Roots

Words for roots and related things in Celtic languages.

Tree roots in Eaves Wood. Silverdale, Lancashire

Proto-Celtic *wridmā, *wridā = root
Old Irish (Goídelc) frém [fʲrʲeːṽ] = root
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) frém, prém = root, source, origin, rootstock, race
frémach, prémach = roots, genealogical stock, abounding roots
frémaigid = intransitive, takes root
frémamail = radical, primary
Irish (Gaeilge) fréamh [fʲɾʲeːvˠ] = root, source, origin, rootstock, race, radical (in linguistics and chemistry)
fréamhach = roots, having roots, rooted, established
fréamhaí = derivative, radical
fréamhaigh = to root, spring, descend (from), derive (from)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) freumh [frʲɪəv] = root, source, derivation
freumhagach = pertaining to or abounding in small roots, fibrous
freumhag = small root, rootlet, fibre
freumhach = rooted, abounding in roots, steady, fundamental
freumhaichte = rooted, derived
freumhachadh = rooting, taking root, deriving, derivation, etymology
Manx (Gaelg) fraue [freːw] = bulb, derivation, radical, root
frauaghey = to root
frauee = derivative, primitive
fraueit = grafted, rooted
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) gureid, gwreid = root
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwraidd [ɡwrai̯ð] = root, bottom, base, foundation, source, origin, ancestry
gwreiddiadur = etymological dictionary
gwreiddiaf, gwreiddio = to root, grow roots, take root, become ingrained or established, be rooted, be derived, ground, found, secure, establish
gwreiddiog = having roots, rooted, ingrained
gwreiddiol = original, primitive, innate, initial, established, hereditary
gwreiddyn = root, beginning, origin, source, nucleus, essence, foundation, reason, stock, pedigree
Old Cornish grueiten = root
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) gwredh, gwreydh, gwreidhen = root
gwredhan = a single root
gwrydhye = to take root, to be rooted
Cornish (Kernewek) gwrydhen = root
gwreydhek = original
gwreydhyel = radical
gwreydhyoleth = radicalism
Old Breton uraed = root
Middle Breton (Brezonec) gwrizienn, gruyzyenn, gruyzienn, grizyen = root
gwriziaouiñ gwriziañ, gwriziennañ = to take root, put down roots
Breton (Brezhoneg) gwrizienn = root, origin, base
gwriziañ = to take root, put down roots, ingrained

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *wr̥h₂d-/*wréh₂ds (root). Words from the same roots include root, radish and wort (a liquid extracted from mash when making beer or malt liquor) in English, rot (root, source) in Swedish, rod (root) in Danish, wortel (carrot) in Dutch, Wurzel (root) in German, raíz (root, origin) in Spanish, raíz (root, origin) in Spanish [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

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Halves and Sides

Words for half, side and related things in Celtic languages.

half moon....

Proto-Celtic *letos = side
*ɸletos = breadth, side
Primitive Irish *ᚂᚓᚈᚐᚄ / *letas = half, direction, side
Old Irish (Goídelc) leth [l͈ʲeθ] = half, direction, side
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) leth = half, side
Irish (Gaeilge) leath [lʲah/lʲæx/l̠ʲæ] = side, part, direction; half, part, portion
leathach = divided in two, two-part
leithead = breadth, width
leathadh = spreading, spread, diffusion, scattering, broadcasting
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) leth [l̪ʲeh] = half, side, share
leth-ghlic = half-witted
leth-leanabh = twin
leth-oireachas = separation, partiality, isolationism, favouritism
leisgeul = excuse, apology, pretext (from leth and sgeul [story])
Manx (Gaelg) lieh = part, half, behalf, makeshift
lieh fuinnit = half-baked
lieh henn = middle aged
Proto-Brythonic *lled = breadth, side
Middle Welsh (Kymreac) let, llet, led = year (of age)
Welsh (Cymraeg) lled [ɬeːd] = breadth, width, beam (of boat), latitude, amplitude, extent, diameter, thickness; half, part(ly), fairly, moderately
lleda(e)naf, lleda(e)nu = to spread out, scatter abroad, disseminate
lladaf, lledu = to became broad(er) / wide(r), broaden, open out, expand, become widespread
lleden = flat-fish, flat or sprawling (person/thing), flattish mass, blade, fluke
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) les = breadth, width, latitude
Cornish (Kernewek) les = breadth, width
lesa = to expand, spread
lesans = expansion, spread
Middle Breton (Brezonec) led = width, wideness, breadth; horizontally
ledan = wide, large, broad, vast, big
ledañ, lediñ, ledek = to stretch out, extend, spread (out)
ledanaat = to widen, broaden, stretch
Breton (Brezhoneg) led = wide, large, broad, spreading
a-led = horizontal
ledan = vast, wide
ledañ = to spread, generalize
ledanded = width, breadth

