Hundred

19th July 202325th July 2023 By Simon

Words for a hundred and related things in Celtic languages:

hundred

Proto-Celtic	kantom = hundred kantometos = hundredth
Gaulish	*canta = hundred
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cét [kʲeːd] = hundred, a hundred people/warriors, troops, battalions cétmad [ˈkʲeːdṽað] = hundredth
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	ced, céit, cét = hundred, a hundred people/warriors, troops, battalions cétach, cetach = hundredfold, possossing a hundred cétmad = hundredth
Irish (Gaeilge)	céad [ciːa̯d̪ˠ/ceːd̪ˠ] = hundred, century, hundredweight, great, long céadach = hundredfold, great, immense céadú = hundredth céadchosach = centipede céad míle fáilte = a hundred thousand welcomes
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ceud [kʲiəd] = hundred ceudamh [kʲiadəv] (100ᵐʰ) = hundredth 100ᵗʰ) ceudad [kʲiədəd] = percent, percentage ceud mìle fàilte = a hundred thousand welcomes ceudameatair = centimetre ceudamhail [kʲiədəval] = percentile ceud-chasach = centipede ceudach [kʲiədəx] = hundredfold
Manx (Gaelg)	keead [kiːəd] = hundred, century keeadoo = hundredth keead blein = centenary keead filley = hundredfold keead liauyr/mooar = long hundred keead-choshagh = centipede
Proto-Brythonic	*kant [kant] = hundred
Old Welsh	cant = hundred
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cant, can = hundred canvet, canuet, kannvet, canved = hundredth cantref, cantrew, cantreuyt = hundred, cantred, province, district
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cant, can [kant/kan] = hundred, a host, hundredweight, percentage; century canfed (100fed) = hundredth (100th), centesimal, century canrif = century cantref = hundred, cantred, province, district cantro = a hundred times, many times, twisted many times cantroed = centipede, a hundred feet cantwll = a hundred holes, riddled with holes hanner cant = fifty cant a mil = a hundred and one, a large number can diolch = many thanks
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	cans = hundred canquyth, canswyth = a hundred times
Cornish (Kernewek)	kans = hundred kansves = hundredth kansbledhen = century kanskradh = centigrade kanskweyth = a hundred times kansplek = hundredfold kansran = percent(age)
Old Breton	cant = hundred
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	cant, cantt, can, chant = hundred, 100 pounds (lb) canuet, cantvet, cantved = hundredth cantved = century candad, cantad = around hundred cant(-)doubl = centuple cantenier, candener, candenyer = centurion
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kant [kãn(t)] = hundred kantvet [ˈkãn.vet] = hundredth kantved [ˈkãn.vet] = century kantad [ˈkãn.tat] = around hundred

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *ḱm̥tóm (hundred) [source].

Words from the same roots include hundred, century, centigrade, hecatontome (a very large number of books) and hecatologue (a code of 100 rules) in English, and words related to hundred in other Indo-European languages [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

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].

Spears and Javelins

6th July 20237th July 2023 By Simon

Words for spear, javelin and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*gaisos = spear
Gaulish	gaisos = spear Ariogaisos = male given name
Old Irish (Goídelc)	gae [ɡai̯] = javelin, spear, penis gae cró = gush of blood, haemorrhage, unhealed wound gae gréne = sunbeam
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	gae, ga = spear, javelin; ray, beam ga-ín = little javelin gaíde = armed with a spear
Irish (Gaeilge)	ga [ɡa/ɡaː/ɡah] = spear, dart, sting, ray (of light), radius, suppository, (fishing) gaff ga-chatóideach = cathode ray ga-gréine = sunbeam ga-gealaí = moonbeam ga-shiméadracht = radial symmetry gáma-gha = gamma ray X-gha = X-ray
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	gath [ɡah] = dart, beam, ray (of light), sting, barb, knot (in wood), shooting pain, sprout gath-gealaich, gath-luain = moonbeam gath-grèine = sunbeam gath-leusair = laser beam gath-x, gath-òmair = X-ray gath cathod = cathode ray gath-solais = ray of light, light beam
Manx (Gaelg)	goull = beam, dart, ray goull eayst = moonbeam
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	guaew, gvoev, gwaew, gwayw = lance, spear, javelin gwaewdwnn = with broken spear, bold, broken by pain gwaew ffon, gwaiw ffon = speak, lance, javelin, pike
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwayw [ɡweɨ̯.ʊ/ˈɡwei̯.u] = lance, spear, javelin; shooting pain, stab, stitch, pang gwaywawr, gwaywor = spearman, lancer, pikeman gwaywdwn = with broken spear, bold, broken by pain gwayw-fwyell = halberd gwaywffon [ˈɡweɨ̯wfɔn/ˈɡwei̯wfɔn] = speak, lance, javelin, pike
Old Cornish	(hoch-)wuyu = spear
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	guw = spear. lance, javelin
Cornish (Kernewek)	guw = spear guwa = to spear
Old Breton	(guu)goiou = spear
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	goaff, goaf, goao, gwaf = spear, stamen, boat hook
Breton (Brezhoneg)	goaf = spear, pike, javelin, stamen

