Category: Nouns

Ants

By Simon

Words for ant in Celtic languages.

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) sengán = ant
Irish (Gaeilge) seangán = ant
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) seangan [ʃɛŋgan] = ant, mean fellow
Manx (Gaelg) sniengan = ant

Etymology: from the Middle Irish seng (narrow, thin, slender) and the suffix -án [source].

Proto-Celtic *morwis = ant
Old Irish (Goídelc) moirb [morʲvʲ] = ant
Welsh (Cymraeg) morgrug = ants
morgrugyn = ant
mor / mŷr / myrr = ant
myrion = ants
Old Cornish menƿionen = ant
Cornish (Kernewek) moryon = ants
moryonen = ant
mwrrian = ant
Old Breton moriuon = ant
Breton (Brezhoneg) merion = ants
merionenn = ant

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *morwi- (ant) [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

Formica cf. rufibarbis

Snakes

By Simon

Words for snake in Celtic languages.

Adder

Proto-Celtic *natrixs = snake
Old Irish (Goídelc) nathir [ˈnaθirʲ] = snake
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) nathir = snake
Irish (Gaeilge) nathair [ˈn̪ˠæhəɾʲ] = snake
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) nathair [n̪ˠahɪrʲ] = snake, serpent, viper, adder
Manx (Gaelg) aarnieu / ardnieu = adder, serpent, snake, viper
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) nadret, nadred, neidyr = snake, serpent
Welsh (Cymraeg) neidr [nei̯dr / ˈnei̯dɪr] = snake, serpent
Old Cornish nadar = snake
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) nader = snake, viper, adder
Cornish (Kernewek) nader = adder
Old Breton natrolion = snakes
Middle Breton nazr, azr, aër, aer = snake
Breton (Brezhoneg) naer = snake

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁tr- (adder), or from *(s)neh₂- (to swim) [source].

The English word snake comes from a different root: the Old English snaca (snake, serpent, reptile), from the Proto-Germanic *snakô (snake), from *snakaną (to crawl), from the Proto-Indo-European *sneg- (to crawl; a creeping thing) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) gwiber = viper, adder, poisonous snake, water-snake, mythical flying serpent, the devil, scoundrel, scold, venomous woman
colwiber snake, serpent, viper
Breton (Brezhoneg) wiber = viper

Etymology: from the Latin vīpera (viper), possibly from vivus-pario (one that gives live young) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) sarff = serpent, snake, scorpion; hero, warrior, leader, chieftain
Cornish (Kernewek) serpont = snake, serpent
sarf = serpent
Breton (Brezhoneg) sarpant = snake, dragon, kite

Etymology: from the Latin serpēns (snake), from serpō (I creep, crawl), from the Proto-Indo-European *serp- (to creep, crawl) [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

Mice

By Simon

Words for mice in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *lukoss = mouse
Old Irish (Goídelc) luch [l͈ux] = mouse, rat
Irish (Gaeilge) luch [l̪ˠʊx / l̪ˠɔx / l̪ˠʌx] = mouse
luchóg = mouse
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) luch [l̪ˠux] = mouse
Manx (Gaelg) lugh [ɫɔx] = mouse
Proto-Brythonic *llug = mouse
*llugod = mice
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) lleyc = shrew, shrewmouse, (field) mouse
Welsh (Cymraeg) llyg = shrew, shrewmouse, (field) mouse
llygod [ˈɬəɡɔd] = mice, rats, shrews, voles
llygoden = mouse, rat, shrew, vole
Middle Cornish logoden, logosan = mouse
Cornish (Kernewek) logos = mice
logosen / logojen = mouse
Old Breton loc = mouse
Breton (Brezhoneg) logod = mice, yarn balls, meatballs, varicose veins
logodenn = mouse

Etymology: unknown, most likely from a non-Indo-European substrate language – only found in Celtic languages [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

Here’s a tune I wrote called The Field Mouse’s Delight / Llawenydd Llygoden y Coed:

Wood mice

Squirrels

By Simon

Words for squirrel in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic wiweros = squirrel
Old Irish (Goídelc) íaru = squirrel
Irish (Gaeilge) iora = squirrel
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) feòrag [fjɔːrag] = squirrel
Manx (Gaelg) fiorag = squirrel
Proto-Brythonic gwɨwer = squirrel
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) gwiwair, gwiweir = squirrel
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwiwer [ˈɡwɪu̯.ɛr / ˈɡwɪu̯.ar] = squirrel
Cornish (Kernewek) gwiwer = squirrel
Breton (Brezhoneg) gwiñver = squirrel

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *wer- (squirrel, stoat) [source].

In Manx a squirrel is also a roddan biljagh (“tree rat”).

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

Here’s a tune I wrote called The Scampering Squirrels / Y Gwiwerod sy’n Prancio:

Red Squirrel

Hedgehogs

By Simon

Words for hedgehog in Celtic languages.

Irish (Gaeilge) gráinneog [ˈɡɾˠɑːnʲoːɡ] = hedgehog; bristly, short-tempered, person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) gràineag [ˈgraːnʲag] = hedgehog
Manx (Gaelg) graynoge = hedgehog

Etymology: from gráin/gràin/grayn (hatred, abhorrence), from the Proto-Celtic *grā̆gnis (disgust), & -eog/eag/oge (a noun suffix) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) draenog [ˈdrɑːɨ̯nɔɡ / ˈdrai̯nɔɡ] = hedgehog, (sea-)urchin, procupine; a cross-grained peevish person; ferret, bittern, thorny, prickly
Breton (Brezhoneg) draeneg = hedgehog, wolf, barbel

Etymology: from draen (prickle, thorn), from the Proto-Celtic *dragino-, & -og/eg (a noun suffix) [source].

Cornish (Kernewek) sort = hedgehog

Etymology: unkonwn

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

hedgehog

Deer

By Simon

Words for deer in Celtic languages. There were several different words for deer in Proto-Celtic: *wēdus, *karwos, *ellan(t)ī-, *danī- and *yorkos, and also *sidos (stag). They may have referred to different types of deer, but it is not certain which types, apart from *yorkos, which is a roe deer.

Deer

Proto-Celtic *wēdus [ˈweː.dus] = wild
Old Irish (Goídelc) fíad [fʲiːa̯ð] = wild animals, game, especially deer
Irish (Gaeilge) fia [fʲiə] = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) fiadh [fiəɣ] = deer
Manx (Gaelg) feeaih = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *weydʰ- (wood, wilderness) [source].

Proto-Celtic *karwos = deer, stag
Gaulish caruus / carvos = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc) carbh = deer
Irish (Gaeilge) carria / cairrfhiadh = deer, stag
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cair-fhiadh / carbh-fheadh = hart, stag
Manx (Gaelg) çharroo = stag
Proto-Brythonic *karw = deer, stag
Old Welsh *caru = deer
Middle Welsh (kymraec) caru, carv, carw = deer, hart, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg) carw [ˈkaru / ˈkaːru] = deer, hart, stag; lord, nobleman, patron
Old Cornish caruu = stag
Middle Cornish carow = stag
Cornish (Kernewek) karow = stag
Middle Breton caro, qaro = deer
Breton (Brezhoneg) karv = deer

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂wós, from *ḱerh₂- (horn) [source].

Proto-Celtic *sidos = stag
Old Irish (Goídelc) séd = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg) hydd = stag, hart
Breton (Brezhoneg) heizes = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: uncertain

Proto-Celtic *ellan(t)ī- / *agliones = deer
Old Irish (Goídelc) ag [aɣ] = bullock, cow, ox; deer, stag
Irish (Gaeilge) agh = cow, ox
agh alla = deer
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) agh [ɤɣ] = heifer, hind
Welsh (Cymraeg) eilon/eilion = stag, hart

Etymology: possible from the same root as the English word eland (a type of antelope found in South Africa), which from the Dutch eland (elk), from the Old High German elent.

Proto-Celtic *ou̯ījkā = ?
Gaulish cerua = ?
Old Cornish euhic = hind, deer
Old Welsh eguic = hind, deer
Welsh (Cymraeg) ewig = hind, doe, roe; graceful light-footed woman; deer, hart

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ówis (sheep) [source]

Proto-Celtic *yorkos = roebuck, deer
Gaulish iorkos = deer
Proto-Brythonic *jorx = deer, stag
Welsh (Cymraeg) iwrch [jʊrχ] = roe-deer, roebuck
Old Cornish yorch = roe-deer
Cornish (Kernewek) yorgh = roe-deer
Old Breton iorch = roe-deer
Breton (Brezhoneg) yourc’h = roe-deer, venison, intrepid boy

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *york- (antelope, gazelle) [source].

Proto-Celtic *danī- = deer
Welsh (Cymraeg) danas = deer, fallow deer
Breton (Brezhoneg) demm = deer, fallow deer

Etymology: related to the French daim (hind, doe), from the Latin dāma (fallow deer, buck, doe) [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

Water Dogs

By Simon

Words for otter in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *dubrokū = otter, beaver
Old Irish (Goídelc) doburchú [ˈdovurˌxuː] = otter
dobrán = otter, beaver
Irish (Gaeilge) dobharchú = otter
dobhrán = otter, dull-witted, stupid, person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) dobhar-chù [do.ərxu] = otter
dòbhran [dɔːran] = otter
Manx (Gaelg) dooarchoo = otter, beaver
Proto-Celtic *düβrgi = otter, beaver
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) deuerky, deifyrgi, dyfyrgi, dwfyrgi = otter
Welsh (Cymraeg) dyfrgi [ˈdəvrɡɪ / ˈdəvrɡi] = otter
dyfrast = she-otter
dwrgi = otter
ci dŵr = otter
Old Cornish doferghi = otter
Middle Cornish dofergi = otter
Cornish (Kernewek) dowrgi = otter
Breton (Brezhoneg) dourgi = otter

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *dubros (water) and *kū (dog) [source].

The words for water beginning with d in the Goidelic languages only appear in this compound.

Irish (Gaeilge) madra uisce [ˈmˠad̪ˠɾˠə ˈɪʃcɪ] = otter
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) madadh-uisge [ˈmadəɣ ˈɯʃgʲə] = otter
Manx (Gaelg) moddey ushtey = otter

Etymology: from the Old Irish madrad /matrad (dog); and the Old Irish uisce (water), from the Proto-Celtic *udenskyos (water), from the Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ (water) [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

Otters!

Rabbits

By Simon

Words for rabbit in Celtic languages.

Irish (Gaeilge) coinín = rabbit
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) coineanach [kɔn̪ʲanəx] = rabbit, bunny, coney
coinean [kɔn̪ʲan] = rabbit, bunny, coney
Manx (Gaelg) conning / conneeyn = rabbit, bunny, coney
Welsh (Cymraeg) cwningen [kʊˈnɪŋɛn] = rabbit, cony, hyrax
cwning [ˈkʊnɪŋ] = rabbit, cony, hyrax
Cornish (Kernewek) konin = rabbit
Breton (Brezhoneg) koulin / konifl / konikl = rabbit

Etymology: from the Anglo-Norman conil/connil (rabbit, idiot), from Latin cunīculus (rabbit, rabbit burrow, mine, subterranean tunnel) [source]

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) rabaid [r̪ˠabɪdʲ] = rabbit, bunny, coney

Etymology: from the English rabbit, from the Middle English rabet, rabette (rabbit), from the Old French rabbotte / rabouillet (baby rabbit), from the Middle Dutch robbe (rabbit, seal) [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

Rabbit

Cats

By Simon

Words for cat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *kattā = cat
Old Irish (Goídelc) cath = cat
Irish (Gaeilge) cat = cat
cat fireann = tomcat
piscín = kitten
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cat [kahd] = cat
cat fireann / moth-chat / cullach-cait = tomcat, bossy child
baircne = female cat, white cat
piseag [piʃag] = kitten
Manx (Gaelg) kayt = feline, cat, puss
kayt firryn = tomcat
pishin / pishanagh = kitten
Proto-Brythonic *kaθ = cat
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) cath, kath = cat
Welsh (Cymraeg) cath [kaθ] = cat, wild cat
cwrcath / gwrcath / cwrcyn = tomcat
cath fenyw = queen, female cat
cath fach = kitten
Old Cornish kat = cat
Middle Cornish cath = cat
Cornish (Kernewek) kath [kaːθ / kæːθ] = cat
kathik = kitten
Breton (Brezhoneg) kazh [ˈkɑːs] = cat, tomcat
kazheg [ˈkɑː.zes] = queen, female cat
kazhig [ˈkɑː.zik] = kitten

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

Smudge, one of my sister's cats

Badgers

By Simon

Words for badger in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *brokkos = badger
Gaulish *broco / *brokkos = badger
Primitive Irish ᚁᚏᚑᚉᚔ (broci) = badger (genitive)
Old Irish (Goídelc) brocc [brok] = badger
Irish (Gaeilge) broc [bˠɾˠɔk / bˠɾˠʌk] = badger, dirty-faced person, short thick-set person
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) broc [brɔxg] = badger, wolf (obselete)
Manx (Gaelg) brock = badger
Proto-Brythonic *brox = badger
Welsh (Cymraeg) broch [broːχ] = badger
Old Cornish broch = badger
Cornish (Kernewek) brogh [bɹoːx] = badger
Breton (Brezhoneg) broc’h [ˈbʁoːx] = badger, quarrel

Etymology: unknown, possibly cognate with Old High German braccho (sniffer dog) [Source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) mochyn daear / daearfochyn = badger

Etymology: from the Welsh mochyn (pig) and daear (earth, ground) [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

Badgers, Dinefwr Park, Llandeilo