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pléth₂-os (breadth), from *pleth₂- (broad, flat) [source]. Words from the same PIE roots include field, flan, flat and fold (a pen for animals) in English, flat in English, and πλατεία (plateía – town square) in Greek [source].

Proto-Celtic *santeros = middle, half
Proto-Brythonic *hanter = half
Old Welsh hanther = half
Middle Welsh (Kymreac) hanner, hanher = half, middle
Welsh (Cymraeg) hanner [ˈhanɛr/ˈhanar] = half, middle, midday, midnight, side, part
hanner-cylchynol = semicircular
hanner dydd = midday, noon
hanner nos = midnight
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) hanter = half, a moiety
hanter dŷdh = midday
hanter nôs = midnight
Cornish (Kernewek) hanter = half
hantera = to halve
hanterdydh = midday, noon
hantergylgh = hemisphere
hanterkans = fifty
hanter-mis = fortnight, two weeks
hanter-nos = midnight
hanter-our = half-hour
hanter-pennwari = semi-final
hanter termyn = half time
Middle Breton (Brezonec) hanter = half
hanterañ, hanteriñ = to halve, cut in half
hanter-kant = fifty
hanter-war-hanter = neck and neck, tied
Breton (Brezhoneg) hanter [ˈhɑ̃n.tɛʁ] = half
hanter dro = u-turn
hanterad = mediator
hanterenn = half time
hanternoz = midnight

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *sm̥teros (one of the two), from *sem- (one) and *-teros (contrastive suffix) [source]. Other words from the PIE root *sem- (one) include: same, seem, semi, similar and single in English [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

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Rawness

Today we’re looking at the words for raw and related things in Celtic languages.

Raw

Proto-Celtic *omos = raw
Old Irish (Goídelc) om [oṽ] = raw, uncooked
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) om = raw, uncooked; crude, undigested, immature; rude, unrefined, barbarous
Irish (Gaeilge) amh [ˈavˠ / ˈaw] = raw, uncooked
amhábhar = raw material, staple
aimhe = rawness, crudeness
amhainse = sharpness, astuteness
amhainseach = sharp, astute
amhchaoin = rough, uncouth
amhola = crude oil
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) amh [af] = raw, uncooked; extra rare, blue (meat); uncouth, crude
amhachd [avəxg] = rawness
Manx (Gaelg) aw = crude, raw, uncooked, undressed
awid = crudeness, rawness, rareness
awaneagh = moron, oaf; oafish, raw, rude, uncivilsed, vain
feill aw = raw meat
ooill aw = crude oil
Proto-Brythonic *oβ̃ = raw
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) of = crude, uncooked, raw
Welsh (Cymraeg) of [braːɨ̯n / brai̯n] = crude, untreated, uncooked, raw, bitter, sharp, nauseating, sickly
ofaf, ofi = to decompose, crumble, analyse

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₃mós (raw, uncooked, bitter, sour), probably from *h₂eh₃- (to be hot, burn) [source].

Words for copper and bronze in Celtic languages possibly come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the word *omiyom [source].

The Greek word ὠμός [oˈmos] (raw, uncooked, crude, brutal) comes from the same PIE root [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec) cri = crude, uncooked, raw
Welsh (Cymraeg) cri [kriː] = raw, fresh, new, crude, coarse, unfulled (cloth), unleavened
bara cri = unleavened bread
defnyddiau cri = raw materials
teisen gri = griddle cake, Welsh cake
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) criv = rude, raw, green, newly made, unripe
Cornish (Kernewek) kriv = crude, fresh, raw, uncooked, unripe
krivder = rawness
gossen griv = raw umber
Middle Breton criz, cry = raw, crude, cruel, rough
Breton (Brezhoneg) kriz = raw, crude, cruel, rough
gopr kriz = gross salary
hollad kriz = gross total
obar kriz = act of barbarism

Etymology: possibly from the Latin crūdus (raw, bloody), from the Proto-Italic *krūros (bloody), from the Proto-Indo-European *kruh₂rós (bloody), from *krewh₂- (raw meat, fresh blood). The English words crude and cruel come from the same Latin root, and raw comes from the same PIE root [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec) amrwt = raw, uncooked
Welsh (Cymraeg) amrwd [ˈamrʊd] = raw, uncooked, unprocessed, undigested, crude, untreated, unrefined, rough, approximate

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *an (un-) and *brutus (boiling heat), from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰrewh₁- (to boil, brew) [source].