Etymology: from Proto-Germanic *gaizaz [ˈɣɑi̯.zɑz] (spear, pike, javelin), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰoysós (throwing spear), from *ǵʰey- (to throw, impel) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root include gezi [ɡe̞.s̻i] (arrow) in Basque (via Latin and Gaulish), գայիսոն [ɡɑjiˈsɔn/kʰɑjiˈsɔn] (sceptre) in Armenian (via Ancient Greek), gaesum (a Gaulish javelin) in Latin, and γαῖσος [ɡâi̯.sos] (a Gaulish javelin) in Ancient Greek [source].

Words from the same Proto-Germanic root include garfish (any fish of the needlefish family Belonidae) in English [source], geer (spear) in Dutch, Ger (spear) in German, geir (spear) in Icelandic, keihäs (spear, javelin, pike) in Finnish, [source].

My surname, Ager, possibly comes from the same Proto-Germanic root as well, via the Old English name Ēadgār, from ēad (happiness, prosperity), and gār (spear) [source].

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].

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].

Booths

17th June 202317th June 2023 By Simon

Words for booths, huts and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	*butā = place, dwelling, hut
Old Irish (Goídelc)	both [boθ] = hut, cabin
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	both = hut, bothy, cot, cabin bothach = full of huts/hovels, hovel-like; crofter bothán = little hut, cabin, cottage
Irish (Gaeilge)	both [bˠɔ(h)/bˠoh]= booth, hut bothach = hutted, full of huts bothán = shanty, cabin, hut, shed, coop bothánach = given to visiting and gossiping bothánaí = a frequenter of neighbours’ houses bothánaíocht = (act of) visiting houses for pastime or gossip bothóg = shanty, cabin
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bothan [bɔhan] = cottage, hut, bothy, hovel, shed bothag [bɔhag] = bothy, small hut, hovel, playhouse bùth [buː] = shop, booth bùthan [buː.an] = small booth, small bothy, tent bùthach [buː.əx] = pertaining to or abounding in shops/booths bùthanach [buː.anəx] = one who dwells in a small bothy or tent, tent-dweller
Manx (Gaelg)	bwaane = booth, cottage, hovel, hut, kiosk, outhouse, shack, shanty, shed bwaag = booth, bower, cabin, lodge, hut, pavilion, shed booage = booth, tent
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	bod, bot, bôd = permanent home, dwelling place, residence, abode bwth = cabin, booth, cottage
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bod = permanent home, dwelling place, residence, abode bwd = booth, cottage, cabin bwth = cabin, booth, cottage, shed, hut, outhouse, shack bwthyn = booth, cot, cottage, hut
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	bod, bos, bo- = a dwelling house (found in place names) bôth = hut, booth bothoc = hut, cottage
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	bôt, bod = residence, refuge, asylum
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bod = cottage, dwelling

Etymology: the Proto-Celtic word *butā might come from an unknown language, or from the same PIE root as booth [source].

Etymology (Scottish Gaelic bùth and Welsh bwth): from the Middle English bothe (a store, kiosk, booth, shack, cabin), from the Old Norse búð (booth, shop), from the Proto-Germanic *bōþō/*bōþǭ (buidling, dwelling), from the PIE *bʰuH- (to become, grow, appear) [source].

Words from the same roots include búð (shop, tent, pavilion) in Icelandic, bothy (a primitive dwelling or shelter) in Scots, booth in English, Bude (booth, stall, kiosk, shack, hut) and Baude (mountain hut or inn) in German, bouda (hut, shack, lodge, cabin, booth, stall) in Czech, and bod (shed, shack, shop) in Swedish [source].

Incidentally, the German word Baude comes from Silesian German, from the Czech bouda, from the Old Czech būda, from Middle High German buode, from the Proto-Germanic *bōþō/*bōþǭ [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”).

