Twenty

11th July 202312th July 2023 By Simon

Words for twenty and related things in Celtic languages:

twenty

Proto-Celtic	*wikantī = twenty
Gaulish	uoconti = twenty
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fiche [ˈfʲixʲe] = twenty fichetmad = twentieth fichtige = twenty day/year period
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	fiche, fichet, fichit, fichtea = twenty, a score fichetmad, fichatmath, fichetmudh = twentieth fichetech = pertaining to twenty fichtige = a period of twenty (days, years, etc)
Irish (Gaeilge)	fiche [ˈfʲɪhə/ˈfʲɪçə/fʲiː] = twenty (an) fichiú = twentieth
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fichead [fiçəd] = twenty, a score ficheadamh [fiçədəv] (20ᵐʰ) = twentieth (20ᵗʰ) fichead-shliosnach = icosahedron (a polyhedron with 20 faces) fichead-fillte = twentyfold
Manx (Gaelg)	feed [fiːdʒ] = twenty, a score feedoo, (yn) eedoo = (the) twentieth feed cheead = two thousand (twenty hundred)
Proto-Brythonic	*ʉgėnt = twenty
Cumbric	giggy, jiggit = twenty
Old Welsh	uceint = twenty
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ugein, ugeint, vgein = twenty vgeinvet, ugeinuet = twentieth ugeinwyr, vgainwyr, vgain-wr, vgain-ŵr = twenty men
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ugain [ˈɪɡai̯n/ˈiːɡai̯n] = twenty, score, twenty-pound note ugeinfed [ɪˈɡei̯nvɛd] (20fed) = twentieth ugeiniol = pertaining to twenty, denoting twenty ugeinw(y)r = twenty men
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ugans, hugens = twenty, a score
Cornish (Kernewek)	ugens, ugans = twenty ugensves = twentieth
Old Breton	ucent = twenty
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	vgent, uiguent, ugent = twenty ugentved = twentieth ugentvedenn = twentieth part ugentad = around twenty ugentvedenni, ugentvedenna = to divide by twenty ugentveder = a commemoration of 20 years ugentvederel = vigesimal (20-base numeral system)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ugent [ˈyːɡẽn(t)] = twenty ugentvet = twentieth ugentvedenn = twentieth part ugentad = around twenty

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *dwi(h₁)dḱm̥ti (twenty) from *wídḱm̥ti (twenty) [source].

Words from the same roots include بیست‎ (bist – twenty) in Persian (Farsi), बीस (bīs – twenty) in Hindi and Nepali, বিশ (biś – twenty) in Bengali and વીસ (vīs – twenty) in Gujarati, and words for twenty in some other Indo-European languages languages [source].

Incidentally, the English words twenty, and words for twenty in other Germanic languages, are not cognate. Instead they come from the Proto-Germanic roots *twain- (two) ‎and *-tigaz (group of ten) [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

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].

Buying and Purchasing

22nd September 202222nd September 2022 By Simon

Words for to buy, purchase and related words in Celtic languages.

image illustrating words for to buy in Celtic languages

Proto-Celtic	*kʷrinati = to buy
Old Irish (Goídelc)	crenaid [ˈkʲrʲeniðʲθ] = to buy, purchase, sell do·aithchren = to redeem, ransom fo·cren [foˈkren] = to buy, purchase, hire in·cren = to buy
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	crenaid = buys, obtains, sells, dispenses do-cren = purchases do-aithchren = buys back, redeems fo-cren = buys, purchases, pays, hires, recompenses
Irish (Gaeilge)	crean [cɾʲanˠ] = to obtain, purchase, bestow, spend
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	crean = to consume, remove, purchase, marketplace (obsolete)
Proto-Brythonic	*prɨnad = to buy
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	prinit, prynnu = to buy
Welsh (Cymraeg)	prynu [ˈprənɨ / ˈprəni] = to buy, purchase, exchange, redeem, ransom prynu cath mewn cwd = to buy a pig in a poke prynedig = bought, purchased, redeemed prynedigaeth = redemption, buying, purchase prynedigol = redeeming, redemptive, redeemed prynwr, prynydd = buyer, purchaser, customer, redeemer prynwriaeth = comsumerism, redemption prynwriaethol = comsumerist
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	prenne = to take, buy, purchase, redeem, expiate, pay for
Cornish (Kernewek)	prena = to acquire, buy, purchase prena kath yn sagh = to buy a pig in a poke prenas = purchase prenassa = to go shopping, to shop prenasser, penassores = shopper prener = buyer, customer, purchaser
Old Breton	prenaff = to buy
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	prenaff = to buy prener, prenouréss = buyer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	prenañ = to buy dasprenañ = to redeem rakprenañ = to pre-purchase prener, prenerez = buyer prenadenn = acquisition prener = buyer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kʷrinéh₂ti, from *kʷreyh₂- (to buy) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include क्रीत (krīt – bought, purchased) and क्रेता (kretā – buyer, purchaser) in Hindi [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	cennach = bargin, purchase, transaction cennaigid = to buy, purchase
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cennach = bargin, transaction, compact cennaigid = buys, purchases, redeems, saves cennaigtheóir = redeemer
Irish (Gaeilge)	ceannaigh [ˈcan̪ˠəɟ/ˈcan̪ˠə/ˈcan̪ˠiː] = to buy, purchase, redeem, suborn, bribe ceannach = purchase ceannachán = purchase, purchased article ceannaí = buyer, purchaser, dealer, merchant ceannaíocht = buying, purchasing, dealing, trading ceannaitheoir = buyer, purchaser, redeemer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ceannaich [kʲan̪ʲɪç] = buy, purchase ceannach = buying, purchasing, purchase, trading, commerce, trade, reward, bribe
Manx (Gaelg)	chionnys = to buy. compel chionnaghey = to buy, purchase kionnee = to buy kionnaghey = to buy, buy in, buying, purchase, purchasing, redeem kionneeaght = buy, merchandise, purchase, traffic, redemption

Etymology: from the Old Irish cenn (head) and -aigid (suffix that turns a noun into a verb) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Mind Sense

14th May 202214th May 2022 By Simon

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

Mind, Sense, Widom, Intelligence, Meaning

Proto-Celtic	*kʷēslā = mind; sense, wisdom, intelligence; meaning
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cíall [kʲiːa̯l͈] = sense, intelligence, mind; wisdom, good sense, skill; intention, cause, reason, idea; signification, meaning, function
Irish (Gaeilge)	ciall [kiəl̪ˠ/kʲal̪ˠ] = sense, sanity; normal state of mind; common sense; perception; meaning; reason, cause ciallaigh = to mean, signify; explain, interpret ciallchogar = confidential whisper ciallmhaireacht = sensibleness, reasonableness ciallmhar = sensible, reasonable, common sense aingiall = unreason fochiall = secondary meaning, connotation gan chiall = meaningless, misguided, unmeaning, callow, lunatic, senseless, silly
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ciall [kʲiəl̪ˠ] = meaning, sense, significance, connotation, implication, understanding, reason ciallach = prudent, sensible, sane, tame ciallaich = to mean, signify, imply gun chiall = without sense, senseless, insane eu-céillidheachd = insanity, madness, irrationality, foolishness
Manx (Gaelg)	keeall = sense, significance keeaylagh = eloquent, prudent meecheeall = senselessness meecheeallagh = senseless, unadvisedly bun-cheeal = moral gyn keeall = unmeaning, senseless
Proto-Brythonic	*puɨll = mind; sense, wisdom, intelligence; meaning
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	puil, puilh = deliberation, consideration, care, caution
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pwyll [puːɨ̯ɬ / pʊi̯ɬ] = deliberation, consideration, care, caution; discretion, prudence, wisdom, patience, understanding, intelligence, perception, judgement; nature, disposition; meaning, significance, sense pwyll(i)ad = intention, intent, goal, aim, design pwyllaf, pwyllo = to exercise discretion, deliberate, consider, contemplate pwyllgor = committee, meeting pwyllog = discreet, wise, intelligent, sane, rational, reasonable pwyllwr, pwyllwraig = discreet, sensible or wise person gan bwyll = gently, gradually, carefully, slowly iawnbwyll = sanity, saneness, sane, sensible o’i bwyll = out of one’s mind, beside oneself, insane
Cornish (Kernewek)	poll = intelligence, reason pollek = brainy, intelligent
Breton (Brezhoneg)	poell = logical, logic poellata = to reason, argue poellakaat = to rationalize poellel = logical, logic poellelour = rationalist poellgor = committee

Etymology from the Proto-Indo-European *kʷeyt- (to notice) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include číst (to read) and čítat (to count) in Czech, šķist (to seem, appear) and skaitīt (to count) in Latvian, skaitýti (to read) in Lithuanian, and चित्त [t͡ʃɪt̪t̪] (mind, heart) in Hindi [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Country and Land

23rd July 202128th October 2022 By Simon

Words for land, country and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	tīros = dry land, land, earth wo-tīro- = piece of land
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tír = land, country, territory, ground Tír inna n-Óc = (mythical) Land of Youth
Irish (Gaeilge)	tír [tʲiːɾʲ] = country, land, state, nation; region, district. territory, rural district, country native, ordinary tírdhreach = landscape tíreach = native, of the country tíreachas = domesticity tíreánach = mainlander tíreolaí = geographer tíreolaíocht = geography tírghrá = patriotism tírghrách = patriotic tírghráthóir = patriot Tír na nÓg = (mythical) Land of the Young/Youth
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tìr [tʲiːrʲ] = land, country, territory tìreach = countryman, patriot tìr-eòlas = geography tìr-ghràdhaiche = patriot tìr-mór = mainland, continent Tìr nan Òg = (mythical) Land of the Young/Youth àrd-tìr = highland
Manx (Gaelg)	çheer = land, country, state, territory, shore çheeragh = native çheer-ghraihagh = patriotic çheer-oayllee = geographer çheer-oaylleeaght = geography çheer vooar = mainland çheer yalloo = landscape Çheer ny Aeg = (mythical) Land of Youth
Proto-Brythonic	*tir [ˈtiːr] = land
Old Welsh	tir = land
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tir, tyr = land
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tir [tiːr] = land, ground, soil, turf, estate, open land, region, territory, domain, country, earth, ridge tiriaf, tirio = to land, come ashore, disembark, arrive, reach tir(i)og = landowning, landed tiriogaeth = territory, realm, district, tract, (piece of) land tiriogaethol = territorial tirwedd = landscape, scenery, (geographic) relief
Cornish (Kernewek)	tir = land, earth tira = to land, come ashore tiredh = territory tirlanow = landfill tir meur = mainland tirnos = landmark tirwedh = landscape konna tir = peninsula penn tir = headland
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tir = land penn-tir = headland

