Knees

19th December 202019th December 2020 By Simon

Here are some words for knee, and related words, in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*glūnos = knee
Old Irish (Goídelc)	glún [ɡluːn] = knee
Irish (Gaeilge)	glúin [ɡl̪ˠuːnʲ / ɡlˠuːnʲ] = knee, generation, step (in a series), node caipín glúine, gealacán glúine = kneecap, patella bean ghlúine = midwife
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	glùin [ɡl̪ˠuːnʲ] = knee, generation, lap, joint (of boat) copan na glùine / cnap-glùine / falman = kneecap, patella lùbadh-glùin = curtsey bean-ghlùine = midwife
Manx (Gaelg)	glioon [ɡlʲuːnʲ] = joint, crooked timber, knee rollian ny gliooney = kneecap, patella moddey glioon = lap dog, toy dog glioon-lhoobey = genuflect, genuflection
Proto-Brythonic	*glin = knee
Welsh (Cymraeg)	glin [ɡliːn], pen (g)lin [pɛnˈ(ɡ)liːn] = knee clwyd y glin = kneecap, patella llinach = lineage, genealogy, pedigree, ancestry, stock, kindred, offspring, succession, generation camu glin = to curtsey
Cornish (Kernewek)	glin [ˈɡliːn] = knee padell bedn glin / penn glin = kneecap, patella
Breton (Brezhoneg)	glin [ˈɡliːn] = knee koubloù = kneecap, patella

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵónu (knee).

From the Proto-Celtic word *glūnos we also get the Proto-Celtic word *genwā ((river) bend), which is the root of the names Geneva, Genoa.

The word knee comes from the same PIE root, via the Middle English kne, from the Old English cnēow, from the Proto-West Germanic *kneu, from the Proto-Germanic *knewą.

The word genuflect (to bend the knee) also comes from the same PIE root, via the Latin genū (knee) and flectō (to bend) [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, TermOfis

Nails, Claws and Talons

12th December 202012th December 2020 By Simon

Words for nails in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*angʷīnā = (finger/toe) nail
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ingen [ˈiŋʲɡʲen] = (finger/toe) nail
Irish (Gaeilge)	ionga [ˈɔŋə] = nail, claw, talon; hoof; clove (of garlic); quid (of tabacco) ionga méire finger nail ionga ordóige = thumbnail ionga coise / ionga laidhre toenail
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ionga [iŋgə] = (finger) nail, toenail, claw, talon, gusset
Manx (Gaelg)	ingin [ˈiŋən] = claw, nail, talon, hoof; clove (of garlic) ingin ordaag = thumbnail ingin choshey toenail
Proto-Brythonic	*ėɣwin = nail
Old Welsh	eguin = nail
Middle Welsh (Kyrmraec)	ewin = nail
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ewin [ˈɛu̯.ɪn] = nail of a finger or toe; claw or talon (of bird), claw (of carnivorous beast); division of a cloven hoof; worthless remnant; power of grip; cog of a wheel; jutting edge of rock; clove (of garlic), small piece, particle ewin bawd thumbnail ewin troed toenail
Old Cornish	euuin = fingernail
Cornish (Kernewek)	ewyn = claw, fingernail, talon, toenail; clove (of garlic)
Old Breton	eguin = fingernail
Middle Breton	euin = fingernail
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ivin [ˈboːs] = fingernail, tab

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃nṓgʰs ((finger/toe) nail) [source].

Fingers and Toes

2nd December 20205th December 2020 By Simon

Words for fingers and toes in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*makro = finger
Old Irish (Goídelc)	mér [mʲeːr] = finger, digit, toe
Irish (Gaeilge)	méar [mʲeːɾˠ] = finger, digit, toe, leg (of crustaceans, mollusks, etc), arm (of a cuttle fish) an mhéar thosaigh/cholbha = the forefinger, index finger an mhéar fhada/láir/mheáin = (the) middle finger méar an fháinne = ring finger an mhéar bheag / lúidín / lúideog = (the) little finger méar coise = toe
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	meur [miar] = finger, digit, branch (of an organisation/family), key (in music), point (of an antler), knot (in wood) meur-meomhair = forefinger, index finger meur-meadhain / (am) meur fada / (am) meur meadhanach = middle finger màthair na lùdaige / mac an aba / am madadh fada = ring finger meur beag an airgid / plaoisgeag = little finger
Manx (Gaelg)	mair = finger, digit, prong, ray, (piano) key, hand (of clock), tributary (of river) corrag / corvair = the forefinger, index finger mair vooar = the middle finger mair ny fainey = ring finger mair veg = the little finger mair chass / mair choshey = toe mair choshey veg / mair veg ny coshey = little toe

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *mh₂ḱros (lean, meager), which is also the root of the English word meagre/meager, via Old French and Latin [source].

Proto-Celtic	bissī / bistis = finger
Old Irish (Goídelc)	biss = icicle
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bys [bɨːs / biːs] = finger (of hand/glove), toe; medium, agency; hand (of clock); latch bys bawd = thumb bys blaen = forefinger, index finger bys y cogwrn = middle finger (“knuckle finger”) bys y gyfaredd = ring finger bys bach = little finger, ear-finger; minute-hand
Old Cornish	bis/bes = finger
Cornish (Kernewek)	bys/bes = finger, digit bys bras = thumb bys rag = index finger bys kres = middle finger bys bysow = ring finger bys byghan / bes bian = little finger
Breton (Brezhoneg)	biz = finger, hand (of clock), tooth (of tool), leg (of anchor), tentacle, tendril biz-meud = thumb biz-yod = index finger biz bras = middle finger biz-gwalenn / biz bizou = ring finger biz bihan / skouarnel = little finger

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷist- (twig, finger). The French word bijou (a piece of jewellry), comes from the same root, via the Breton bizoù (ring), from biz (finger). [source]

Proto-Celtic	*māto = finger
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bawd = thumb, big toe; claw (of crab), hoof bawd troed = big toe
Cornish (Kernewek)	meus = thumb
Breton (Brezhoneg)	meud [ˈmøːt] = thumb

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *mē-.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	ordu = thumb, big toe
Irish (Gaeilge)	ordóg [ˈəuɾˠd̪ˠoːɡ] = thumb, big toe, claw, pinces, bit, piece, fragment ordóg coise = big toe
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	òrdag [ɔːr̪ˠdag] = thumb, big toe òrdag-coise / òrdag-mhór = big toe òrdag-làimhe = thumb òrdag bheag an airgid = little toe, little finger
Manx (Gaelg)	ordaag = thumb ordaag chass / ordaag choshey / ordaag vooar = big toe

Etymology: possibly from the Old Irish ord/ordd (hammer, piece, fragment, stub), from the Proto-Celtic *ordos (hammer).

Irish (Gaeilge)	ladhar [lˠaiɾˠ] = space between toes or fingers, toe, claw, prong, (clawed) hand ladhar mhór = big toe ladhar bheag = little toe laidhricín = little toe, little finger lúidín / lúideog = little finger, little toe lúidín coise = little toe
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ladhar [l̪ˠɤ.ər] = hoof, prong, toe, claw (of lobster) ladhrag [l̪ˠɤːrag] = toe, prong, hoof an ladhar mór = big toe lùdag / lùdag bheag / lùdag dhubh na catha [l̪ˠuːdag] = little finger, hinge

Etymology: unknown

Seals

28th November 20202nd December 2020 By Simon

Words for seal in Celtic languages.

Species of seals that may be found around the Celtic lands include the common or harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Other species are available.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	rón = seal
Irish (Gaeilge)	rón = seal rón beag = harbour/common seal rón glas = grey seal
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ròn [r̪ˠɔːn], morlo = seal ròn cumanta / ròn-dubh = harbour/common seal ròn glas = grey seal
Manx (Gaelg)	raun = seal raun beg = harbour/common seal raun glass/ghlass = grey seal
Welsh (Cymraeg)	moelrhon/moelrhawn = seal, porpoise, dophin, hippopotamus morlo = seal, sealskin morlo cyffredin = harbour/common seal morlo llwyd = grey seal
Cornish (Kernewek)	reun = seal reun kemmyn = harbour/common seal reun loos = grey seal
Breton (Brezhoneg)	reunig = seal reunig morleue = harbour/common seal reunig gris = grey seal

Etymology: possibly from the Anglo-Saxon hron/hrón/hrán (whale, mussel), from the Proto-Germanic *harza/harza- (a kind of fish).

The Welsh word morlo comes from môr (sea) and llo (calf). The similar words in other languages have similar meanings.

Sea Monsters

20th November 202020th November 2020 By Simon

Words for whale in Celtic languages.

Some species of whales that may be found around the Celtic lands include the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), the common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), the sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), and the killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca). Other species are available.

Proto-Celtic	*mori-mīlo = whale
Old Irish (Goídelc)	míl mór / bled / bledmil = whale, sea monster
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	murimil / bled = whale, sea monster
Irish (Gaeilge)	míol mór = whale míol mór an oighir = humpback whale míol mór an oighir = North Atlantic right whale droimeiteach beag = common minke whale droimeiteach = fin whale mhadadh-cuain = killer whale
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mial-mhór / muc-mhara / blaoch / bleth / bleidh mhiol = whale muc-mhara dhronnach, muc-mhara chrotach = humpback whale muc-mhara cheart thuathach = North Atlantic right whale muc-mhionc choitcheann, rorcual-beag = common minke whale muc-mhara nan saoidhean = sei whale muc-mhara dhruim-iteach / muc-an-sgadain = fin whale cráin dhubh / grampar = killer whale
Manx (Gaelg)	meeyl mooar, muc varrey = whale feer-whale = right whale muc-varrey Minke = minke whale
Welsh (Cymraeg)	morfil = whale, sea monster, the constellation Cetus (the Whale) morfil cefngrwm = humpback whale morfil cywir / morfil walbon = right whale morfil pigfain = common minke whale morfil sei / morfil asgellog sei = sei whale morfil asgellog llwyd = fin whale morfil danheddog / morfil ffyrnig / lleiddiad = killer whale
Cornish (Kernewek)	morvil = whale
Breton (Brezhoneg)	morvil = whale balum askellek = humpback whale balum reizh du = North Atlantic right whale skoazog = killer whale

Etymology: these words mean ‘sea creature’, ‘large beast’, ‘sea pig’ or something similar.

Water Snakes (Eels)

12th November 202012th November 2020 By Simon

Words for eel in the Celtic languages.

In Celtic-speaking areas, the most common species of eels are the European eel or silver eel (Anguilla anguilla) ,and the European conger (eel) (Conger conger). Other eels are available.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	escong / escumg / esconga / escuma = eel
Irish (Gaeilge)	eascann [ˈasˠkən̪ˠ] = eel, reptile, snake eascann abhann = freshwater eel eascann choncair / eascann mhara = conger eel
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	easgann [esgən̪ˠ] / feasgainn [fesgɪn̪ʲ] = eel easgann-mhara / easgann-dhubh a’ chladaich = conger eel
Manx (Gaelg)	astan = eel astan marrey = sea eel, conger eel
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llysywen / ‘slywen = eel llysywen ariannaidd = silver eel llysywen fôr (y môr) / congren = European conger eel
Cornish (Kernewek)	sylli = eel
Breton (Brezhoneg)	silienn = eel silienn-dour-dous = European eel silienn-vor = European conger eel

Etymology: possibly from *esc (water) and the Proto-Indo-European *h₂éngʷʰis (snake).

Should you find that eels have infested your hovercraft, as they often do, here’s how you can say that in Celtic languages:

Irish: Tá m’árthach foluaineach lán d’eascanna
Scottish Gaelic: Tha a’ bàta-falbhain agam loma-làn easgannan
Manx: Ta my lhong chrowal lane dy astanyn
Cornish: Leun a sylli yw ow skath bargesi
Welsh: Mae fy hofrenfad yn llawn llyswennod
Breton: Leun gant sili eo ma dourruzer

This phrase in many more languages

Here’s a song I wrote some years ago which features hovercrafts and eels and has verses in Welsh and Irish.

Simon Ager · A Hen in My Hat / Iâr yn fy Het

Trout

5th November 20205th November 2020 By Simon

Words for trout in the Celtic languages.

The species of trout most common found in and around the Celtic speaking lands are the brown trout (Salmo trutta), and the sea trout (Salmo trutta trutta), which is also known as finnock in Scotland, sewin in Wales and white trout or salmon trout in Ireland [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	brecc = trout
Irish (Gaeilge)	breac [bʲɾʲak] = trout; fish breac buí / breac rua = brown trout breac-mara = sea trout
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	breac [brʲɛxɡ] = trout breac-donn, breac-mara, breac-sàile = brown/sea trout
Manx (Gaelg)	brack/breck = trout, brown trout; speckled, spotted breck awin / breck dhoan = brown trout breck gial = sea trout
Welsh (Cymraeg)	brychyn = a speckled one, freckled person, freckled face; trout brychiad = spotted or freckled person; sea trout, sewin brych y dail = sea trout, sewin

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *brikkos (speckled, spotted). from the Proto-Indo-European *perḱ- (motley, coloured, spotted).

Some trout-related expressions:

Irish: Chomh folláin le breac = as fit as a fiddle (“as healthy as a trout”)
Irish: An breac sa bhainne = the fly in the ointment (“the trout in the milk”)
Irish: Ní breac é go raibh sé ar an bport = don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched (“It’s not a trout until it’s in the port”)
Manx: Ta breck ‘sy laue ny share na braddan ‘sy lhingey = A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (“The trout in the hand is better than the salmon in the pool”)
Manx: Ta breck ‘sy vainney = a fly in the ointment (“a trout is in the milk”)
Manx: T’eh cha follan as breck = He’s a fit as a fiddle (“He’s as healthy as a trout”)

Welsh (Cymraeg)	brithyll = trout brithyll môr = sea trout, salmon trout
Old Cornish	breithil = trout
Cornish (Kernewek)	brythel = trout
Breton (Brezhoneg)	brezel = mackerel

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *mrixtil(l)o- / *mr-ī- (trout).

Cornish (Kernewek)	truth = trout
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dluzh = trout dluzh fario = brown trout dluzh-mor = sea trout

Etymology: unknown

Salmon

30th October 202030th October 2020 By Simon

Words for salmon in the Celtic languages. The species of salmon most common found around Celtic speaking lands is the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Other species of salmon are available.

There are three words for salmon in Proto-Celtic: *esoxs / *esāk, *φenk-īnjo and *φorko. Only the first one has descendents in the modern Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	esoxs / esāk = salmon
Gallaecian	*īsis = salmon
Gaulish	*esoks = salmon
Old Irish (Goídelc)	eo [eːo̯] = salmon
Irish (Gaeilge)	eo [oː / ɔː] = salmon; noble being, prince
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	eò [jɔː] = salmon (archaic) eog = salmon
Proto-Brythonic	*esāx = salmon
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ehawc = salmon
Welsh (Cymraeg)	eog [ˈɛ.ɔɡ / ˈeː.ɔɡ] = salmon, sea-trout, sewin, samlet
Old Cornish	ehoc = salmon
Cornish (Kernewek)	eghek = salmon
Middle Breton	eheuc = salmon
Breton (Brezhoneg)	eog = salmon

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *peysḱ- (fish).

Old Irish (Goídelc)	bratán = salmon
Irish (Gaeilge)	bradán [bˠɾˠəˈd̪ˠaːn̪ˠ / ˈbˠɾˠad̪ˠaːnˠ / ˈbˠɾˠɑd̪ˠɑnˠ] = salmon
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	braden [bradan] = salmon
Manx (Gaelg)	braddan = salmon

Etymology: from the Old Irish brat (captivity, bondage, robbery) and án (diminutive suffix).

Welsh (Cymraeg)	samon / samwn = salmon
Cornish (Kernewek)	sowman = salmon
Breton (Brezhoneg)	somon = salmon

Etymology: from the English salmon, from the Middle English samoun, samon, saumon (salmon), from the Anglo-Norman saumon (salmon), from the Old French saumon, from the Latin salmō (salmon), either from the Proto-Celtic *esoxs / *esāk, or from the Latin saliō (to leap).

Fish

25th October 202025th October 2020 By Simon

Words for fish in the Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ɸēskos = fish
Old Irish (Goídelc)	íasc = fish
Irish (Gaeilge)	iasc [iəsˠk] = fish, to fish iasc (uisce) abhann / locha [iəsˠk] = river / lake fish, freshwater fish iasc farraige / iasc mara [iəsˠk] = sea-fish, saltwater fish
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	iasg [iəsg] = fish, Pisces iasg fìor-uisge = freshwater fish iasg mara = saltwater fish
Manx (Gaelg)	eeast = fish eeast awin = freshwater fish eeast marrey = marine fish, sea fish
Proto-Brythonic	*uɨsk = fish
Welsh (Cymraeg)	Wysg [uːɨ̯sk / ʊi̯sk] = Usk (river)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pisḱ-/peysḱ- (fish). The name of the river Exe comes from the same root, as does Exmoor, where the river rises, Exmouth, where it meets the sea, and Exeter, which stands on the river.

Welsh (Cymraeg)	pysgod [ˈpəsɡɔd] = fish(es), Pisces pysgod aweddwr / pysgod dŵr croyw / pysgod dŵr glân [iəsˠk] = freshwater fish pysgod (y) môr [iəsˠk] = sea fish, saltwater fish
Cornish (Kernewek)	pysk [pɪːsk] / pesk = fish
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pesked = fish

Etymology: from the Latin piscātus, past participle of piscor (to fish), from piscis (fish), from Proto-Indo-European *pisḱ-/peysḱ- (fish).

Interesting idioms related to fish:

Irish: Iasc as uisce i do bhéal! = Restrain your tongue! (“Fish out of water in your mouth”)
Irish: Ar iascadh libh? = Did you catch fish / succeed in your quest
Irish: Ar iascach ar dhuine = to fish information from sb
Welsh: pysgota mewn dŵr llwyd = to fish in troubled waters

Buzzards

15th October 202015th October 2020 By Simon

Words for buzzard (Buteo buteo) and related birds of prey in the Celtic languages. Some appear to be related to each other, others are not.

Irish (Gaeilge)	clamhán = (common) buzzard, bald patch, dodder clamhán lópach = rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	clamhan [kl̪ˠavan] / claman [kl̪ˠaman] = buzzard stannaire = (common) buzzard searrach-ruadh = (common) buzzard gilm [ɡʲilʲim] = (common) buzzard bleideir [bledʲɪrʲ] = (common) buzzard bleideir-molach / bleideir-tònach / clamhan-molach / clamhan-tònach = rough-legged buzzard
Manx (Gaelg)	shirragh / shyrragh = buzzard, falcon, kite, seeker, bird of prey stannair = buzzard, hawk shyrragh-ruy = (common) buzzard shirragh mollagh / clowan liauyr-lurgagh = rough-legged buzzard
Welsh (Cymraeg)	boda / bòd = buzzard, red kite, great bustard, bird of prey boda llwyd / boda teircaill = (Common) buzzard boda bacsiog / boda garwgoes = rough-legged buzzard bwncath = buzzard
Cornish (Kernewek)	bargos = buzzard bargos gar arow = rough-legged buzzard
Breton (Brezhoneg)	baou = buzzard baou voutin = common buzzard baou an toundra = rough-legged buzzard

Etymology: unknown

Old Irish (Goídelc)	lon [l͈on] = blackbird
Irish (Gaeilge)	lon / lon dubh = (Common / Eurasian) blackbird (Turdus merula), lon creige ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lon [l̪ˠɔn] / lòn-dubh [l̪ˠɔnˈduh] = blackbird, ouzel lon-monaidh = ring ouzel

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic	traskl / trozdi = thrush
Old Irish (Goídelc)	truit = starling
Irish (Gaeilge)	truis = thrush
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	druid [drɯdʲ] = starling, thrush
Manx (Gaelg)	treshlen = song thrush treshlen vooar = mistle thrush
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tresglen = (mistle) thrush tresglen y crawel = mistle thrush
Breton (Brezhoneg)	drask(l) = thrush drask-su = song thrush drask-rouee = mistle thrush

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *trozdo- (thrush).

Other Welsh words for blackbird include aderyn du (“black bird”), and pigfelyn (“yellow beak”).

A song thrush in Welsh is y fronfraith (“the speckled breast”), crecer, bronfraith y grug, aderyn bronfraith or bronfraith fawr.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Nouns

Knees

Nails, Claws and Talons

Fingers and Toes

Seals

Sea Monsters

Water Snakes (Eels)

Trout

Salmon

Fish

Buzzards