Merciful

9th June 20239th June 2023 By Simon

Words for merciful and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	trougokaros/trowkkaro- = merciful
Old Irish (Goídelc)	trócar = merciful trócaire = mercy
Middle Irish (Gaedhealg)	trócar, trócair, trocor = merciful, leniency trócaire, trocaire = mercy, leniency, equity, piety
Irish (Gaeilge)	trócaire [ˈt̪ˠɾˠoːkəɾʲə] = mercy, pity, compassion, clemency, leniency trócaireach = merciful, clement, lenient, compassionate
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tròcair [trɔːxgɪrʲ] = mercy, pity, pardon, quarter tròcaireach [trɔːxgɪrʲəx] = merciful, compassionate tròcaireachd [trɔːxgɪrʲəxg] = mercifulness, compassion
Manx (Gaelg)	trocair = mercifulness, mercy, pity trocairagh = clement, lenient, merciful trocairaght = mercy trocairys = affection, clemency, leniency, mercifulness, ruth trocairaght = mercy trochoil = lenient trochoilys = leniency, mercifulness
Old Welsh	trucarauc = merciful, compassionate, kind
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	trugar, trûgar = merciful, tender-hearted, compassionate trugaret, trugared = mercy, compassion, pity trigareddva = mercy-seat, throne (of God), mercy or reconcilliation trugarha, trukarhaa = to have mercy (on), be kind (to) forgive trugaraỽc, trugarock, trugaroc = merciful, compassionate, kind
Welsh (Cymraeg)	trugar [ˈtrɨgar/ˈtrigar] = merciful, tender-hearted, compassionate trugaredd = mercy, compassion, pity, tender-heartedness, kindness, humanity, good will; paraphernalia, bits and pieces, knick-knacks trugareddfa = mercy-seat, throne (of God), mercy or reconcilliation trugareddol, trugareddus = merciful, compassionate trugarhaf, trugarhau = to have mercy (on), be kind (to) forgive trugarog = merciful, compassionate, kind, tender-hearted, gentle, humane, forgiving
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	tregereth = compassion, pity, mercy, love
Cornish (Kernewek)	tregeredh = compassion, mercy, sympathy tregeredhus = sensitive, sympathetic
Old Breton	trugar = pitiful, wretched, miserable
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	trugar = pitiful, wretched, miserable trugarez = pity, mercy, forgiveness, thanks, misery
Breton (Brezhoneg)	trugarez = thank you, mercy, clemency, indulgence trugarekaat = to thank, pity

Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *trougos/*trowgo- (sorry, sad, wretched) and *-karos (loving) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Parts and Pieces

8th June 20238th June 2023 By Simon

Words for part, piece and related things in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic	darnos/darnā = piece, part
Old Irish (Goídelc)	drécht [dʲrʲeːxt] = portion, part
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	drecht, drécht = part, portion, section; poem, literary composition dréchtach = numerous; skilled in song or poetry dréchtfaid = to divide up
Irish (Gaeilge)	dréacht [dʲɾʲeːxt̪ˠ]= part, portion, draft, detachment, number; (literary) piece, composition; draft dréachtach = composer, poet; skilled in/diligent at compostion dréachtaigh = to draft dréachtín = versicle, stanza dréachtóir = drafter, draughtsman (of documents)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dreachd [drɛxg] = draft dreachd-aithisge = draft report dreachd-dhealbh = working drawing
Manx (Gaelg)	draght, dreaght = draft draghtey = to draw up dreaght feeleeaght = a piece of poetry
Proto-Brythonic	*darn = piece, fragment, part
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	darn = piece, fragment, part, portion, section, lump, patch, coin darnaw, darnio, darnu = to break or tear in pieces
Welsh (Cymraeg)	darn [darn] = piece, fragment, part, portion, section, lump, patch, coin darn yn narn = piecemeal, piece by piece darn arian = piece of silver, silver coin darn aur = gold piece, gold coin darn grot = a groat darniad = a breaking in pieces, a shattering darn(i)af, darn(i)o, darnu = to break or tear in pieces, mangle, dismember darn(i)edig = broken or torn to pieces, mangled
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	darn = a fragment, piece
Cornish (Kernewek)	darn = bit, fragment, part, piece darn papur = slip of paper darnas = portion
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	darn = piece, part, slice (of fish) darnaou = exhausted, worn-out darnaouer = one who disturbs darnaouet, darnouet, darnaöuet = torn to pieces, very tired darnaouus, darnaouüs = divisible
Breton (Brezhoneg)	darn = fragment, part, partial, darnaou = exhausted, worn-out darnamzer = part-time darnel = partial

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *der (to split, separate, tear, crack, shatter). The French word darne (thick slice of big round fish, part of the body) comes from the same Proto-Celtic root via Breton [source].

Words from the same PIE root include dermal, dermic and (to) tear in English, zehren (to live on, feed on, undermine, wear out) in German, and драть [dratʲ] (to tear to pieces) in Russian [source].

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].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Cornish (Kernewek)