Country and Land

23rd July 202128th October 2022 By Simon

Words for land, country and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	tīros = dry land, land, earth wo-tīro- = piece of land
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tír = land, country, territory, ground Tír inna n-Óc = (mythical) Land of Youth
Irish (Gaeilge)	tír [tʲiːɾʲ] = country, land, state, nation; region, district. territory, rural district, country native, ordinary tírdhreach = landscape tíreach = native, of the country tíreachas = domesticity tíreánach = mainlander tíreolaí = geographer tíreolaíocht = geography tírghrá = patriotism tírghrách = patriotic tírghráthóir = patriot Tír na nÓg = (mythical) Land of the Young/Youth
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tìr [tʲiːrʲ] = land, country, territory tìreach = countryman, patriot tìr-eòlas = geography tìr-ghràdhaiche = patriot tìr-mór = mainland, continent Tìr nan Òg = (mythical) Land of the Young/Youth àrd-tìr = highland
Manx (Gaelg)	çheer = land, country, state, territory, shore çheeragh = native çheer-ghraihagh = patriotic çheer-oayllee = geographer çheer-oaylleeaght = geography çheer vooar = mainland çheer yalloo = landscape Çheer ny Aeg = (mythical) Land of Youth
Proto-Brythonic	*tir [ˈtiːr] = land
Old Welsh	tir = land
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tir, tyr = land
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tir [tiːr] = land, ground, soil, turf, estate, open land, region, territory, domain, country, earth, ridge tiriaf, tirio = to land, come ashore, disembark, arrive, reach tir(i)og = landowning, landed tiriogaeth = territory, realm, district, tract, (piece of) land tiriogaethol = territorial tirwedd = landscape, scenery, (geographic) relief
Cornish (Kernewek)	tir = land, earth tira = to land, come ashore tiredh = territory tirlanow = landfill tir meur = mainland tirnos = landmark tirwedh = landscape konna tir = peninsula penn tir = headland
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tir = land penn-tir = headland

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *tērs-os/tḗrs (to heap up, increase, enlarge) [source].

Proto-Celtic	wlatis = sovereignty, rule walo- = prince, chief *walatro- = ruler
Old Irish (Goídelc)	flaith [flaθʲ] = lordship, sovereignty, rule, kingdom, realm, prince, ruler flaithem = prince, ruler flaithemail = princely, munificent flaithemnacht = rule flaithemnas, flaithius = rule, sovereignty flaithiúlacht = princeliness, munificence, lavishness, generosity
Irish (Gaeilge)	flaith [fˠlˠah/fˠlˠa] = lordship, sovereignty, ruler, prince, lord, chief banfhlaith = princess flaithbheartach = princely, generous flaithbhile = princely scion, noble champion flaitheas = rule, sovereignty, kingdom, realm flaitheasach = heavenly, celestial co-fhlaitheas = confederation flaithiúil = princely, munificent, lavish, generous flaithiúlach = lavish, generous flaithiúnta = sovereign, heavenly mì-fhlathail = ignoble
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	flath [fl̪ˠah] = king, prince, ruler, noble banfhlath = wife of a chieftain, noblewoman flath-shonas [fl̪ˠahənəs] = dominion, kingdom, heaven, the heavens flathail = noble, gallant, patrician, princely, majestic; blithesome mì-fhlathail = ignoble
Manx (Gaelg)	flah = prince, potentate flaunys = heaven, utopia, paradise
Proto-Brythonic	gwlad [ˈɡwlaːd] = sovereignty, country gwlėdig = civil, secular, established, national *gwaladr [ɡwaˈladr̩] = ruler
Old Welsh	gulat = country, realm
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gulat, gulad, gwlat, gwlad = country, realm
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwlad [ɡwlaːd/ɡlaːd] = country, land, province, region, district, kingdom, realm, domain; nation, the people of a country gwaladr = ruler, sovereign gwladaidd = rural, rustic countrified, homely, plain, mean, poor, boorish, vulgar, rough, clumsy, awkward gwladiath = native tongue, mother tongue gwladwr = countryman, peasant, rustic, compatriot, inhabitant, citizen gwledig = rural rhyngwladol = international
Old Cornish	gulat = country
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwlas = country gwlaskar = patriotic gwlaskarer / gwlaskarores = patriot gwlaskarenja / gwlaskerensa = patriotism gwlaskor = kingdom, realm
Old Breton	guletic = prince
Middle Breton	gloat = kingdom, wealth gloedic = count
Breton (Brezhoneg)	glad [ɡlɑːt] = inheritance, heritage, patrimony

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂wélh₁tis/*h₂wl̥h₁téy-, from *h₂welh₁- (to rule, strong, powerful) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*talamū = earth
Gaulish	*talamon = ?
Old Irish (Goídelc)	talam [ˈtalaṽ] = earth, (dry) land, country, soil, dirt, clay
Irish (Gaeilge)	talamh [ˈt̪ˠɑlˠəvˠ/ˈt̪ˠalˠə/ˈt̪ˠalˠu] = earth, ground, land, dry land, soil, soild base (for discussion, understanding) talamhchreathach = seismic talamhchrith = earthquake talamhiata = land-locked talamhluas = ground speed
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	talamh [tal̪ˠav] = earth, ground, Earth talamh bàn = fallow/unmanured ground talamh-dearg = tiled soil, ploughed land talamh-làidir, talamh-glas = unploughed land talamh-rèisg = marshy/boggy ground talamh-àitich = arable land, cultivable land
Manx (Gaelg)	thalloo = country, land, shore, terrain, territory, clod, earth, ground , soil thallooinaghey = to earth, earthing

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *telh₂- (ground) [source]. The French surname Talmont, and the placenames Talmont-sur-Gironde and Talmont-Saint-Hilaire come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Gaulish *talamon, and the Latin Talamone / Talmun.

Words from the same PIE root include tellurian (of or relating to the earth) in English, тло [tɫɔ] (background, environment, ground, basis) in Ukrainian, потолок [pətɐˈɫok] (ceiling, upper limit, roof) in Russian, tło [twɔ] (background) in Polish, तल [t̪əl] (bottom, level, storey, floor) in Hindi [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

Floor / Ground

2nd November 201925th April 2025 By Simon

Words for floor, ground and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*ɸlārom = floor
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lár = surface, middle airlár = floor
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	lár = surface, middle, interior airlár, erlar, irlár, urlar = level surface, floor
Irish (Gaeilge)	lár [l̪ˠɑːɾˠ / l̪ˠæːɾˠ] = ground, floor, middle, centre láraigh = to centralize lárnach = central, medial, innermost lárú = centralization urlár = floor, level surface, bottom surface
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	làr [l̪ˠaːɾ] = floor, ground, storey, middle, centre làr-dannsa = dance floor làr-ionad = hub ùrlar = floor(ing), motif, theme, ground movement, groundwork
Manx (Gaelg)	laare = flat, level, set, sill, centre, bottom, deck, floor, storey, flatness laaraghey = centralization, to centralize, to floor, to lay (a floor) laareagh = floored, flooring laarit = floored laare hallooin = ground floor laare skyrraghtyn = skating rink brat laare = carpet
Proto-Brythonic	*lọr [ˈlɔːr] = floor
Old Welsh	laur = floor
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llaur, llawr = floor
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llawr [ɬau̯r] = floor, deck, gallery, stage, platform, cellar, basement, ground, bottom (of sea) llawr isaf = ground floor llawr llofft = upstairs floor llawr uchaf = top floor, top storey llawr sglefrio = skating rink
Old Cornish	lor = floor
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	leur, luer, lêr = floor, pavement, ground floor, ground, earth
Cornish (Kernewek)	leur = floor, ground, storey leur a-woles = ground floor leurlen = carpet leuredh = area
Old Breton	lor = floor
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	leur = area, location, floor, ground leuzr carr = plateau, cart bed
Breton (Brezhoneg)	leur [løːr] = floor, ground, area leurenn = stage leurennañ = to stage, set the scene leurenner = director

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂ros (to be flat, from *pleh₂- (flat) [source]. Words from the same Proto-Celtic root possibly include leira (field) in Galician, leira (furrow) in Portuguese, llera (a pebbly or stony area) in Spanish [source].

Words from the same PIE roots include floor, palm, piano, plain, plan, plane and possibly pleasure in English, piazza in Italian, and плоский (ploskij – flat, plane, land, trivial, tame) in Russian [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Teanglann.ie, Am Faclair Beag, An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Gaelg Corpus, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, TermOfis

Death

8th July 201929th November 2024 By Simon

Words for death and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	bāstom / bāssom = death bayeti = to die batom = death, pestilence dībatom = extinction, extinguisment
Gaulish	dib = ?
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bás [baːs] = death baïd [ˈba.əðʲ] = to die bath = death díbad = extinction, quenching, estate of deceased
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	bás(a), báas = death básaid, basat = to kill, put to death básaigid, bäsaiged = to kill put to death, slay básaire = executioner básamuil = mortal bath, baath, báth = death, destruction díbad, dibud, dibath = destruction, extinction, quenching
Irish (Gaeilge)	bás [bˠɑːsˠ / bˠæːsˠ] = death básachán = dying, feeble, creature básadóir = executioner básaigh = to put to death, execute, die básmhaireacht = mortality básmhar = mortal básúil = deathlike, deadly díobhadh = elimination, extinction díobhaí = without issue, extinct
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bàs [baːs] = death, fatality, decease, demise bàsachadh [baːsəxəɣ] = (act of) dying, expiring bàsail [baːsal] = deadly, fatal, death-like bàsaire [baːsɪrʲə] = executioner bàsmhor [baːs(v)ər] = mortal, deadly, fatal, lethal bàsmhorach [baːsvərəx] = mortal bàsmhorachd [baːsvərəxg] = mortality, deadliness, lethalness diobhadh† = destruction, death, inheritance
Manx (Gaelg)	baase [bɛːs] = death baasoil = deadly, deathlike, fatal baasoiley = deadly baasoilid = deadliness, mortality
Proto-Brythonic	*bad = ?
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	bad, bat = plague, pestilence, death
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bad = plague, pestilence, death
Old Cornish	badus = lunatic
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	badus = lunatic
Cornish (Kernewek)	badus = lunatic
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	bat = ?
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	bad(ou) = dizziness badet = dazzled
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bad [bɑːt] = daze badañ = to daze badet = stupefied

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷeh₂- (to go, step, stand) [source].

