Trees, Wood(s) & Forests

Words for trees, wood(s) & forests in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *kʷresnom = tree, wood
Gaulish prenne = big tree
Old Irish (Goídelc) crann = tree
Irish (Gaeilge) crann [kɾˠaun̪ˠ / kɾˠan̪ˠ] = tree; mast, boom, pole; stock, handle; shaft, beam; stick
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) crann [kraun̪ˠ] = mast; plough; beam; lot (in drawing lots); tree (archaic)
Manx (Gaelg) croan = boom, mast, flag pole
Proto-Brythonic prenn [ˈprenː] = wood, tree
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) prenn = wood, tree
Welsh (Cymraeg) pren [prɛn] = tree, bush, shrub; timber, wood, wooden; piece of wood, wooden stick; cross, gallows, gibbet
Old Cornish pren = wood
Cornish (Kernewek) prenn [prɛn:] = bar, beam, log, timber, lot (gambling)
Old Breton pren = wood
Breton (Brezhoneg) prenn = wood, piece of wood, antler

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *kʷres (bush, thicket) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Old Irish (Goídelc) cráeb / cróeb = tree
Irish (Gaeilge) craobh = branch, bough; tree
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) craobh [krɯːv] = tree, bush
Manx (Gaelg) crouw = stock, bush, dwarf tree, stick, bunch, wide spreading tree, tributary of river

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary

Proto-Celtic *belyom = tree
Old Irish (Goídelc) bile [ˈbʲilʲe] = tree, especially a large, ancient, sacred one
Irish (Gaeilge) bile [ˈbʲɪlʲə] = (large, sacred) tree; scion; distinguished person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bile [kraun̪ˠ] = mast; plough; beam; lot (in drawing lots); tree (archaic)
Manx (Gaelg) billey = tree, big bush
Welsh (Cymraeg) pill [bɪɬ] = (tree) trunk, stock, log, branch, pole, stake, post; fortress, castle, stronghold, refuge, sanctuary, safety, strength, force; snatch of song, verse
Breton (Brezhoneg) bil = trunk

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰolyo- (leaf) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary

Proto-Celtic *widus = wood, trees
Old Irish (Goídelc) fid = tree
Irish (Gaeilge) fiodh = tree, wood, timber
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) fiodh [fjɤɣ] = wood, timber, wooden, made of wood
Manx (Gaelg) fuygh = timber, wood
Proto-Brythonic *gwɨð [ˈɡwɨːð] = wood, trees
Old Welsh guid = tree
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) gwydd = tree
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwŷdd [ɡwɨːð / ɡwiːð] = tree(s), branches, twigs; forest, woods, shrub(s); lineage, genealogical tree, stock; stem
Cornish (Kernewek) gwydh [gwɪ:ð] = trees
gwedhen = tree
Old Breton guid = trees
Middle Breton guez = trees
Breton (Brezhoneg) gwez [ɡwe] = trees
gwezenn = tree

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *widʰu- (tree, beam) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Proto-Celtic *kaitos = wood, forest
Proto-Brythonic *koɨd [ˈkoɨ̯d] = wood, forest
Old Welsh coit = wood, forest
Welsh (Cymraeg) coed [koːɨ̯d / kɔi̯d] = forest, wood, trees; shrubs; timber, pieces of wood
coeden [koːɨ̯d / kɔi̯d] = tree
Old Cornish cuit = wood, forest
Middle Cornish coys = wood, forest
Cornish (Kernewek) koos [ko:z / ku:z] = forest
Middle Breton coat = wood, forest
Breton (Brezhoneg) koad [ˈkwɑːt] = wood, forest

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *widʰu- (tree, beam) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

The usual words for tree in the modern Celtic languages are: crann (Irish), craobh (Scottish Gaelic), billey (Manx), coeden (Welsh), gwedhen (Cornish), gwezenn (Breton).

