Category: Proto-Celtic

Bald & bare

By Simon

Words for bald / bare in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *mailos = bald, bare
Primitive Irish ᚋᚐᚔᚂᚐᚌᚅᚔ (mailagni) = bald, bare
Old Irish (Goídelc) máel [maːi̯l] = bald, bare, shaved, shorn, tonsured; (of cattle) hornless; blunt, flattened, obtuse, pointless, exposed, defenceless
Irish (Gaeilge) maol [mˠeːl̪ˠ / mˠiːlˠ] = bald, bare, unprotected; flat (in music)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) maol [mɯːl̪ˠ] = bare, blunt, hornless, polled; easily deceived; dense, dull; flat (in music)
Manx (Gaelg) meayl = bald, hairless, bleak (place), hornless, obtuse; flat (in music)
Proto-Brythonic *moɨl = bold
Old Welsh mail = sea
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) moel = sea
Welsh (Cymraeg) moel [moːɨ̯l / mɔi̯l] = bald, bald-headed, crop-haired, tonsured, beardless; bare, barren, mere; unadorned, plain, discourteous, barefaced; empty (hands); hornless, earless; lacking a tower (of a castle), defective; (bare) mountain, (treeless) hill, top of a hill or mountain, summit, mound; heap
Cornish (Kernewek) mool = bald, bare
Middle Breton moel = bald, bare
Breton (Brezhoneg) moal = bald, bare, naked

Etymology: uncertain, possibly related to the Proto-Germanic *maitaną (cut) [source].

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

Sumburgh Head

Seas

By Simon

Words for sea in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *mori = sea
Primitive Irish *ᚋᚑᚏᚔᚅ (*morin) = sea
Old Irish (Goídelc) muir = sea
Irish (Gaeilge) muir = sea
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) muir [murʲ] = sea
Manx (Gaelg) mooir = sea
Proto-Brythonic *mor = sea
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) mor = sea
Welsh (Cymraeg) môr [moːr] = sea, ocean, the deep; plenty, abundance, copiousness
Old/Middle Cornish mor = sea
Cornish (Kernewek) mor = sea
Old/Middle Breton mor = sea
Breton (Brezhoneg) mor = sea

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European móri (sea, standing water), from *mer- (sea, lake, wetland), which is also the root for the English word mere, as in Windermere [source].

In Welsh there is another word for sea: gweilgi, which also means ocean, the deep, flood or torrent. It comes from gwae (woe, great misery, affliction, distress, anguish, trouble, adversity) and ci (dog).

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

Newquay

Plants & Herbs

By Simon

Words for plants & herbs in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *lussus = medicinal herb, vegetable
Old Irish (Goídelc) lus [l͈us] = plant, herb, vegetable, leek
Irish (Gaeilge) lus [l̪ˠʊsˠ / l̪ˠɤsˠ] = plant, herb
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) lus [l̪ˠus] = plant, vegetable, herb, weed, flower
Manx (Gaelg) lus = leek, vervain, herb, plant
Welsh (Cymraeg) llys(iau) [ɬɨːs / ɬiːs] = vegetable, herb (medicinal / aromatic), pot herb, spice, dried fruit, plant, vegetation, flower, hay, grass, weed, parsnip
Cornish (Kernewek) les = plant
Breton (Brezhoneg) louzaouen = grass, herb, weed, plant

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(h₃)lewbʰ- (leaf) [source].

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

Herb

Shirts

By Simon

Words for shirt in Celtic languages:

Old Irish (Goídelc) léine [ˈl͈ʲeːnʲə] = linen, tunic, smock
Irish (Gaeilge) léine [ˈl̠ʲeːnʲə] = shirt, tunic
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) lèine [l̪ʲeːnə] = shirt, (sports) strip, smock, chemise, shroud
Manx (Gaelg) lheiney = shirt
Proto-Celtic *kridsus = shirt (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc) cris = girdle, belt, hoop
Welsh (Cymraeg) crys [krɨːs / kriːs] = shirt, under-garment, chemise, smock
Old Cornish kreis = shirt
Cornish (Kernewek) krys = shirt
Breton (Brezhoneg) krez = shirt, cloth

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

Floor / Ground

By Simon

Words for floor / ground in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *ɸlārom = floor
Old Irish (Goídelc) lár = floor / ground
Irish (Gaeilge) lár [l̪ˠɑːɾˠ / l̪ˠæːɾˠ] = floor, ground, middle, centre
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) làr [l̪ˠaːɾ] = floor, ground, storey, middle, centre
Manx (Gaelg) laare = storey, deck, floor, bottom, flat, set, sill, level
Proto-Brythonic *lọr [ˈlɔːr] = floor
Old Welsh laur = floor
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) llawr, llaur = floor
Welsh (Cymraeg) llawr [ɬau̯r] = floor, deck, gallery, stage, platform, cellar, basement, ground, bottom (of sea)
Old Cornish lor = floor
Cornish (Kernewek) leur = floor, ground
Old Breton lor = floor
Breton (Brezhoneg) leur = floor, ground, area

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European word *pleh₂- (to be flat), which is also the root of the English word floor [source].

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

Flooring

Whistling Winds

By Simon

Words for wind and whistle in Celtic languages.

Windy

Proto-Celtic *gaytā = wind
Old Irish (Goídelc) gaíth = wind
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) gáeth [ɡaːi̯θ] = wind
Irish (Gaeilge) gaoth [ɡeːh / ɡiːh] = wind, breeze, flatulence
gaothach = windy
gaothaire = vent, ventilator
gaothraigh = to fan, flutter (in breeze)
gaothráil = fanning, waving, fluttering
gaothscáth = windscreen
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) gaoth [gɯː] = wind, breeze, flatulence
gaoth-chuairtlein = whirlwind
gaoth-mhór = gale, strong wind
gaoth-sgàth = windscreen
gaothach = windy, flatulent, pneumatic
gaothmhor = gusty, windy, blustering, blustery, flatulent
Manx (Gaelg) geay [ɡiː] = wind, flatulence
geayeeagh = windy, blowy, breezy

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ghai / *ghei / *ghi (drive, storm) [source].

Proto-Celtic *wintos = wind
Old Irish (Goídelc) fet [fʲed] = whistling, hissing, the sound of a sword cleaving the air; pipe (musical intrument)
Irish (Gaeilge) fead [fʲad̪ˠ] = whistle
feadáíl = whistling
feadaire = whistler
feadánacht = whistling, piping, wheezing
feadóg = (tin) whistle, plover, tall thin woman
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) fead [fed] = whistle, hiss
feadag = whistle
feadaire = whistler
feadalaich = whistling
Manx (Gaelg) fed [ɡiː] = toot, blast on whistle, zip, swish
feddagh = whistler
feddanagh = whistle
feddanys = whistling
Proto-Brythonic *gwɨnt [ˈɡwɨnt] = wind
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) gwynt = wind
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwynt [ɡwɨ̞nt / ɡwɪnt] = wind, blast, gale, stiff breeze, current of air, air, bellows, bombast, pride; empty talk, mere words
gwyntio = to blow, blast, breathe, sniff, snort, fart
gwynt(i)og = windy, breezy, stormy, wind-swept, wind-tossed, wind-blown, flatulent
Old Cornish guins = wind
Cornish (Kernewek) gwyns = wind
gwyns skav = breezy
gwynsek = windy
gwynsell = fan
gwynsella = to fan
melin wyns = windmill
Middle Breton guent = wind
Breton (Brezhoneg) gwent = wind (literary / archaic), gas, flatulence
gwentadur ventilation

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂wéh₁n̥ts (blowing) [source], which is also the root of words for wind in Germanic, Romance and Indo-Iranian languages.

Proto-Celtic *awelā = breeze, wind, breath
Proto-Brythonic *awel = breeze, wind
Gaulish aurarum = wind
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) avel / awel = wind, air, weather
Welsh (Cymraeg) awel = (light) wind, breeze, air, weather
awelu = to blow, flow, breathe
awelaidd = breezy, fresh (wind)
awelan = (gentle) wind
awelig (light) breeze
awelog = breezy, windy, squally, airy, flatulent
Old Cornish auhel = wind
Cornish (Kernewek) awel = gale, weather wind
awel glor = breeze
hager awel = bad weather, squall, storm, tempest
Old Breton auelou / auel = wind
Breton (Brezhoneg) avel [ˈɑːvɛl / ˈɑːwɛl] = wind

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewh₁eleh₂ from *h₂weh₁- (to blow) [source], which is also the root of English words such as fan, vent, weather and wind.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s a tune I wrote a few years ago that seems approiate for this post: The Whistling Windows / Y Ffenstri Sïo

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

Blubrry podcast hosting

Rain

By Simon

Words for rain in Celtic languages:

Old Irish (Goídelc) baistech = rain, rainfall
Irish (Gaeilge) báisteach = rain, rainfall
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) baisteach [baʃdʲəx] = baptismal, Baptist, rain
Manx (Gaelg) Bashtagh = Baptist

Etymology: from the Old Irish baithis (baptism), from the Latin baptisma (absolution, baptism).

Irish (Gaeilge) fearthainn = rain, rainfall

Etymology: from the Middle Irish ferthain (giving forth, pouring, showering), from the Old Irish feraid (to grant, afford, supply, pour, shower, shed).

Old Irish (Goídelc) fliuchad = (the act of) wetting
Irish (Gaeilge) fliuchadh = wetting
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) fliuchadh [fluxəd] = degree of wetness, moistness
Manx (Gaelg) fliaghey = rain

Etymology: from the Old Irish fliuch (wet), from the Proto-Celtic *wlikʷos (wet). Cognate with words for wet in all Celtic languages.

Other ways to refer to rain Scottish Gaelic include uisge (water), and fras (shower, rain).

Proto-Celtic *glawā = rain
Welsh (Cymraeg) glaw = rain, shower
Cornish (Kernewek) glaw = rain
Breton (Brezhoneg) glav = rain

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

Ways to say it’s raining

  • Tá sé ag cur báisteach / básiti (Irish)
  • Tá sé ag cur fearthainn (Irish)
  • Tá sé ag cur (Irish)
  • Tha an t-uisge ann (Scottish Gaelic)
  • T’eh ceau fliaghey (Manx)
  • T’eh ceau (Manx)
  • Mae hi’n bwrw glaw (Welsh)
  • Mae’n bwrw glaw (Welsh)
  • Mae’n bwrw (Welsh)
  • Yma ow kul glaw (Cornish)
  • Hi a wra glaw (Cornish)
  • Glav a ra (Breton)

Weather words in: Breton, Cornish, Irish and Welsh

Words for heavy rain in many languages

Rain

Strength

By Simon

Words for strength in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *brīgos = strength
Old Irish (Goídelc) bríg [bʲrʲiːɣ / bʲrʲiːɣʲ] = force, power, value, virtue, strength, vigour, vitality
Irish (Gaeilge) brí [brʲiː] = strength, vigour; force, significance; influence, merit
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) brìgh [brʲiː] = essence, gist, matter, pith, purport, substance; meaning, sense, significance; point (of an argument); energy, force; juice
Manx (Gaelg) bree = power, energy, stamina, vigour, virtue, initiative, validity, animation, inwardness, glow, exhalation, drift, essence, gist, effect
Welsh (Cymraeg) bri [briː] = honour, dignity, reputation, fame, prestige, esteem, power, authority, importance, value, popularity
Cornish (Kernewek) bri = distinction, esteem, importance, relevance, reputation, value, prominence
Breton (Brezhoneg) bri = dignity, honour

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷréh₂us (heavy) [Source].

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

Harps and Crwths

By Simon

Words for harp, crwth and similar instruments, in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *krottos = round thing
Old Irish (Goídelc) crott [krot] = harp, lute
Irish (Gaeilge) cruit [kɾˠɪtʲ] = (small) harp; hunch, hump
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cruit [kruhdʲ] = (small) harp, lyre
Manx (Gaelg) cruitçh = (small) harp, hump
Welsh (Cymraeg) crwth [kruːθ] = crwth, crowd, fiddle, violin, viol; purring (of a cat); hump, hunch-back(ed), rounded, bent, convex; anything of round or bulging shape

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc) cláirsech = harp
Irish (Gaeilge) cláirseach [ˈklˠɑːɾˠʃəx / ˈklˠæːɾˠʃa(h)] = harp
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) clàrsach [klˠaːrˠsəx] = harp, clarsach
Manx (Gaelg) claasagh = harp

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Celtic *klāros / *klārom (table)

Irish (Gaeilge) teillén = swarm of bees
Welsh (Cymraeg) telyn [ˈtɛlɨn / ˈteːlɪn] = harp
Cornish (Kernewek) telyn = harp
Breton (Brezhoneg) telenn = harp

Etymology: unknown. The word telyn first appeared in writing in a 17th century Cornish text. The Irish word teillén may or may not be related.

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

The crwth is also known as a crowd, cruth, crowth, crouth or rote in English. It is a kind of bowed lyre. It is particularly associated with Wales, but similar instruments were played in many parts of Europe from about the 11th century. It went out of fashion in the 18th century, but was revived in the 20th century. More information.

Elm (trees)

By Simon

Words for elm tree (ulmus) in Celtic languages:

Proto-Celtic *lēmos / *limos = elm (tree)
Old Irish (Goídelc) lem [lʲɛmˠ] = elm (tree)
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealgh) lemán = elm (tree)
Irish (Gaeilge) leamhán = elm (tree)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) leamhan [l̪ʲɛvan] = elm (tree)
Manx (Gaelg) lhiouan = elm (tree)
Proto-Brythonic *lēm- = elm (tree)
Welsh (Cymraeg) llwyf = elm (tree), elm-bark, made of elm or elm-bark, platform, loft, lime-tree, linden
Cornish (Kernewek) elow = elm (tree)
Breton (Brezhoneg) evlec’h = elm (tree)

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁élem from *h₃es (mountain elm).

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

Elm Tree