, wealth
Cornish (Kernewek) arghans [‘arhans / ‘ærhɐnz] = silver, money
Old Breton argant = silver
Middle Breton archant = silver
Breton (Brezhoneg) arc’hant = silver, money

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *h₂erǵn̥tom (silver), from *h₂erǵ- (white) [source]

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

Celtic Star pendant

Blue / Green / Grey

By Simon

Words for blue / green / grey in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *glastos = green, blue
Gaulish *glastom = green, blue
Old Irish (Goídelc) glas [ɡlas] = green, greenish (esp of growing things); blue, green-blue, grey-blue; metallic (colour); ice/frost colour; grey; wan (complexion); bluish, livid, discolored; faded
Irish (Gaeilge) glas [ɡlˠasˠ] = green (grass, politics); grey (horses, cloth, eyes); blue; grey; pale pallid; immature, unseasoned; raw inexperienced
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) glas [gl̪ˠas] = grey-green; pale, wan, sallow; green, unripe
Manx (Gaelg) glass = green (of nature), verdant, soft, pale, pasty, ashen (colour), grey (of animal), raw, unfledged, sappy, callow (of youth)
Proto-Brythonic *glas = green, blue
Welsh (Cymraeg) glas [ɡlaːs] = blue, azure, sky-blue, greenish blue, sea-green; green, grass-coloured, bluish green, verdant; unripe (of fruit); greyish-blue, slate-coloured, livid, pallid, pale; grey; silver
Cornish (Kernewek) glas [gla:z /glæ:z] = blue, grey, green
Breton (Brezhoneg) glas = blue, green (nature), grey (horse), raw & salty, fresh, bitter, pale

A view from Roman Camp / Golygfa o Roman Camp
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰl̥h₃stós, from *ǵʰelh₃- (green, yellow)

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

Expensive Fools

By Simon

Words for expensive, unfree & foolish in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) dóer [doːi̯r] = servile, unfree, serf
Irish (Gaeilge) daor [d̪ˠeːɾˠ / d̪ˠiːɾˠ] = unfree; base, servile; convicted, condemned; hard, severe; costly; dear, high-priced
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) daor [dɯːr] = expensive, dear; condemned; enslaved, in bondage
Manx (Gaelg) deyr = expensive, valuable, costly, dear, unfree, serf

Etymology: from the Old Irish do- (to) & fer (man, husband) [source].

Proto-Celtic *drūtos = foolish, lewd; costly; daring, wanton; furious, grievous
Gaulish Trutiknos (personal name)
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) drúth = fool
Irish (Gaeilge) drúth = irresponsible person, imbecile; jester, buffoon
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) drùth = lecherous, lascivious, foolish
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) drut = dear, expensive
Welsh (Cymraeg) drud = dear, high-priced, costly, expensive; precious, valuable; daring, brave, valiant, courageous, bold, intrepid, gallant, strong
Cornish (Kernewek) drudh = cherished, favourite, precious

Etymology: unknown [source].

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

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

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