Christmas

Words for Christmas in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) Notlaic = Christmas
Irish (Gaeilge) Nollaig [ˈn̪ˠɔl̪ˠəɟ / ˈn̪ˠɔl̪ˠəc / ˈn̪ˠʌl̪ˠəc] = Christmas
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) Nollaig [n̪ˠɔl̪ɪgʲ] = Christmas
Manx (Gaelg) Nollick [ˈnɔlik] = Christmas
Old Welsh Natolic = Christmas
Welsh (Cymraeg) Nadolig = Christmas, birthday
Cornish (Kernewek) Nadelik [na’dɛlɪk / nə’dɛlɐk] = Christmas
Old Breton Notolic = Christmas
Breton (Brezhoneg) Nedeleg = Christmas

Etymology: from Latin nātālīcius (birth, birthday). [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Tasteful

Words for taste in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *mlastā / *mlasto = taste
Old Irish (Goídelc) mlas [mlas] = flavour, savour, taste
blasid = to taste
Irish (Gaeilge) blas [bˠl̪ˠɑsˠ / bˠlˠasˠ] = taste, flavour, accent
blais [bˠlˠaʃ] = to taste
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) blas [bl̪as] = flavour, savour, taste; body (of wine); accent; gusto, relish
blais [bl̪ˠaʃ] = to taste, try by the mouth; sip; relish
Manx (Gaelg) blass = accent, flavour, overtone, spiciness, taste, tinge, tang
blas(s)tyn = to taste, relish, savour
Welsh (Cymraeg) blas [blas] = taste, sense of taste, flavour, relish, savour, appetite; liking, enjoyment, pleasure; taste; flavourings, seasonings; spices, odoriferous herbs
blasu = to taste, have a flavour; flavour, season; experience; have a liking (for), savour, enjoy, relish, appreciate
Cornish (Kernewek) blas = smell, stench, flavour, taste
blasa [‘blaza / ‘blæzɐ] = to smell, taste
Breton (Brezhoneg) blaz = taste, flavour, smell
blasa = to taste, sniff (at), scent

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *mel-s- [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

To Hear

Words for to hear in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *klinuti = to hear
Old Irish (Goídelc) ro·cluinethar = to be hearing
Irish (Gaeilge) cluin [lʲeːɟ] = to hear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cluinn [kl̪ˠɯin̪ʲ] = to hear
Manx (Gaelg) cluin = to hear
Etymology from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱl̥néwti (to hear) [source]. Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary
Proto-Celtic *klusīti = to hear
Proto-Brythonic *klüwid [klyˈwiːd] = to hear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) clywet / clybot = to hear
Welsh (Cymraeg) clywed [ˈkləu̯ɛd] = to hear
Cornish (Kernewek) klewes [‘klɛwɛs] = to hear, feel, sense, perceive
Middle Breton klewed = to hear
Breton (Brezhoneg) klevet = to hear
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱlews- (to hear) [source]. Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

To Die

Words for to die in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *marwos = dead
Old Irish (Goídelc) marb = dead; mortified, insensible, spiritually dead; stagnant (water)
Irish (Gaeilge) marbh [ˈmˠɑɾˠəvˠ / ˈmˠarˠuː / ˈmˠarˠu] = dead person, dead, inert, exhausted, inactive, motionless, slack, idle, unused
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) marbh [marav] = dead, lifeless; dull; benumbed, torpid; vapid, tasteless; to kill, murder, assassinate
Manx (Gaelg) marroo = to kill, kill off, dispatch, murder, assassinate, slaughter, liquidate, butcher, slay, exterminate, bag (game); dead, lifeless, inanimate, glassy (look), muggy, dull (pain), dud, dull, stagnant, defunct, mortified, slaughtered, departed, deceased, killed, extinct
Proto-Brythonic marw [ˈmarw] = to die
Welsh (Cymraeg) marw = to die, expire, cease to exist, vanish, fade away
Cornish (Kernewek) merwel [‘mɛrwɛl / ‘mɛrwɐl] = to die, decease, pass away, go out (light)
Middle Breton marf / maru = to die
Breton (Brezhoneg) mervel = to die, turn off, switch off, go out, become insensitive

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *mer- (to die), which is also the root of the English words mare, as in nightmare, and murder [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Irish (Gaeilge) básaigh = to die, put to death, execute
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bàsaich [baːsɪç] = to die, perish, starve, wither
Manx (Gaelg) geddyn baase = to die, perish, decease

Etymology: from the Irish bás (death), from the Proto-Celtic *bāstom / bāssom (death), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷeh₂- (to go) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie

To Come

Words for to come in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) doicc [doˈhʲiɡʲ] = to come, approach
Irish (Gaeilge) tar [t̪ˠaɾˠ] = to come, survive
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) thig [higʲ] = to come, become, suit, fit, befit, agree with, please, recover, escape
Manx (Gaelg) tar = to come

Etymology: from the Old Irish to- (to, towards) and icc [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie

Welsh (Cymraeg) dod [dɔd / doːd] = to come, arrive, happen, become, develop
dŵad = North Wales version of dod
dyfod = literary version of dod
Cornish (Kernewek) dos [dɔ:z] = to come, arrive
Breton (Brezhoneg) donet / dont [dɔ̃nt] = to come, become, come back, happen, derive from

Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

To Drink

Words for to drink in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *ɸibeti = to drink
Gaulish ibetis = to drink
Old Irish (Goídelc) ibid [ˈivʲiðʲ] = to drink, to suckle
Irish (Gaeilge) ibh = to drink
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ibh = to drink
Manx (Gaelg) iu = to drink, imbibe, tipple, quaff
Proto-Brythonic *ɨβɨd [ɨˈβɨːd] = to drink
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) yuet = to drink
Welsh (Cymraeg) yfed [ˈəvɛd] = to drink
Cornish (Kernewek) eva [‘ɛva / ‘ɛvɐ] = to drink, absorb
Old Breton evaff = to drink
Middle Breton yvet = to drink
Breton (Brezhoneg) evañ [ˈe.vɑ̃] = to drink

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *píph₃eti (to drink) [source].

Proto-Celtic *ɸotlom = to drink
Old Irish (Goídelc) ól [oːl] = to drink
Irish (Gaeilge) ól [oːl̪ˠ / oːl / ɔːl̪ˠ] = to drink
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) òl [ɔːl̪ˠ] = to drink, sup, absorb
Manx (Gaelg) oyl = to drink

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pōtlo- / *péh₃tlom, from *peh₃- (to drink) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

To Eat

Words for to eat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *ɸiteti = to eat
Old Irish (Goídelc) ithid = to eat
Irish (Gaeilge) ith [ɪ / ɪh / iː] = to eat, feed, graze; bite; corrode, erode; comsume, destroy; abuse, scold, revile; chew
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ith [iç] = to eat; gnaw, chew, devour; corrode; consume
Manx (Gaelg) ee [iː] = to eat, consume, feed

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *peyt- (food, nutrition) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie

Cornish (Kernewek) debri [dɛbri] = to eat
dybri [dɪbri] = to eat
Breton (Brezhoneg) debriñ [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = to eat

Note: the Welsh for to eat is bwyta [ˈbʊɨ̯ta / ˈbʊi̯ta], which comes from bwyd (food) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

To Write

Words for to write in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) scríbaid = to write
Irish (Gaeilge) scríobh [ʃcɾʲiːvˠ / ʃcɾʲiːw] = to write, fill in, fill out, compose
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) sgrìobh [sgrʲiːv] = to write, compose a book, record, engrave
Manx (Gaelg) screeu = to write, scribe, pen, document, inscribe
Welsh (Cymraeg) ysgrifennu [əsɡrɪˈvɛnɨ̞ / əsɡrɪˈvɛni] = to write, note (down)
Cornish (Kernewek) skrifa [‘skrifa / ‘skrifɐ ] = to write
Breton (Brezhoneg) skrivañ = to write

Etymology: from Latin scrībō (I write), from Proto-Italic *skreiβō (to carve), from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreybʰ- (to scratch, tear) [source].

Note: the Welsh word ysgrifennu is often abbreviated to sgrifennu or sgwennu is colloquial Welsh.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

To Read

Words for to read in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) légaid = to read, study, read aloud, recite
Irish (Gaeilge) léigh [lʲeːɟ] = to read
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) leugh [l̪ːev] = to read
Manx (Gaelg) lhaih [ˈkaːðəl] = to read
Welsh (Cymraeg) llên [ɬeːn] = literature, lore
darllen [ˈdarɬɛn / ˈdarɬɛn] = to read, peruse; read aloud; learn; discern by observation, understand a person’s character; scrutinize
Cornish (Kernewek) lenna [‘lɛn:a / ‘lɛnɐ] = to read
Breton (Brezhoneg) lenn = to read

Etymology: from Latin legō (I read), from the Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (to gather) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Teaglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau