Category: Proto-Celtic

Fresh & New

By Simon

Words for fresh and new in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *ɸūros = new
Old Irish (Goídelc) úr = fresh, new
Irish (Gaeilge) úr [uːɾˠ] = fresh; free, liberal, moist
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ùr [uːr] = new, fresh
Manx (Gaelg) oor = new, sweet, novel, sappy, crisp, span, fresh, hour, raw
Welsh (Cymraeg) ir [iːr] = verdant, green, juicy, sappy, moist, succulent, not withered, not dried up or coagulated, fresh, undried; mild; alive, thriving, lively, vigorous; new, fresh, young, unripe
Cornish (Kernewek) yr [ɪ:r / iːr] = fresh

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *puHrós (wheat), from *pewH- (to be clean, pure) [Source].

Proto-Celtic *nouyos = new
Old Irish (Goídelc) núa [n͈uːa̯] = new
Irish (Gaeilge) nua [n̪ˠuə / n̪ˠuː] = new, fresh, recent, novel
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) nuadh [nuəɣ] = new, fresh, recent, novel, modern, unfamiliar
Manx (Gaelg) noa = new, modern, novel, fresh, recent, original
Proto-Brythonic *newɨð = new
Welsh (Cymraeg) newydd [ˈnɛu̯.ɨ̞ð / ˈnɛu̯.ɪð] = new, recent, newly-grown, modern, late, novel, changed, different; new (moon), unused, fresh
Cornish nowydh = new
Breton (Brezhoneg) nevez [ˈne.ve] = new

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *néwos (new) [Source].

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

Expensive Fools

By Simon

Words for expensive, unfree & foolish in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) dóer [doːi̯r] = servile, unfree, serf
Irish (Gaeilge) daor [d̪ˠeːɾˠ / d̪ˠiːɾˠ] = unfree; base, servile; convicted, condemned; hard, severe; costly; dear, high-priced
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) daor [dɯːr] = expensive, dear; condemned; enslaved, in bondage
Manx (Gaelg) deyr = expensive, valuable, costly, dear, unfree, serf

Etymology: from the Old Irish do- (to) & fer (man, husband) [source].

Proto-Celtic *drūtos = foolish, lewd; costly; daring, wanton; furious, grievous
Gaulish Trutiknos (personal name)
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) drúth = fool
Irish (Gaeilge) drúth = irresponsible person, imbecile; jester, buffoon
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) drùth = lecherous, lascivious, foolish
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) drut = dear, expensive
Welsh (Cymraeg) drud = dear, high-priced, costly, expensive; precious, valuable; daring, brave, valiant, courageous, bold, intrepid, gallant, strong
Cornish (Kernewek) drudh = cherished, favourite, precious

Etymology: unknown [source].

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

Free

By Simon

Words for free in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *su-wiros = free (“good man”)
Old Irish (Goídelc) sóer [soːi̯r] = free
Middle Irish saer = free
Irish (Gaeilge) saor [sˠeːɾˠ / sˠiːɾˠ] = free, enfranchised; noble; independent
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) soar [sɯːr] = free (not captive); cheap; frank
Manx (Gaelg) seyr [seːr] = free, gratuitous, gratis, complimentary, inexpensive, immune, floating, independent, disengaged, fluid, aweigh, unforced, autonomous

Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European *h₁su- (good, well) & *wiHrós (man, husband).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Proto-Celtic *ɸriyos = free
Proto-Brythonic *rɨð [ˈrɨːð] = free
Welsh (Cymraeg) rhydd [r̥ɨːð / r̥iːð] = free, nonconformist; unrestricted, unrestrained; open; liberal
Old Cornish rid = free
Cornish (Kernewek) rydh [rɪ:ð / ri:ð] = free
Old Breton rid = free

Etymology
Possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *priHós (dear, beloved, happy, free) [source], from *preyH- (like, love).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek

Sorrow & sadness

By Simon

Words for sorrow and sadness in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *brugnos = saddness, pain
Old Irish (Goídelc) brón [broːn] = sorrow, grief, lamentation, distress, burden
Irish (Gaeilge) brón [bˠɾˠoːnˠ] = sorrow, grief, grieving, lamentation; distress, burden
brónach [ˈbˠɾˠoːnˠəx] = sad, sorrowful
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bròn [brɔːn] = grief, sadness, sorrow, mourning, affliction
brònach [ˈbrɔːnəx] = doleful, miserable, rueful, sad, sorrowful; disconsolate
Manx (Gaelg) bran = sorrow, blackness of soul
branagh = mournful, black (as outlook)
Welsh (Cymraeg) brwyn [bruːɨ̯n / brʊi̯n] = sorrow, grief, sadness; sorrowful, grievous, sad, heavy; pensive

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *gʷruHǵʰ-nó-, from *gʷrewHǵʰ- (to bite) + *-nós, or from *bʰreg- (to break) [source]..