Proto-Celtic	marwos = dead marwāti = to die, kill marwonatus, marwonatā = elegy, eulogy
Gaulish	*maruos = dead
Old Irish (Goídelc)	marb = dead; mortified, insensible, spiritually dead; inanimate; stagnant (water) marbaid = to die, kill marbán = corpse, dead person marbdae = mortal, lifeless, inanimate mart = death, dead animal, slaughtered cow or ox
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	marb = dead (person), mortal, mortified, insensible, spiritually dead, dying, lifeless, unconscious marbaid = to kill, slay marbnad, marbna, marbnadh = elegy
Irish (Gaeilge)	marbh [ˈmˠɑɾˠəvˠ / ˈmˠarˠuː / ˈmˠarˠu] = dead person, death, defunct marbhán = dead person, corpse, lethargic person, sultry weather marbhánta = lifeless, spirtless, lethargic, dull, stagnant, airless, sultry, oppressive marbhlann = morgue marbhna = elegy marfach = killing, slaying, carnage, slaughter, deadly, fatal, lethal marfóir = killer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	marbh [marav] = dead person, the dead marbhach [maravəx] = deadly, mortal marbhachadh [maravəxəɣ] = (act of) killing marbhadair, marbhaiche = killer, slayer, murderer marbhadh [maravəɣ] = (act of) killing marbhan [maravan] = corpse marbhrann [maravrən] = elegy
Manx (Gaelg)	marroo = dead, lifeless, inanimate, glassy (look), muggy, dull, dud, stagnant, defunct, mortified, slaughtered, departed, deceased, killed, extinct marrooagh = deadly, fatal, lethal, overpowering, internecine marvaanagh = mortal, earthborn, fatal, vile merriu = (the) dead, dead men, departed souls
Proto-Brythonic	marw = dead marwọd [marˈwɔːd] = to die *marwnad = elegy (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	marw, maru = dead, deceased, inanimate, spiritually dead maru, merwi, marw = to die, expire, cease to exist, vanish, fade away marwnad, marwnat = elegy, dirge, funeral song, epitaph marwavl, marwawl, marwol = mortal, transitory, transient
Welsh (Cymraeg)	marw = dead, deceased, inanimate, spiritually dead, insensible, lifeless, dull, languid marwolaeth = death, decease, demise; suffering, tribulation; deadly plague or pestilence, fatal disease marw(af), merwi = to die, expire, cease to exist, vanish, fade away marwaidd = lifeless, languid, torpid, listless, dull, slugglish, drowsy, numb marwnad [ˈmar.(w)nad] = elegy, dirge, funeral song, epitaph marwol = mortal, transitory, transient
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	marow = dead, deceased, lifeless marwel, merwel = to die, become lifeness
Cornish (Kernewek)	marow = dead (person), switched off marwel = mortal marwostel = mortgage marwostla = to mortgage mernans = death merwel = to decease, die, pass away
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	marf, maru = death maruel = mortal meruell, meruel = to die
Breton (Brezhoneg)	marv [mɑːro/ˈmarw] = death marvedigezh = extinction marvel = mortal marvelezh = mortality marvenn = necrosis marveenniñ = to necrotize, become gangrenous marvus = mortal, perishable mervel [mɛr.vɛl] = to die, pass away, become insensible, extinguish

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *mr̥wós (dead), from *mer- (to die, disappear) [source]. Words from the same roots include morbid, moribund, mortal, mortgage, murder, nightmare and postmortem in English, мереть (to die, stand still, sink) in Russian, mìrt (to die, stop working) in Latvian, and mir̃ti (to die) in Lithuanian [source].

Proto-Celtic	*ankus = death
Old Irish (Goídelc)	éc = death
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	éc, ec = death
Irish (Gaeilge)	éag = Death, numbness, powerlessness éagach = deceased (person) éagbhás = dead-and-alive person éaglach = (state of) extinction, death éagmhar = fatal, causing death
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	eug [eːg] = death, Death, ghost, spectre eug-lios = burial ground, churchyard, cemetery eugach [iəgəx] = deathly, death-like, ghastly eugachdainn [eːgəxgɪnʲ] = (act of) perishing, giving up the ghost eugail [iəgal] = deathly, death-like, ghastly
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	agheu, angheu, aghev = death, decease, demise
Welsh (Cymraeg)	angau = death, decease, demise, annihilation, cessation, mortal danger
Old Cornish	ancou = death
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ancow = death
Cornish (Kernewek)	ankow = death
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	ancou = Death
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	ancou, ancquou, anquou = Death
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ankoù [ˈãŋkow/ˈãŋku] = Death, skeleton

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *neḱ- (to perish, disappear). Words from the same PIE roots include innocent, necropolis, nectar, noxious and nuisance in English, nuocere (to harm, injure, damage) in Italian, nuire (to harm, spoil) in French, anegar (to inundate, flood, drown) in Spanish, éacht (slaying, slaughter, feat, exploit) in Irish, aeth (pain, woe, grief, sorrow) in Welsh, and related words in the other Celtic languages [source].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Russian (Русский)

Country and Land

Floor / Ground

Death