Good

3rd October 201820th October 2023 By Simon

Words for good and related things in Celtic languages.

Good

Proto-Celtic	*matis = good
Old Irish (Goídelc)	maith [maθʲ] = good maithe = goodness
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	maith, maid = good, profiable, excellent, fitness, proficiency, wealth
Irish (Gaeilge)	maith [mˠa(h) / mˠaɪ(h)] = good; goodness, kindness; good things; fertility maithe = goodness, good maitheamh = forgiveness, pardon, abatement, remission maitheas = goodness, good, good thing, kindness, gift maitheasach = good, useful, kind, obliging maitheasaí = good worker maithiúnas = forgiveness, pardon
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	math [mah] = good, well maitheadh = forgiving, pardoning maitheas = goodness maitheanas = forgiveness, pardon maitheamhnas = forgiveness
Manx (Gaelg)	mie [maɪ] = good, nice, moral, fair, pious, ready, goodness, favourable, virtuous, virtue, goodly mienys = favourableness, good, goodness
Proto-Brythonic	*mad = good
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	mad, mat [maːd] = fortunate, lucky, good, etc matweith, madwaith = good work, goodness
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mad [maːd] = fortunate, lucky, auspicious, happy, suitable, proper, good, beneficial, holy, fair, pleasant, beautiful, goodness, fairness, benefit, good deed, kindness madedd = goodness, generosity, bounteousness madog = good man, good, just, righteous madol = fair, good, beneficial madwaith = good work, goodness madwr = benefactor, patron
Old Cornish	mad = good
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	mas, mat, mâs, mâd = good, beneficial
Cornish (Kernewek)	mas [ma:z / mæ:z] = good, respectable, moral, virtuous maseth = morality
Old Breton	mat = good
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	mat, mad = good
Breton (Brezhoneg)	mat, mad [mɑːt/maːd] = good, good product, moral, well (done), sweet madek = wealthy, gentle, soft madelezh = kindness, benevolence madelezhus = beneficent, generous madig = sweet, bonbon madoberer = benefactor, patron mataat = to improve, moralize demat [deˈmɑːt] = hello, good day demata = to greet, say hello peurvat [ˈpør.vat] = perfect

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

Words from the same roots include demure and mature in English, matin (morning) and mûr (mature, ripe) in French, and , mañana (tomorrow, soon, morning) and maduro (mature, ripe) in Spanish [source].

Proto-Celtic	*dagos = good
Gaulish	dagos = good
Old Irish (Goídelc)	dag- = good
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	dag = good, well
Irish (Gaeilge)	dea- [dʲa/ dʲeː] = good, well dea-bhéasach = well-mannered, well-behaved dea-chruthach = well-shaped, shapely, handsome dea-dhéanta = well-made, of good figure, physique
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	deagh [dʲoː] = good, fine, nice, pretty, rather well deagh-rùn = good intention deagh-aithnichte = well-known deagh-chliù = good reputation, fame deagh-spiorad = good spirit deagh-ghean = goodwill, benevolence
Proto-Brythonic	*daɣ = good
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	dá, da = good, beneficial, acceptable, suitable, useful daeoni, dayoni, daioni = goodness, uprightness, graciousness, kindness, bravery daionvs, daionus, dayonus = good, beneficial, bountiful, kind, loving, gracious
Welsh (Cymraeg)	da [daː] = good, beneficial, acceptable, suitable, useful daeder = goodness, quality, of goodness daionedd = goodness, benefit daioni = goodness, uprightness, graciousness, kindness, bravery daionus = good, beneficial, bountiful, kind, loving, gracious daionusrwydd = goodness daionuster = goodness, beneficence, benefit
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	da = good dader = goodness, excellence
Cornish (Kernewek)	da [da:] = good da lowr = alright, mediocre, OK, passable da-ober = good deed dader = goodness mellyer/melyores dader = do-gooder
Old Breton	da = good
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	da = good
Breton (Brezhoneg)	da [da] = pleasant, agreeable, satifactory; good (archaic)

Etymology: related to the Proto-Indo-European *déḱos (that which is proper), from *deḱ- (to take, perceive) [source].

Words from the same roots include dech (best) in Old Irish and dainty, decent, decor, dignity, docile doctor and dogma in English [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Lexicon Cornu-britannicum: A Dictionary of the Ancient Celtic Language of Cornwall, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Right & South

2nd October 201821st October 2023 By Simon

Words for right & south in Celtic languages.

Right & South

Proto-Celtic	dexswos = right (side*), south
Old Irish (Goídelc)	dess = right (side), right-hand; south; right, just; convenient, agreeable desse = right side, rightness andess = (from the) south
Middle Irish (Gaoidhleag)	dess = right, right hand (side), south, just, meet, well-arranged, neat, pretty, fine desse = the right side, right hand, rightness, fairness dessebar = the south, southern aspect dessel = direction of the sun, right-hand course, sunwise andess = from the right, from the south
Irish (Gaeilge)	deas [dʲasˠ / dʲæsˠ] = south, southerly, to the south; right, right-hand deasach = right-handed, suitable for use with right hand deaslámh = right hand deaslámhach = right-handed, dexterous, handy deaslámhaí = handiness, dexterity deasóg = right hand, right fist, right-handed punch
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 deasach [dʲesəx] = southerly, southern, southerner deasag [dʲesag] = right hand deasail [dʲesal] = clockwise deasad [dʲesad]= neatness, readiness deasalt [dʲesəl̪ˠd] = clockwise/sunwise turn deasalachd [dʲesəl̪ˠəxg] = readiness, convenience, dexterity
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 jeshag = righthander, right-handed blow jeshagh = illumination, right-handed blow jeshid = applicability, elegance, neatness, propriety, right-handedness, seemliness, smartness, suitability, tidiness neearass = southwest niar ass = southeast niass = southerly cheu-jiass = southward
Proto-Brythonic	*dexow = right, southern
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	dehev, deheu, deau = right, south, southern, right (hand, side) dehau ddwyrain = southeast deau-’orllewyn, deheûorllewin = southwest Dehaubarth = the medieval kingdom of South Wales dehevbôl = south pole deheuec = dexterous, skilful, adroit, right dehevawl = south, southern, of the south, austral, facing southwards
Welsh (Cymraeg)	deau = right, south, southern de [deː] = south; dexterous, skilful, clever; ready; useful, handy; suitable, appropriate, proper, right, just; favourable, auspicious de(au)-ddwyrain = southeast de(au)-orllewin- = southwest Dehaubarth = South Wales, the medieval kingdom of South Wales, southern part Dehaubarth Cymru (Newydd) = (New) South Wales deheubol = south pole deheuder, deheudra = dexterity, adroitness, cleverness deheueg = dexterous, skilful, adroit, right; South Welsh dialect deheuol = south, southern, of the south, austral, facing southwards
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	dehou, dyhow, dyow = right, south dehoules = southernwood
Cornish (Kernewek)	dyghow [dɪ’hɔʊ / də’hɔʊ] = south, right-handed, southern, right dyghow dhuryen = southeast dyghow orlewin = southwest dyghowbarth = south
Old Breton	dehou, deou = right, south
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	dehou, deho, dehaou = right, south dehouyat, deouiad = right-handed
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dehou [ˈde(h).u] = right, south dehouiad = right-handed dehoubarzh = southern zone a-zehou = to the right

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

Words from the same PIE root include dexterity, dextrose and (ambi)dextrous in English, diestro (right, right-handed, skillful, dextrous) in Spanish, and destro (clever, able, right, right-hand) in Italian [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Small

26th September 20184th July 2025 By Simon

Words for small, little and related words in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	bikkos, biggos, bekkos, beggos = small, little
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bec(c) [ˈbʲeɡ] = small, little becán = little
MIidle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	bec, beg = small, little, a small amount becaid = to make small, deplete becaigid, begaigh = to lessen, diminish, reduce becán, begán, beccan = a little, small quantity, a few, a small number, little one, child, humble, lowly one becda = lowly, humble
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 beagadh [begəg] = to diminish, lessen, reduce beagachadh [begəxəɣ] = diminishing, lessening, reducing beagag [begag] = small thing, trifle beagan [began] = a little, a few beaganas [beganəs] = slight, snub beagnachd [begnəxg] = parvity, smallness
Manx (Gaelg)	beg = small, short, slight, few, poky, model, narrow, quiet, dwarf beggan = somewhat, slightly, partly, faintly, a few, little, small piece begganid = littleness, smallness, slightness beggid = diminutive, diminutiveness, littleness, paltriness
Proto-Brythonic	*bɨx = small
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	hach, bych, bâch, = small, little baches, baçes = darling, little, little woman bachken, bachcen = boy, lad, youngster, servant, son, child bachcennes = young girl, maiden, damsel, lass, wench
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bach [baːχ] = small, little, short; not fully grown or developed, young; insignificant, unimportant, humble; small (business); lower-case (letter); dear, beloved; poor baches = darling, little, little woman bachgen = boy, lad, youngster, servant, son, child bachgennes = young girl, maiden, damsel, lass, wench bachigol = diminutive, small, little 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
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	bechan, bian, bichan, bihan, bochan, byan, byhan = little, small
Cornish (Kernewek)	byghan [‘bɪhan] = little, small byghanhe = to reduce, make smaller byghanna = smaller
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	bihan, byhan = small bihanaat, bihanhat, bihanat = to shrink, diminish bihanaet, bihannaet = decrease bihanded, bihandet, bihandætt = smallness
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 [source]. Words for small and little in Romance languages, such as petit in French, pequeno in Portuguese and pequeño in Spanish, possibly come from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Latin word *pittus (small, little) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*legus = small
Gaulish	lau = small
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lagu, lugu, laigiu = smaller
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	lagu = smaller
Irish (Gaeilge)	laghad = smallness, fewness laghadaigh = to lessen, decrease, diminish, reduce laghadaitheach = lessening, decreasing laghadú = decrease, diminuition, reduction laghadúchán = (act of) diminution níos lú = smaller is lú = smallest, least
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lugha = less, least, more or most disagreeable nas lugha = smaller, less, shorter, minimum as lugha = smallest, tiniest, shortest laghad [̪l̪ˠɤɣəd] = smallness, littleness, minority luighead = degree of smallness, littleness laghdaich, lùghdaich = (to) decrease, diminsh, lessen, reduce, decline
Manx (Gaelg)	loo = fewer, least, little(r), minimim (ny) sloo = less, lesser, smaller, shorter by loo = smallest, fewest, less leodagh = decreasing, degrading, dreogatory leodaghey = to decrease, minimize, reduce, diminish
Proto-Brythonic	llaɣw = small, bad llaɣü = smaller
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llaw = small, little, low, mean, weak llei, lley = smaller, less, fewer leyhaf, lleyaf, lleiaf = least, smallest, lowest, fewest leihaa, leihaei, lleihav, leihau = to become smaller or less
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llaw = small, little, low, mean, weak llai [ɬai̯] = smaller, less, fewer lleia(f) = least, smallest, lowest, fewest lleiafrif = minority lleihad = a lessening, decrease, easing lleihadog = belittling, diminutive, derogative lleihau = to become smaller or less, to diminish, to shink, to decrease, to less, to shorten
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	le = less, smaller leia = least, smallest leyhy, lyha = to make smaller, diminish, lessen
Cornish (Kernewek)	le = smaller, less, lesser, fewer, minor lehe = to lessen, extenuate, mitigate, reduce, shrink, zoom out leheans = reduction
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	lau = less, fewer
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	lau = less, fewer
Breton (Brezhoneg)	lei = less, fewer leiaat = to decrease, lower, attenuate

Etymology: from *h₁léngʰus (lightweight, easy, nimble), from *h₁lengʷʰ- (to move lightly or effortlessly; lightweight) [source]. Words from the same PIE roots include gelingen (to turn out well, go smoothly) in German, light and lever in English, licht (light, easy, mild) in Dutch, and léim (to jump, leap) in Irish [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

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Spanish (español)

Good

Right & South

Small