Nuts

29th April 20213rd May 2021 By Simon

Words for nut and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	knūs / knuwjā- = nut
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cnú [knuː] = nut cnú frangcach = walnut
Irish (Gaeilge)	cnó = nut cnó capaill = horse-chestnut cnó cócó = coconut cnó coill/gealach = hazelnut cnó francach/gallda = walnut
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cnò [krɔ̃ː] = nut; vesicle, gas bladder (on seaweed) cnò-almoin = almond cnò challtainn = hazelnut cnò-chòco = coconut cnò Fhrangach = walnut cnò-gheanmnaidh = chestnut cnò-thalmhainn = groundnut, peanut
Manx (Gaelg)	cro = nut, gall cro almon/Greagagh = almond cro coull = hazelnut cro bainney = coconut cro teayst = doughnut cro thallooin = peanut, groundnut, monkey nut
Proto-Brythonic	*know = nut
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cnau [knaɨ̯/knai̯] = nuts cneuen = nut cnau almond = almongs cnau barfog = hazelnuts, chestnuts cnau ceffylau = horse-chestnuts cnau coco = coconuts cnau Ffrengig = walnutes
Cornish (Kernewek)	know [knoʊ] = nuts knowen, knofen = nut know dor = peanuts know Frenk/Frynk = walnuts know koko = coconuts know koll = hazelnuts know toos = doughnuts
Old Breton	cnou = nut
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kraoñ [kʁɔ̃] = nuts, walnuts kraonenn = nut kraoñ-kelvez = hazelnuts kraoñ-kokoz = coconuts

Etymology: possibly from the Pre-Celtic *knuHs. Cognate with the Proto-Germanic *hnuts (nut) and the Latin nux (nut, nut tree, almond tree), which come from the from Proto-Indo-European *knew- [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis

Bread

24th April 202125th April 2021 By Simon

Words for bread and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ar(-akno)- = bread
Old Irish (Goídelc)	arán [ˈaraːn] = bread, loaf of bread
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	arán [ˈaraːn] = bread
Irish (Gaeilge)	arán [əˈɾˠɑːn̪ˠ / ˈaɾˠanˠ] = bread arán baile = home-baked bread arán bán = white bread, baker’s bread arán coirce = oatbread, oatcake arán donn, arán rua = brown bread arán prátaí = potato cake
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	aran [aɾan] = bread, loaf; livelihood, sustenance aran-coircearan-donn, aran ruadharan-eòrnaaran milisaran-seagail
Manx (Gaelg)	arran = bread arran Albinagh = shortbread arran bainney = bread roll arran bane = white bread arran dhone, arran ruy = brown bread arran greddan(it) = toast arran shoggyl = rye bread

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *arankā- (grain) [source].

Proto-Celtic	bargo / baragenā / *barginā = cake, bread
Old Irish (Goídelc)	barigen [ˈˈbarʲ.ɣʲən] = bread, loaf of bread
Irish (Gaeilge)	bairín = loaf bairín breac = barmbreac
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bairghin = bread, cake
Manx (Gaelg)	berreen = cake
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bara [ˈbara / ˈbaːra] = bread, loaf, slice; food, meal, sustenance, livelihood bara barlys = barley bread bara beunyddiol = daily bread bara brith = currant bread bara byr = buscuit bara ceirch = oat bread, oatcake bara coch = brown bread, barley bread bara drwg = bad bread, bad state, difficulties bara gwyn = white bread bara lawr = laverbread (made with edible seaweed) bara poeth = gingerbread, hot bread
Old Cornish	bara = bread
Cornish (Kernewek)	bara = bread bara byghan/bian = roll bara gwaneth = wheaten bread bara leun = wholemeal bread bara sugal = rye bread
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bara [ˈbɑː.ra] = bread bara bis = brown bread bara brazed = wholemeal bread bara brizh = currant bread bara gwenn = white bread bara kras = toast

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰars- (spike, prickle). Words from the same root include the English barley, the Scots bere/beir (barley), the Swedish barr (pine/fir needle), the Icelandic barr (pine needle), the Old Norse barr (corn, grain, barley), and the Latin far (spelt, coarse meal, grits), and words for flour in Romance languages, such as farine in French [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

You can find the origins of the English words bread and loaf on Radio Omniglot.