Other words from the Proto-Celtic root *brutus include brwd (eager, keen, passionate, zealous) and brwdfrydedd (enthusiasm) in Welsh, and bruth (heat, rash, eruption, nap, pile, surf) in Irish [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

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Streets

Words for street in Celtic languages.

Bilingual sign

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc) sráit [sraːdʲ] = street, road
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) sráit [sraːdʲ] = street, road, path, way
Irish (Gaeilge) sráid [sˠɾˠɑːdʲ / sˠɾˠæːdʲ] = street, level (surfaced) ground around house, village
sráidbhaile = village
sráideánach = villager, townsman
sráidéigeas = street singer
sráideoireacht = street-walking, strolling
sráidí = street-walker, stroller, idler
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) sràid [sdraːdʲ] = street, lane
sràideachd [sdraːdʲəxg] = (act of) walking the streets, (act of) pacing
sràideag [sdraːdʲag] = small lane, skip, leap, short walk, street walker
sràideamaich [sdraːdʲəmɪç] = promenade, perambulate, saunter, stroll, lounge
sràidimeachd [sdraːdʲɪməxg] = promenading, perambulating, sauntering, strolling, lounging
sràidean [sdraːdʲan] = little street
sràidearachd [sdraːdʲərəxg] = (act of) sauntering, promenading
Manx (Gaelg) straid = street, farmyard, thoroughfare
straaid = street
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) stryd, ystryd, ystryt = street, (main) road, highway
Welsh (Cymraeg) (y)stryd, (y)strŷt = street, (main) road, highway
strydgall = streetwise
stryd fawr = high street, main street
stryd unffordd = one-way street
Cornish (Kernewek) stret [strɛ:t / stre:t] = street
stret unfordh = one-way street
stretwikor, stretwikores = street-trader
stretyn = alley, little street
Middle Breton (Brezonec) strehet = alley, lane, road
Breton (Brezhoneg) straed [ˈstrɛːt] = alley, lane, road narrow path, throat
straed-dall = cul-de-sac

Etymology: from the Old Norse stræti (street) or the Old English strǣt (road, street), from the Proto-Germanic *strātō (street), both of which come from the Late Latin strāta (a paved road), from strātus (stretched out, spread out), from Proto-Italic *strātos, from PIE *str̥h₃tós (stretched, spread) [source].

From the same roots we get words such as stratum, stratus (cloud), and strategy in English, estrato (layer, stratum) in Spanish, στρατός [stɾaˈtos] (army) in Greek, and words for (flat) valley in Celtic languages, such as srath in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and ystrad in Welsh [source].

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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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

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Big, Large & Great

Words for big, large & great in Celtic languages.