Welsh (Cymraeg) trist [triːst / trɪst] = sad, unhappy, sorrowful, mournful, pensive, downhearted, miserable, anxious
Cornish (Kernewek) trist = sad, mournful
Breton (Brezhoneg) trist = sad

Etymology: from Latin trīstis (sad, unhappy, melancholy, morose), from Proto-Indo-European *tréystis (stubborn, in a bad mood) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, eDIL, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Proto-Celtic-English Wordlist

sad pug

Happy & fortunate

By Simon

Words for happy and forunate in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *sognāwos = well-grown
Old Irish (Goídelc) sona [ˈsona] = happy, fortunate
Irish (Gaeilge) sona [ˈsˠʊn̪ˠə] = happy, blissful, fortunate, bright, complete, lucky
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) sona [sɔnə] = content, happy
Manx (Gaelg) sonney = affluent, lucky, fortunate, happy

Examples of use

  • Irish: Tá saol sona againn = We live a happy life
  • Irish: Ní iarrfainn a bheith níos sona = My happiness is complete
  • Scottish Gaelic: Cho sona ri bròg = Very happy (“As happy as a shoe”)
  • Scottish Gaelic: Tha iad sona fad an làithibh còmhla = They lived happily ever after
  • Manx: Va seihll sonney echey = He lived happily
  • Manx: Laa ruggyree sonney dhyt = Happy birthday to you
Proto-Brythonic *laweno = happy
Welsh (Cymraeg) llawen [ˈɬau̯ɛn / ˈɬau̯an] = merry, jovial, glad, cheerful, happy, blithe, joyful, joyous, jubilant; bringing happiness, pleasant, delightful.
Old Cornish louen = happy
Cornish (Kernewek) lowen [‘lɔwɛn / ‘lu:ɐn] = glad, happy
lowenek [lɔ’wɛnɛk / lə’wɛnɐk] = cheerful, gay, happy, joyful, merry
Breton (Brezhoneg) laouen [ˈlɔwːɛn] = happy; willingly, gladly

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *lāu- (to enjoy, win).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Bad

By Simon

Words for bad in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *drukos = bad
Old Irish (Goídelc) droch [drox] = bad
Irish (Gaeilge) droch [drɔx] = bad, poor, evil
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) droch [drɔx] = bad, evil, wicked
Manx (Gaelg) drogh = evil, wicked, bad, abusive, unenviable, misfortune, badness
Proto-Brythonic *drug = bad
Welsh (Cymraeg) drwg [druːɡ] = bad, rotten, putrid; poor, piteous, wretched; sorry, grievous, sad; unfavourable, causing disquiet; injurious, harmful; unpleasant (taste); indecent, obscene (words); counterfeit, false; bad; harsh, cruel, severe, ruthless
Cornish (Kernewek) drog [drɔ:g / dro:g] = bad, evil, invalid, naughty, wicked, nasty
Breton (Brezhoneg) drouk = bad

Etymology
Possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ- (to deceive).

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

Left & North

By Simon

Words for left, north and related words in Celtic languages.

Northern Ireland

Proto-Celtic *kliyos = left (hand)
*uɸokliyom = north
Old Irish (Goídelc) clé = left
fochlae = the north, seat of honor
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) clé = left
fochla = the north, seat of honour
Irish (Gaeilge) clé [clʲeː / clʲiː] = left, left hand, left-hand side
clébhord = port, larbord
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) clì [kliə] = left
Manx (Gaelg) clee = left
Proto-Brythonic *kleð = left, northern
*gwogleð [ɡwoˈɡlɛːð] = north
Old Welsh cled = left hand, left side
gogled = north
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) cled, kled = left hand, left side
argled = left, unlucky, unfortunate
gogled = north
Welsh (Cymraeg) cledd [kleːð] = left, left hand/side
argledd = left, unlucky, unfortunate
gogledd = north, northern, northerly
Cornish (Kernewek) kledh [klɛ:ð / kle:ð] = left, left-handed, northern
kledhbarth = north
gogledh = north
a-gledh = on the left
a-gledh dhe = to the left of
a-gledhbarth = on the north side
Breton (Brezhoneg) kleiz = left, left-handed; short-tempered, irascible; north

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱléyteh₂ (leaning, sloped, inclined) from *ḱley- (to lean, incline) [source].

Proto-Celtic *(s)kīttos = left, left-handed, clumsy, awkward, wrong, sinister, sad
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) cittach = left-handed, awkward
Irish (Gaeilge) ciotach [ˈcɪt̪ˠəx / ˈcɪt̪ˠa(h)] = left-handed, awkward, clumsy, difficult, troublesome, inconvenient
ciotachán = left-handed person, awkward, clumsy person
ciotóg = left hand, left fist, lefthanded person
ciotógach = left-handed, left-fisted, awkward
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ciotach [kʲihdəx] = left-handed, awkward, sinister
ciotachan = left-handed person
Manx (Gaelg) kiuttag = left hand
kyttagh = left-handed
kiuttaght = left-handedness
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) chwith, hwidd = left, left-handed
Welsh (Cymraeg) chwith [χwiːθ] = left; left-handed, awkward, bungling, uncouth, unfortunate, sinister, sad, strange, unaccustomed, unusual, wrong, amiss; the left (hand); the Left
chwithig = left, left-handed; strange, awkward, clumsy, bungling, wrong, inauspicious, unpleasant, suspicious
chwithlyd = sinister, chilly
gochwith, go chwith = contrary, opposite, inside out, clumsy, awkward, left-handed; evil, mishap, misfortune

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *skh₂ey- (left) [source].

Proto-Celtic *towto = left, north
Old Irish (Goídelc) túaid, thúaid = north, in the north
túaidemain = in the north, northwards
fa thuaith, fo thuaidh = northwards, to the north
Irish (Gaeilge) thuaidh [huəɟ / huə / huəj] = (in the) north, northern
ó thuaidh = to the north, northwards
aduaidh = from the north
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) tuath [tuə] = north
tuathach [tuəhəx] = northerner, person from North Uist; northerly, northern, boreal
Manx (Gaelg) twoaie = north, northerly, northern, boreal, northward
twoaieagh = northerner, northsider, northern (Manx) person
goal twoaie = rainbow (“going north”)
Old Breton tut = good, favorable
tuthe = a kind of demon

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *tewto- or *tewH- (to look favorably, protect, observe). Cognate with the Latin tūtus (safe, prudent, secure, protected), which is the root of English words like tutor and intuition [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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Right & South

By Simon

Words for right & south in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *dexswos = right (side), south
Old Irish (Goídelc) dess = right (side), right-hand; south; right, just; convenient, agreeable
Irish (Gaeilge) deas [dʲasˠ / dʲæsˠ] = south, southerly, to the south; right, right-hand
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) deas [dʲes] = south; southern; right (side); ready, finished; accomplished, expert, skilful; active, alert, quick, snappy; to hand, handy; clever, sharp; deft, dexterous
Manx (Gaelg) jesh = rightwing, righthand, starboard;nice, smart, felicitous, elegant, ready, tidy, groomed, adept, neat, seemly, becoming, suitable, fancy, trim
jiass [d͡ʒas] = south, southern, southerly, southward
Welsh (Cymraeg) deau = right; south, southern
de [deː] = south; dexterous, skilful, clever; ready; useful, handy; suitable, appropriate, proper, right, just; favourable, auspicious
Cornish (Kernewek) dyhow [dɪ’hɔʊ / də’hɔʊ] = south
Breton (Brezhoneg) dehou = right, south

Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *deḱswo-, from *deḱs- (right-hand side).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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

Narrow

By Simon

Words for narrow in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *koilos = thin
Old Irish (Goídelc) cáel / cóel = thin, slender, narrow, fine, delicate
Irish (Gaeilge) caol [keːl̪ˠ / kiːlˠ] = thin, slender; fine; narrow; shrill; slender; palatalized; weak, dilute; slight; subtle
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) caol [kɯːl̪ˠ] = narrow, slender; slim, thin, lean, skinny; lanky
Manx (Gaelg) keyl [keːl] = thin, fine, attenuated, lanky, lean, slim, slight, willowy, gracile, tapered, slender, hairline, narrow, spare, small, drawn out, watery (soup), weak (solution)
Proto-Brythonic *kʉl = narrow
Welsh (Cymraeg) cul [kɨːl / ˈkiːl] = narrow; lean; illiberal; bigoted, narrow-minded
Cornish (Kernewek) kul [ky:l / ki:l] = narrow

The word for narrow in Breton in strizh, which comes from the Latin strictus (tightened, compressed) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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