Butter

15th April 202117th April 2021 By Simon

Words for butter and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*emban = butter
Old Irish (Goídelc)	imb/imm [imʲbʲ] = butter
Irish (Gaeilge)	im [aimʲ / iːmʲ / ɪmʲ] = butter saill ime = butterfat uachtar ime = buttercream
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ìm [iːm] = butter imeach [iməx] = buttery, producing butter
Manx (Gaelg)	eeym = butter eeymagh = buttery
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ymenyn = butter
Welsh (Cymraeg)	(y)menyn [əˈmɛnɨ̞n / əˈmeːnɪn] = butter, curds blodyn menyn = buttercup (y)menyneiddiwch = butteriness (y)menynaidd = buttery
Old Cornish	amanen = butter
Cornish (Kernewek)	(a)manyn = butter
Middle Breton	amanen = butter
Breton (Brezhoneg)	amann [ã.ˈmãnː] = butter amanennañ [ã.ˈmãnː] = to butter amanenner [ã.ˈmãnː] = butter dish kouign-amann = kouign-amann (a traditional Breton butter cake)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃engʷen- (fat, butter), from *h₃engʷ- (to smear, anoint) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Cheese

7th April 20218th April 2021 By Simon

Words for cheese and related words in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	cáise = cheese
Irish (Gaeilge)	cáis [kɑːʃ / kæːʃ] = cheese cáiseoir = cheese-maker, cheese-monger cáisiúil = cheesy
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	càise [kaːʃə] = cheese càisean, cùl-càise = cheese rind brèid-càise, anart-càise = cheesecloth
Manx (Gaelg)	caashey = cheese, cheesy caasheydagh = cheesy
Proto-Brythonic	*kọs = cheese
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	caws, caus = cheese
Welsh (Cymraeg)	caws [kau̯s] = cheese, curds, a cheese cawsa = to beg cheese, collect cheese cawsai = cheese begger, one who makes cheese cawsaidd = caseous, cheesy cawsion = curd, curds, curdlings cawslestr = cheesel, cheese vat/mould cawslïain = cheese-cloth cawsty = cheese house, dairy cosyn [ˈkɔsɨ̞n / ˈkɔsɪn] = a piece of cheese
Cornish (Kernewek)	keus [køːs] = cheese keuswask = cheese press
Breton (Brezhoneg)	keuz = cheese keuzerezh = cheese factory

Etymology: from the Latin cāseus (cheese), from the Proto-Indo-European *kwh₂et- (to ferment, become sour) [source].

Middle Breton)	fourondec, foulondec = cheese
Breton (Brezhoneg)	formaj = cheese fourmajerezh = cheese factory

Etymology: from the Latin Latin fōrmāticum (cheese), short for cāseus fōrmāticus (form cheese), from cāseus (cheese) amd fōrma (form, mold) [source]. More cheesy words in European languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Honey

15th October 201829th April 2021 By Simon

Words for honey in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*meli(t) = honey
Old Irish (Goídelc)	mil = honey
Irish (Gaeilge)	mil [mʲɪlʲ] = honey beach mheala = honey bee blas meala = taste of honey, delicious taste briathra meala, = honeyed words broc meala = honey badger ceo meala = honey dew cíor mheala = honeycomb lá meala = delightful day mí na meala = honeymoon
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mil [mil] = honey mil an fhraoich = heather honey mil-dheoch = mead mil air do bheul! = that’s wonderful/excellent news! (“honey on your mouth”) teillean-meala = honey bee
Manx (Gaelg)	mil [mɪl] = honey mill freoaie = heather honey mill kerey = comb honey mill freoaie = heather honey cha millish as mill = as sweet as honey
Proto-Brythonic	mel = honey
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mêl [meːl] = honey, nectar mêl ar ei frechdan/fara = source of pleasure (“honey on his sandwich/bread”) mêl ar ei fysedd = schadenfreude (“honey on his fingers”) mêl grug = heather honey mêl gwyllt = wild honey dil mêl = honeycomb gwenynen mêl = honey bee mis mêl = honeymoon
Old Cornish	mel = honey
Cornish (Kernewek)	mel = honey
Breton (Brezhoneg)	mel [mɛl] = honey

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *mélid (honey), which is also the root of the English words mildew and mulch [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Food & Drink

Nuts

Bread

Butter

Cheese

Honey