Tasmania: The Big Tree

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic *māros = big, great
*māyūs = bigger, greater
*mārāti = to enlarge, magnify
Gaulish maros
Lepontic 𐌌𐌀𐌓𐌖𐌉 (marui)
Old Irish (Goídelc) mór = big, great
mó, moü, moä = bigger
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) mór, már = big, great
= bigger, greater
mórán, moran = a large quantity or number
anmor = huge, enormous
Irish (Gaeilge) mór [mˠoːɾˠ / mˠɔːɾˠ] = big, great, large
[mˠoː/mˠuː] = bigger, greater, larger
mórán = much, many
anmhór = huge, enormous, very friendly
anmhórán = huge amount, hugh number
athair mór = grandfather
baile mór = large town, city
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) mòr [moːr] = big, great, large, grand, strapping; ample, bulky; high, lofty, tall; spacious; large amount
= bigger, greater, larger
mòran = a lot, many, much, multitude
ana-mhòr = huge, innense, enormous, prominent
baile-mòr = town, city
mòr-chuid = majority, most
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
moo = bigger, larger
mooaran = many, much
mooarane = great deal, lot, many, much, multitude
mooar-earroo, mooar-eash = majority
Proto-Brythonic *mọr [mɔːr] = great, large
Old Welsh maur = great
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) máúr, maur, mawr = large, big
moi, muy, mui, mwy = larger, bigger, greater
muyhaw, mvihaw, mvyhaf, mwyhaf = biggest, largest, greatest
mawraidd, mawredd = great, fine, grand, majestic
mawr eir, mawrair, mawreir = boast, bragging, eloquence, elevated language
mawrdec, mawrdeg = great and fair, very fine, magnificent, splendid
mawrder, mowrder = largeness, bigness, immensity, greatness
Welsh (Cymraeg) mawr [mau̯r / mou̯r] = large, big; fully grown; capital (letter); heavy (rain); long (hair/time); deep (water), great, greater, stormy, rough
mwy [muːɨ̯/mʊi̯] = larger, bigger, greater, louder, more, longer, further
mwyaf = biggest, largest, greatest, most, loudest, longest
mawraidd = great, fine, grand, majestic
mawrair = boast, bragging, eloquence, elevated language
mawrdeg = great and fair, very fine, magnificent, splendid
mawrder = largeness, bigness, immensity, greatness
Old Cornish maur = big
Middle Cornish (CerneweC) maur, meur, mûr = great, large, big, much
moy = more, greater, bigger
moya, moycha, mocha, mochya = greatest, most
Cornish (Kernewek) meur [mø:r / me:r ] = great, grand, large, substantial, much
moy = another, extra, more
moyha = maximum, most
meur lowr = considerably
meur ras = thank you
meuredh = majesty
meurgara = to admire
meurgarer = admirer
meurgeryans = admiration
meurgeryek = admirable
meurgerys = beloved
Old Breton mor = big
Middle Breton (Brezonec) meur = big, very, many
muy, mui = more
meurbet = very, a lot, big
meurded, meurdet = size, magnitude, greatness
meurdez = majesty
meurniver = multitude
meurvor = ocean
Breton (Brezhoneg) meur [møʁ] = big, many
mui = more
moyha = maximum, most
meurded = magnificance
meurdez = majesty
meurvor = ocean

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

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Byzantine Greek μάραον (máraon – sweet chestnut), include marrone (brown, chestnut) in Italian, marron (chestnut, brown) in French, Morone (sweet chestnut) in German [source].

Proto-Celtic *brassos = great, violent
Old Irish (Goídelc) bras = boastful, strident, violent
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) bras, brass, brassa = boastful, defiant, forceful, violent
Irish (Gaeilge) bras = great, strong, swift (literary)
brasach = lively, quick-spoken
brasaire = lively, quick-spoken, talkative person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bras [bras] = swift, precipitous, rapid, hasty, impetuous, impulsive, rash, quick-tempered, exuberant, heady
bras-astarach =fleet-footed
bras-mhacnas = exuberant mirth, extreme debauchery
bras-uisgeach = swift/white-watered
bras-shruth = rapids, torrent
Welsh (Cymraeg) bras [braːs] = thick, fat, plump, stout, bulky, fatted, large, strong; coarse (sand); heavy (rain)
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) bras, brâs = great, gross, big, large, coarse
brasder = greatness, largeness, bigness, pride
braslavar = grandiloquent
brasoberys = magnificent
brassa = greater
Cornish (Kernewek) bras [bra:z] = big, bulky, large
braslavar = boast, threat
brasoberys = magnificent
brassa = bigger, major
braster = bulk, size
brastereth = majesty
brastir = continent
Middle Breton (Brezonec) bras, braz = big, large, deep, important, strong
brassaat, braçzaat, braçzeët, brasat = to grow, increase, put on weight, swell, extend, enlarge
brasadur = extension, enlargement
brasentez, brazentez = size, pride
Breton (Brezhoneg) bras [bʁaz] = big, huge, important
brazentez = size, magnitude, greatness

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *gʷrod-to- from *gʷred- from *gʰer- (to rub, stroke, grind, remove) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include gros (big, thick, fat, coarse, rough) in French, gross in English, and grosso (big, large, fat, thick, heavy, rough) in Italian [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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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, Lexicon Cornu-britannicum: A Dictionary of the Ancient Celtic Language of Cornwall, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic