Birds and Larks

6th June 20206th June 2020 By Simon

Words for bird and (sky)lark in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ɸetnos = bird
Gaulish	Etnosus = bird(?)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	én [eːn] = bird
Irish (Gaeilge)	éan [eːnˠ] = bird, young bird, chick
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	eun [ian] = bird, fowl, chicken
Manx (Gaelg)	eean [jiːən] = chick, fowl, young (of birds); juvenile, cheeky child, brat
Proto-Brythonic	edn = bird
Old Welsh	atar = birds
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	edn [ˈɛdn] = bird
Welsh (Cymraeg)	edn [ˈɛdn] = bird, fowl, fly, bee adar [ˈadar] = birds aderyn [aˈdɛrɨ̞n / aˈdeːrɪn] = bird
Old Cornish	hethen = bird
Cornish (Kernewek)	edhen = bird
Middle Breton	ezn = bird
Breton (Brezhoneg)	evn = bird

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *péth₂r̥ (wind, feather), which is also the root of the English word feather [source].

Breton (Brezhoneg)	labous = bird

Etymology: unknown

Old Irish (Goídelc)	uiseóc = lark
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	(f)uiseóg = lark, skylark
Irish (Gaeilge)	fuiseog = lark, skylark
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	uiseag [ɯʃag] = lark, skylark
Manx (Gaelg)	ushag [ˈoʒaɡ] = bird, shuttlecock

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic	*alaudā = bird
Gaulish	*alauda [ˈa.lau.daː] = skylark

Etymology: unknown. Also the root of the Latin alauda (lark, skylark), and words for (sky)lark in Romance languages, such as the French alouette, the Spanish alondra and the Italian allodola [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	ehedydd [ɛˈhɛdɨ̞ð / ɛˈheːdɪð] = lark, skylark; flier, one that flies, bird or fowl
Old Cornish	evidit = lark, skylark
Middle Breton	ehuedez = lark, skylark

Etymology (Welsh): from ehedeg (to fly) and -ydd (-er) [source].

Cornish (Kernewek)	ahwesydh = lark, skylark
Breton (Brezhoneg)	alc’hweder = lark, skylark

Etymology: unknown

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Hound Dogs

28th May 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for dog in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*kū = dog, wolf
Gaulish	cuna = dog
Primitive Irish	ᚉᚒᚅᚐ (cuna) = hound, wolf
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cú [kuː] = dog
Irish (Gaeilge)	cú [kuː] = dog, hound, greyhound; wolf; hero, champion
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cù [kuː] = dog, canine
Manx (Gaelg)	coo [kuː] = dog, cur, hound, wolf-dog
Proto-Brythonic	ki [kiː] = dog
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ci / ki = dog
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ci [kiː] = dog, hound, cur
Old Cornish	ci = dog
Cornish (Kernewek)	ki [kiː] = dog
Middle Breton	ci / qui = dog
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ki [kiː] = dog

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱwṓ (dog), which is also the root of the English words hound and canine [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	madrad, matrad = dog
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	matad = common dog, cur
Irish (Gaeilge)	madra [ˈmˠad̪ˠɾˠə] / madadh [ˈmˠad̪ˠə / ˈmˠad̪ˠu] = dog, cur
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	madadh [madəɣ] = dog, mastiff
Manx (Gaelg)	moddey [ˈmɔːðə] = dog, tyke
Welsh (Cymraeg)	madyn / madog = fox

Etymology: unknown

Old Irish (Goídelc)	gagar [ɡaɣər] = beagle, hunting dog
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	gadar = beagle, hunting dog
Irish (Gaeilge)	gadhar [ɡəiɾˠ] = (hunting) dog, harrier, beagle, cur
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	gadhar [gɤ.ər] = lurcher, mastiff, greyhound

Etymology: from the Old Norse gagarr [source].

Proto-Celtic	*kulēnos = whelp
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cuilén [ˈkulʲeːn] = puppy, cub, kitten
Irish (Gaeilge)	coiléan [kɪˈlʲaːn̪ˠ] = pup, cub, whelp; youth, scion; trickster
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cuilean [kulan] = puppy, whelp; cub; seal pup; darling, dear; short/small bone
Manx (Gaelg)	quallian = puppy
Welsh (Cymraeg)	colwyn [kiː] = whelp, puppy, cub; lap-dog; spaniel
Old Cornish	coloin = puppy
Cornish (Kernewek)	kolen [ˈkɔlɪn] = puppy, cub
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kolen = puppy, fawn, rabbit

Etymology: unknown

Old Irish (Goídelc)	cana [ˈkana] = cub, puppy
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cana [ˈkana] = cub, puppy
Irish (Gaeilge)	cana [ˈkanˠə] = cub, whelp; bardic poet of fourth order
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cana [kanə] = puppy, whelp
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cenau / cenaw = cub, whelp, puppy, kitten; son, descendant, scion, young warrior; knave, imp, rascal; catkin, cat’s tail

Etymology: possibly from the Latin canis (dog), from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱwṓ (dog) [source], or from the Proto-Celtic *kanawo (young animal).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Foxes

23rd May 202024th May 2020 By Simon

Words for fox in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	sinnach / sindach = fox
Irish (Gaeilge)	sionnach [ˈʃɪn̪ˠəx / ʃɪˈn̪ˠɑx / ˈʃɪn̪ˠax] = fox
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sionnach [ˈʃun̪ˠəx] / seannach [ˈʃan̪ˠəx] = fox, bagpipe reed
Manx (Gaelg)	shynnagh = fox

Etymology: unknown

Irish (Gaeilge)	madra rua [madəɣ ‘r̪ˠuəɣ] = fox, red fox
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	madadh-ruadh [madəɣ ‘r̪ˠuəɣ] = fox, red fox

Etymology: from the Old Irish madrad (dog) and the rúad (red) [source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	balgair [bal̪ˠagɛrʲ] = fox

Etymology: unknown.

Proto-Celtic	*loɸernos = fox
Gaulish	*louernos = fox
Old Irish (Goídelc)	loarn = fox
Proto-Brythonic	llowern = fox
Old Welsh	louern = fox
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llewyrn = fox
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llewyrn = foxes
Old Cornish	louuern = fox
Cornish (Kernewek)	lowarn = fox
Old Breton	louuern = fox
Middle Breton	louarn = fox
Breton (Brezhoneg)	louarn [ˈluː.aʁn] / luhern = fox

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wlop- (fox) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	llwynog [ˈɬʊɨ̯nɔɡ] = fox, a cunning, craft or willy person, bundle llwynoges = vixen, female fox llwynogyn = little fox

Etymology: from llwyn (bush, shrub, brake, thicket, copse, grove, arbour, woods, forest) and the suffix -og, from Latin lignum (firewood, tree), Proto-Indo-European *leǵ-no- (that which is collected) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	cadno [ˈkadnɔ] = fox; craft person, foxy, deceptive day; bundle of straw used for constructing an air passage in a stack of corn not well-seasoned; skid, scotch, trigger cadnawes = vixen, female fox

Etymology: probably from the personal name Cadno, from cad (battle), from the Proto-Celtic *katus (battle), from the Proto-Indo-European *kéh₃tus (fight); and the suffix -no, from the Proto-Celtic *gnāw- (knowing) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Snakes

6th May 202014th June 2022 By Simon

Words for snake in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*natrixs = snake
Old Irish (Goídelc)	nathir [ˈnaθirʲ] = snake
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	nathir = snake
Irish (Gaeilge)	nathair [ˈn̪ˠæhəɾʲ] = snake
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	nathair [n̪ˠahɪrʲ] = snake, serpent, viper, adder
Manx (Gaelg)	aarnieu / ardnieu = adder, serpent, snake, viper
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	nadret, nadred, neidyr = snake, serpent
Welsh (Cymraeg)	neidr [nei̯dr / ˈnei̯dɪr] = snake, serpent
Old Cornish	nadar = snake
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	nader = snake, viper, adder
Cornish (Kernewek)	nader = adder
Old Breton	natrolion = snakes
Middle Breton	nazr, azr, aër, aer = snake
Breton (Brezhoneg)	naer = snake

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁tr- (adder), or from *(s)neh₂- (to swim) [source].

The English word snake comes from a different root: the Old English snaca (snake, serpent, reptile), from the Proto-Germanic *snakô (snake), from *snakaną (to crawl), from the Proto-Indo-European *sneg- (to crawl; a creeping thing) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwiber = viper, adder, poisonous snake, water-snake, mythical flying serpent, the devil, scoundrel, scold, venomous woman colwiber snake, serpent, viper
Breton (Brezhoneg)	wiber = viper

Etymology: from the Latin vīpera (viper), possibly from vivus-pario (one that gives live young) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	sarff = serpent, snake, scorpion; hero, warrior, leader, chieftain
Cornish (Kernewek)	serpont = snake, serpent sarf = serpent
Breton (Brezhoneg)	sarpant = snake, dragon, kite

Etymology: from the Latin serpēns (snake), from serpō (I creep, crawl), from the Proto-Indo-European *serp- (to creep, crawl) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Deer

7th April 20208th May 2022 By Simon

Words for deer in Celtic languages. There were several different words for deer in Proto-Celtic: *wēdus, *karwos, *ellan(t)ī-, *danī- and *yorkos, and also *sidos (stag). They may have referred to different types of deer, but it is not certain which types, apart from *yorkos, which is a roe deer.

Proto-Celtic	*wēdus [ˈweː.dus] = wild
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fíad [fʲiːa̯ð] = wild animals, game, especially deer
Irish (Gaeilge)	fia [fʲiə] = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fiadh [fiəɣ] = deer
Manx (Gaelg)	feeaih = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *weydʰ- (wood, wilderness) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*karwos = deer, stag
Gaulish	caruus / carvos = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc)	carbh = deer
Irish (Gaeilge)	carria / cairrfhiadh = deer, stag
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cair-fhiadh / carbh-fheadh = hart, stag
Manx (Gaelg)	çharroo = stag
Proto-Brythonic	*karw = deer, stag
Old Welsh	*caru = deer
Middle Welsh (kymraec)	caru, carv, carw = deer, hart, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg)	carw [ˈkaru / ˈkaːru] = deer, hart, stag; lord, nobleman, patron
Old Cornish	caruu = stag
Middle Cornish	carow = stag
Cornish (Kernewek)	karow = stag
Middle Breton	caro, qaro = deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	karv = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂wós, from *ḱerh₂- (horn) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*sidos = stag
Old Irish (Goídelc)	séd = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	hydd = stag, hart
Breton (Brezhoneg)	heizes = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: uncertain

Proto-Celtic	ellan(t)ī- / agliones = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ag [aɣ] = bullock, cow, ox; deer, stag
Irish (Gaeilge)	agh = cow, ox agh alla = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	agh [ɤɣ] = heifer, hind
Welsh (Cymraeg)	eilon/eilion = stag, hart

Etymology: possible from the same root as the English word eland (a type of antelope found in South Africa), which from the Dutch eland (elk), from the Old High German elent.

Proto-Celtic	*ou̯ījkā = ?
Gaulish	cerua = ?
Old Cornish	euhic = hind, deer
Old Welsh	eguic = hind, deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ewig = hind, doe, roe; graceful light-footed woman; deer, hart

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ówis (sheep) [source]

Proto-Celtic	*yorkos = roebuck, deer
Gaulish	iorkos = deer
Proto-Brythonic	*jorx = deer, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg)	iwrch [jʊrχ] = roe-deer, roebuck
Old Cornish	yorch = roe-deer
Cornish (Kernewek)	yorgh = roe-deer
Old Breton	iorch = roe-deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	yourc’h = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *york- (antelope, gazelle) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*danī- = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg)	danas = deer, fallow deer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	demm = deer, fallow deer

Etymology: related to the French daim (hind, doe), from the Latin dāma (fallow deer, buck, doe) [source]

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Water Dogs

3rd April 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for otter in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*dubrokū = otter, beaver
Old Irish (Goídelc)	doburchú [ˈdovurˌxuː] = otter dobrán = otter, beaver
Irish (Gaeilge)	dobharchú = otter dobhrán = otter, dull-witted, stupid, person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dobhar-chù [do.ərxu] = otter dòbhran [dɔːran] = otter
Manx (Gaelg)	dooarchoo = otter, beaver
Proto-Celtic	*düβrgi = otter, beaver
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	deuerky, deifyrgi, dyfyrgi, dwfyrgi = otter
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dyfrgi [ˈdəvrɡɪ / ˈdəvrɡi] = otter dyfrast = she-otter dwrgi = otter ci dŵr = otter
Old Cornish	doferghi = otter
Middle Cornish	dofergi = otter
Cornish (Kernewek)	dowrgi = otter
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dourgi = otter

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *dubros (water) and *kū (dog) [source].

The words for water beginning with d in the Goidelic languages only appear in this compound.

Irish (Gaeilge)	madra uisce [ˈmˠad̪ˠɾˠə ˈɪʃcɪ] = otter
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	madadh-uisge [ˈmadəɣ ˈɯʃgʲə] = otter
Manx (Gaelg)	moddey ushtey = otter

Etymology: from the Old Irish madrad /matrad (dog); and the Old Irish uisce (water), from the Proto-Celtic *udenskyos (water), from the Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ (water) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Cats

24th March 202022nd May 2022 By Simon

Words for cat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*kattā = cat
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cath = cat
Irish (Gaeilge)	cat = cat cat fireann = tomcat piscín = kitten
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cat [kahd] = cat cat fireann / moth-chat / cullach-cait = tomcat, bossy child baircne = female cat, white cat piseag [piʃag] = kitten
Manx (Gaelg)	kayt = feline, cat, puss kayt firryn = tomcat pishin / pishanagh = kitten
Proto-Brythonic	*kaθ = cat
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cath, kath = cat
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cath [kaθ] = cat, wild cat cwrcath / gwrcath / cwrcyn = tomcat cath fenyw = queen, female cat cath fach = kitten
Old Cornish	kat = cat
Middle Cornish	cath = cat
Cornish (Kernewek)	kath [kaːθ / kæːθ] = cat kathik = kitten
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kazh [ˈkɑːs] = cat, tomcat kazheg [ˈkɑː.zes] = queen, female cat kazhig [ˈkɑː.zik] = kitten

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Badgers

22nd March 202022nd December 2023 By Simon

Words for badger in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*brokkos = badger
Gaulish	broco / brokkos = badger
Primitive Irish	ᚁᚏᚑᚉᚔ (broci) = badger (genitive)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	brocc [brok] = badger
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	brocc, broc = badger, brock broclas = brock-holes brocnait = she-badger broic(th)enach = badger-warren, haunt of badgers
Irish (Gaeilge)	broc [bˠɾˠɔk / bˠɾˠʌk] = badger, dirty-faced person, short thick-set person brocach = badger’s burrow, fox’s earth brocaire = terrier brocaireacht = (act of) badger-baiting
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	broc [brɔxg] = badger, brock, grumpy/surly person brocair [brɔxgɛrʲ] = badger/fox hunter broc-lann [brɔxgl̪ˠən̪ˠ] = badger’s den/sett broclach = (badger / fox) warren, messy area, rubbish, messy person brocach [brɔxgəx] = badger-like, pertaining to or abounding in badgers, black-faced, stinking, squalid, filthy, odious brocail [brɔxgal] = badger-like, pertaining to badgers
Manx (Gaelg)	broc(k) = badger brockagh = badger’s den
Proto-Brythonic	*brox = badger
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	broch = badger, brock brochwart = badger ward, keeper of a badger
Welsh (Cymraeg)	broch [broːχ] = badger, brock brochwart = badger ward, keeper of a badger
Old Cornish	broch = badger
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	broch, bróch = badger
Cornish (Kernewek)	brogh [bɹoːx] = badger broghki = dachsund
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	broch, broh, broc’h = badger
Breton (Brezhoneg)	broc’h [ˈbʁoːx] = badger broc’heta = to hunt badgers

Etymology: unknown, possibly cognate with Old High German braccho (sniffer dog). Words from the same Celtic roots include brochure, brooch and brock (male badger – northern England) in English, brock (badger) in Scott, broche (brooch, spit, spike, peg, pin) in French, brocco (thorn, stick) in Italian, and broco (having long projecting horns; bad-tempered) in Galician [Source].

Proto-Celtic	*taskos = badger
Gaulish	*tasgos = badger
Galatian	τασκός (taksos) = badger

Etymology: unknown [Source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	mochyn daear / daearfochyn = badger

Etymology: from the Welsh mochyn (pig) and daear (earth, ground) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s a tune I wrote in 2017 called The Unexpected Badger / Y Mochyn Daear Annisgwyl

Simon Ager · The Unexpected Badger / Y Mochyn Daear Annisgwyl

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

Bears

18th March 2020 By Simon

Words for bear in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*artos = bear
Noric	*𐌀𐌓𐌕𐌄(𐌁𐌖𐌈𐌆) (Arte(budz)) = bear(?)
Gaulish	*artio = bear
Old Irish (Goídelc)	art [ar͈t] = bear, hero, warrior
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	art [ar̪ˠʃd] = bear (archaic), hero
Proto-Brythonic	*arθ [arθ] = bear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	arth [arθ] = bear
Welsh (Cymraeg)	arth [arθ] = bear, fierce or rough person
Cornish (Kernewek)	arth [ɒɹθ] = bear
Old Breton	ard / arth = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg)	arzh = bear

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ursa [ur̪ˠsə] = bear
Cornish (Kernewek)	ors = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ourz = ourz

Etymology: possibly from the Latin ursa (she-bear), from ursus (bear), from the Proto-Italic *orssos (bear), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	mathgamain [ˈmaθɣəṽənʲ] = bear
Irish (Gaeilge)	mathúin [ˈmˠahuːnʲ] = bear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mathan [ˈmahan] = bear
Manx (Gaelg)	maghouin = bear

Etymology: from the Old Irish math (good) and gamuin (calf) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Going, Going, Gone

13th March 202014th March 2020 By Simon

Words for to go in Celtic languages.

Note: this is one of the few irregular verbs in the celtic languages, and some different parts of the conjugations come from different roots.

Proto-Celtic	*tēgeti = to go, step
Old Irish (Goídelc)	téít [tʲeːdʲ] = to go, process, depart leave
Irish (Gaeilge)	téigh [tʲeːɟ / tʲeːj / tʲeː] = to go, move, proceed, get on, fare, make, cost
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tèid = will go – (future form of rach)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *stéygʰeti (to be walking, to be climbing) [Source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	dul = to go, going
Irish (Gaeilge)	dul [d̪ˠʊlˠ] = going, passing, departure, way, method, means, proper, natural, arrangement, style – (verb noun of téigh)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dol [dɔl̪ˠ] = (act of) going, (act of) proceeding
Manx (Gaelg)	goll = to go, show out, disembark, going, sinking, passage, departure

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic	*monītor = go
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	muinithir = goes around
Proto-Brythonic	*moned = go
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mynd [mɨ̞nd / mɪnd] = to go, leave, depart, die, disappear, perish, come to an end, elapse, pass
Cornish (Kernewek)	mos = to go, become
Breton (Brezhoneg)	monet = to go, to become

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *menH- [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Proto-Brythonic

Birds and Larks

Hound Dogs

Foxes

Snakes

Deer

Water Dogs

Cats

Badgers

Bears

Going, Going, Gone