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *tērs-os/tḗrs (to heap up, increase, enlarge) [source].

Proto-Celtic	wlatis = sovereignty, rule walo- = prince, chief *walatro- = ruler
Old Irish (Goídelc)	flaith [flaθʲ] = lordship, sovereignty, rule, kingdom, realm, prince, ruler flaithem = prince, ruler flaithemail = princely, munificent flaithemnacht = rule flaithemnas, flaithius = rule, sovereignty flaithiúlacht = princeliness, munificence, lavishness, generosity
Irish (Gaeilge)	flaith [fˠlˠah/fˠlˠa] = lordship, sovereignty, ruler, prince, lord, chief banfhlaith = princess flaithbheartach = princely, generous flaithbhile = princely scion, noble champion flaitheas = rule, sovereignty, kingdom, realm flaitheasach = heavenly, celestial co-fhlaitheas = confederation flaithiúil = princely, munificent, lavish, generous flaithiúlach = lavish, generous flaithiúnta = sovereign, heavenly mì-fhlathail = ignoble
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	flath [fl̪ˠah] = king, prince, ruler, noble banfhlath = wife of a chieftain, noblewoman flath-shonas [fl̪ˠahənəs] = dominion, kingdom, heaven, the heavens flathail = noble, gallant, patrician, princely, majestic; blithesome mì-fhlathail = ignoble
Manx (Gaelg)	flah = prince, potentate flaunys = heaven, utopia, paradise
Proto-Brythonic	gwlad [ˈɡwlaːd] = sovereignty, country gwlėdig = civil, secular, established, national *gwaladr [ɡwaˈladr̩] = ruler
Old Welsh	gulat = country, realm
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gulat, gulad, gwlat, gwlad = country, realm
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwlad [ɡwlaːd/ɡlaːd] = country, land, province, region, district, kingdom, realm, domain; nation, the people of a country gwaladr = ruler, sovereign gwladaidd = rural, rustic countrified, homely, plain, mean, poor, boorish, vulgar, rough, clumsy, awkward gwladiath = native tongue, mother tongue gwladwr = countryman, peasant, rustic, compatriot, inhabitant, citizen gwledig = rural rhyngwladol = international
Old Cornish	gulat = country
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwlas = country gwlaskar = patriotic gwlaskarer / gwlaskarores = patriot gwlaskarenja / gwlaskerensa = patriotism gwlaskor = kingdom, realm
Old Breton	guletic = prince
Middle Breton	gloat = kingdom, wealth gloedic = count
Breton (Brezhoneg)	glad [ɡlɑːt] = inheritance, heritage, patrimony

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂wélh₁tis/*h₂wl̥h₁téy-, from *h₂welh₁- (to rule, strong, powerful) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*talamū = earth
Gaulish	*talamon = ?
Old Irish (Goídelc)	talam [ˈtalaṽ] = earth, (dry) land, country, soil, dirt, clay
Irish (Gaeilge)	talamh [ˈt̪ˠɑlˠəvˠ/ˈt̪ˠalˠə/ˈt̪ˠalˠu] = earth, ground, land, dry land, soil, soild base (for discussion, understanding) talamhchreathach = seismic talamhchrith = earthquake talamhiata = land-locked talamhluas = ground speed
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	talamh [tal̪ˠav] = earth, ground, Earth talamh bàn = fallow/unmanured ground talamh-dearg = tiled soil, ploughed land talamh-làidir, talamh-glas = unploughed land talamh-rèisg = marshy/boggy ground talamh-àitich = arable land, cultivable land
Manx (Gaelg)	thalloo = country, land, shore, terrain, territory, clod, earth, ground , soil thallooinaghey = to earth, earthing

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *telh₂- (ground) [source]. The French surname Talmont, and the placenames Talmont-sur-Gironde and Talmont-Saint-Hilaire come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Gaulish *talamon, and the Latin Talamone / Talmun.

Words from the same PIE root include tellurian (of or relating to the earth) in English, тло [tɫɔ] (background, environment, ground, basis) in Ukrainian, потолок [pətɐˈɫok] (ceiling, upper limit, roof) in Russian, tło [twɔ] (background) in Polish, तल [t̪əl] (bottom, level, storey, floor) in Hindi [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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Hindi (हिन्दी)

Twenty

Short Cuts

Buying and Purchasing

Mind Sense

Country and Land