Category: Middle Welsh (Kymraec)

Brown & Dun

By Simon

Words for brown / dun in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *dusnos = dark brown
Old Irish (Goídelc) donn [don͈] = brown, tawny, dun; hazel (eyes), chestnut (animals)
Irish (Gaeilge) donn [d̪ˠɔn̪ˠ / d̪ˠuːn̪ˠ / d̪ˠəun̪ˠ] = brown, brown-haired, hard brown timber
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) donn [dɔun̪ˠ ~ dɯn̪ʲə] = brown, brown-haired, brunette
Manx (Gaelg) dhone = brown, brown-haired, hazel, swarthy, dark-skinned
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) dwnn = dun, dark red, brown
Welsh (Cymraeg) dwn = dun, dark red, brown; swarthy, dark

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *dusnos- / *donnos- (dark) [source]

Proto-Celtic *gelos = shining, white
Gaulish *gelā
Old Irish (Goídelc) gel = bright, clear, white
Irish (Gaeilge) geal [ɟalˠ] = white, bright
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) geal [gʲal̪ˠ] = white, fine
Manx (Gaelg) gial = bright, clear, white, shining, snowy, light-coloured, fulgent
Welsh (Cymraeg) gell = bay, brown, auburn, orange, yellow, tawny-coloured
Cornish (Kernewek) gell [gɛl:] = (light) brown
Breton (Brezhoneg) gell = bay, brown

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₂os, from *ǵʰelh₂- (to shine) [source]

Proto-Celtic *gurmos = dun, dark, blue
Irish (Gaeilge) gorm [ˈɡɔɾˠəmˠ] = blue; dyeing-blue; azure; dark-blue; livid, purple
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) gorm [gɔrɔm] = blue; green, verdant; green, inexperienced, wet (behind the ears)
Manx (Gaelg) gorrym = blue, black, dark-skinned; washing blue
Proto-Brythonic *gurm = dun, dark, blue
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwrm = brown, dark-brown, reddish, greyish-brown, dark-grey, dark, dusky, black, dark-blue, blue
Cornish (Kernewek) gorm [gɔrm] = (dark) brown
Old Breton uurm = dark

Etymology: unknown

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

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

White

By Simon

Words for white in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *windos [ˈwin.dos] = white
Old Irish (Goídelc) finn [fʲin͈] = white, bright, blessed
Irish (Gaeilge) fionn = white; fair-haired, blond, bright, clear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) fionn [fjũːn̪ˠ] = white, fair, pale; sincere, true, certain; small; fine, pleasant; wan; lilac; resplendent, bright; prudent
Manx (Gaelg) fynn = blond(e), fair (hair, skin), pure white, sprite; cataract
Proto-Brythonic *gwinn [ˈɡwɨnː] = white (m)
*gwenn = white (f)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) gwynn = white (m)
gwen = white (f)
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwyn [ɡwɨ̞n / ɡwɪn] = white (m), greyish-white, pale; light, shining, bright; brilliant, white-hot; silver; amber-coloured; fair-haired, fair-faced, of fair complexion; holy, blessed, beatific, good, happy; splendid, excellent, beautiful, fair, pleasant; favourite, darling, white-headed
gwen = white (f)
Old Cornish guyn = white
Cornish (Kernewek) gwynn [gwɪn:] = white, fair, blessed
Old/Middle Breton guinn = white
Breton (Brezhoneg) gwenn = white, pale, pure
Proto-Celtic *banos = white
Old Irish (Goídelc) bán [baːn] = white, pure
Irish (Gaeilge) bán [bˠɑːn̪ˠ / bˠæːn̪ˠ] = white, white-headed, fair, pale, blank, empty, idle, wild crazy
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bàn [baːn] = fair(-haired), white (haired); blank, empty, unoccupied, vacant; pallid, pale; fallow
Manx (Gaelg) bane = white, blank, fair, blond(e), pallid; fallow, unbroken (ground)
Welsh (Cymraeg) bân [baːn] = white, whitish, grey, pale

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (to shine) [source], or from *bhā (shine) [source]

Proto-Celtic *gelos = shining, white
Gaulish *gelā
Old Irish (Goídelc) gel = bright, clear, white
Irish (Gaeilge) geal [ɟalˠ] = white, bright
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) geal [gʲal̪ˠ] = white, fine
Manx (Gaelg) gial = bright, clear, white, shining, snowy, light-coloured, fulgent
Welsh (Cymraeg) gell = bay, brown, auburn, orange, yellow, tawny-coloured
Cornish (Kernewek) gell [gɛl:] = (light) brown
Breton (Brezhoneg) gell = bay, brown

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₂os, from *ǵʰelh₂- (to shine) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Young

By Simon

Words for young in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *yowankos = young
Old Irish (Goídelc) óc [oːɡ] = young
Irish (Gaeilge) óg [oːɡ / ɔːɡ] = young; junior, minor; new, fresh, early
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) òg [ɔːg] = young, youthful
Manx (Gaelg) aeg [ɛːɡ] = young, adolescent, immature
Proto-Brythonic *jowank = young
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) ieuanc [ˈjeɨ̯aŋk] = young, juvenille, unmarried
Welsh (Cymraeg) ifanc [ˈɪvaŋk / ˈiːvaŋk] = young, youthful, adolescent; inexperienced, immature; recent; unmarried, newly wed
Middle Cornish yowynk, yonk = young
Cornish (Kernewek) yowynk [‘jɔwɪŋk] = young, juvenille
yonk [jɔˑŋk] = young, juvenille
Middle Breton youanc = young
Breton (Brezhoneg) yaouank = young

Etymology
Possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂yuh₁n̥ḱós (young).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Good

By Simon

Words for good in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *matis = good
Old Irish (Goídelc) maith [maθʲ] = good
Irish (Gaeilge) maith [mˠa(h) / mˠaɪ(h)] = good; goodness, kindness; good things; fertility
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) math [ma] = good, well
Manx (Gaelg) mie [maɪ] = good, nice, moral, fair, pious, ready, goodness, favourable, virtuous, virtue, goodly
Proto-Brythonic *mad = good
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) mad [maːd] = good
Welsh (Cymraeg) mad [maːd] = good, lucky, fortunate, suitable, auspicious, beneficial, virtuous, holy, fair, pleasant, beautiful
Cornish (Kernewek) mas [ma:z / mæ:z] = good, respectable, moral
Middle Breton mat = good
Breton (Brezhoneg) mat / mad [maːd] = good, good product, moral, well (done), sweet

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *meh₂tis (ripe, good), from *meh₂- (to ripen, to mature) [source].

Note: mad is not commonly used in modern Welsh. The usual word for good is da.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Small

By Simon

Words for small and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *bikkos = small, little
Old Irish (Goídelc) bec(c) [ˈbʲeɡ] = small, little
Irish (Gaeilge) beag [bʲɔɡ / bʲɞɡ / bʲɛɡ] = little, small, small amount; few
beagadán = diminutive person, little one
beagaigh = to lesson, diminish
beagán = little, a few, a little, somewhat
beagchainteach = silent, taciturn
beagchéillí = senseless, foolish
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) beag [beg] = small, little, wee; minor; petty, puny, trifling; slight
beag(adh) = to diminish, lessen, reduce
Manx (Gaelg) beg = small, short, slight, few, poky, model, narrow, quiet, dwarf
beggan = somewhat, slightly, partly, faintly, a few, little, small piece
Proto-Brythonic *bɨx = small
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) bychan [ˈbəχan] = small, little
Welsh (Cymraeg) bach [baːχ] = small, little, short; not fully grown or developed, young; insignificant, unimportant, humble; small (business); lower-case (letter); dear, beloved; poor
bach (y) nyth = runt, spoilt youngest child
fy mach i = my dear
pen bach = big-head, conceited person
bychan [ˈbəχan] = little, small, minute, diminutive; inconspicuous, obscure, unimportant, petty; young inexperienced; little one, young child
bychanaf, bychanu = to abase, disparage, disregard, slight, minimize
bychander, bychandod = littleness, smallness, scarcity, contempt, pettiness
bychanig = very little/small, minute, diminutive, bit, piece
bychan bach very little
Cornish (Kernewek) byghan [‘bɪhan] = little, small
byghanhe = to reduce, make smaller
byghanna = smaller
bara byghan = roll
bys byghan = little finger
flogh byghan = baby
lavrek byghan = underpants, briefs
Breton (Brezhoneg) bihan = small, insufficient, modest, little
bihanaat = diminutive, pet name
bihanadur = miniature
bihanniver = minority

Etmology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰég-ko-s, from *bʰeg- (to break) +‎ the suffix *-kos

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis

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