Category: Nouns

Troop, host, throng

By Simon

Words for troop / army in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *slougos = troop, army
Gaulish *slugi = troop, army
Old Irish (Goídelc) slóg, slúag = army, host; throng, crowd, company, assembly
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) slúagh = army, host; throng, crowd, company, assembly
Irish (Gaeilge) slua [sˠl̪ˠuə] = host, force, army; crowd, multitude, throng
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) sluagh [sl̪ˠuəɣ] = folk, people, populace; the fairy host; crowd
Manx (Gaelg) sleih = people, public, family, relations, inhabitants, crowd, populace
Proto-Brythonic *lʉɣ [ˈlʉːɣ] = troop
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) llu = host, throng, multitude
Welsh (Cymraeg) llu [ɬɨː / ɬiː] = host, a large number (of people), a great many, multitude, throng, crowd, flock (of birds); army, body of armed men, regiment
Old Cornish lu = army
Cornish (Kernewek) lu [ly: / liˑʊ] = army, military, troop
Old Breton lu = army
Breton (Brezhoneg) lu = army

Manchester Day Parade

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *slowgʰos / *slowgos (entourage), which is also the root of the English words slew and slogan [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Person, people, human

By Simon

Words for person, people and related words in Celtic languages.

Colourful people in Llandudno

Proto-Celtic *gdonyos = person
Old Irish (Goídelc) duine [ˈdunʲe] = person
duineta = human
dóenacht [ˈdoːi̯naxt] = humanity
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) duine = human, human being, man, mankind, person
Irish (Gaeilge) duine [ˈd̪ˠɪnʲə] = human being, man, mankind, person, people, one
duineata = human, kindly
duineatacht = humaneness, kindliness
duiniúil = human, natural, kindly
duiniúlacht = humanity, kindliness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) duine [dɯn̪ʲə] = fellow, person, man, husband, (any)one
daonnachd [dɯːn̪ˠəxg] = humanity, charity, benevolence, liberality, hospitality
duine-uasal = gentleman
Manx (Gaelg) dooinney [ˈd̪uːnʲə] = human, man, fellow, husband
deiney = human, man, menfolk
dooinnalys = humanity, human nature
dooinnidaght = humaneness
Proto-Brythonic *dün [ˈdyːn] = human, person
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) din, dyn = man, human being
Welsh (Cymraeg) dyn [dɨːn / diːn] = man, human being; person, one, anyone; mankind, the human race; manservant, vassal; manly or competent person
dynes [ˈdənɛs] = woman
dynegwr, dynegydd = anthropologist
dynfarch [ˈdənvarχ] = centaur
dyneidd(i)o = to render man-like or human, personify, humanize, civilize, tame, refine
dyneiddiol = humanistic, humanitarian, humanizing, civilizing
Old Cornish den = man, person
Cornish (Kernewek) den [dɛ:n / de:n] = man, guy, human, person
dengerenjedhek, dengerensedhek = humanitarian
denladh = homicide, manslaughter
denladhyas = assassin, killer, murderer
denses = humanity
Old Breton den / don = man, person
Middle Breton den = man, person
Breton (Brezhoneg) den [ˈdẽːn] = human being, person, man, husband

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dʰéǵʰom-yo- (earthling, human), from *dʰéǵʰōm (earth), which is also the root of the English words human, humus and (bride)groom [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) popul [ˈpobul] = people; tribe, nation, inhabitants; folk; populace, crowd
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) popul = people
Irish (Gaeilge) pobal [ˈpˠɔbˠəlˠ / ˈpˠʌbˠəlˠ] = people, community; parish, congregation; population
pobalscoil = community school
poblacht = republic
poblachtach = republican
teach pobail = church, chapel
teange an phobail = vernacular
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) poball [pobəl̪ˠ] = folk, people; community; laity, lay people
poballach [pobəl̪ˠəx] = popular, populous
poblachd [pɔbl̪ˠəxg] = republic
Manx (Gaelg) pobble = people, population, community, folk, congregation, masses
pobbylagh = public, populous
pobblaght = republic
Proto-Brythonic *pobl = people
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) pobyl = people
Welsh (Cymraeg) pobl [ˈpʰɔbl̩ˠ / ˈpʰɔbl̩] = people, public, nation, tribe, crowd, inhabitants
pybl = people, the common person, folk
poblog = populous, peopled, populated; popular, acceptable; common
poblogaeth = population, populousness
poblogedig = populated, inhabited
poblogeiddio = to popularize
poblogi = to populate, people, inhabit; to popularize
Old Cornish popel = people
Cornish (Kernewek) pobel = people
pobla = to populate
poblans = population
poblansorieth = demographics
poblansoriethek = demographic
Breton (Brezhoneg) pobl = people, multitude

Etymology: from the Latin populus (people, nation, community), from the Proto-Italic *poplos (army) [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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com

Fire Angels

By Simon

Words for fire in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *teɸnets = fire
Old Irish (Goídelc) teine [ˈtʲenʲe] = fire
Irish (Gaeilge) tine [ˈtʲɪnʲə] = fire, conflagration; incandescence, flame; luminosity, glow; flash; inflammation
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) teine [tʲenə] = fire, flame, conflagration
Manx (Gaelg) çhenney = elemental fire, lightning, rickets
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) tan [taːn] = fire
Welsh (Cymraeg) tân [taːn] = fire, conflagration, bonfire, flame, spark, light (for a cigarette), match; high temperature (from fever)
Cornish (Kernewek) tan [ta:n / tæ:n] = fire
Breton (Brezhoneg) tan [ˈtɑ̃ːn] = fire

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *tep- (to be warm) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) aingel [ˈaŋʲɡʲel] = angel
Irish (Gaeilge) aingeal [ˈæɲɟəl] = angel; fire, lighted coal
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) aingeal [ˈãĩŋʲgʲəl̪ˠ] = angel, messenger, fire, light, sunshine; brightness, light; signal fire, beacon; warmth
Manx (Gaelg) aile [ail] = fire
ainle = angel
Welsh (Cymraeg) angel [ˈaŋɛl] = angel
Cornish (Kernewek) eledh = angel
Breton (Brezhoneg) ael = angel

Etymology: from the Late Latin angelus (angel, messenger), from the Ancient Greek ἄγγελος (ángelos – messenger) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Beltane

Snow

By Simon

Words for snow in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *snigʷ = snow
*snigʷyeti = to snow
Old Irish (Goídelc) snechtae [ˈsʲn͈ʲexta] = snow
Irish (Gaeilge) sneachta [ˈʃnʲaxt̪ˠə / ˈʃnʲæːxt̪ˠə] = snow
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) sneachd [ʃn̪ʲɛxg] = snow
Manx (Gaelg) sniaghtey [ˈʃnʲaxt̪ə] = snow
Welsh (Cymraeg) nyf = snow

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *snígʷʰs (snow) [source].

Eira

Old Irish (Goídelc) arg = drop (of water)
Proto-Brythonic *ėrɣ = snow
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) eiry = snow
Welsh (Cymraeg) snow [ˈei̯ra] = snow
Old Cornish irch = snow
Cornish (Kernewek) ergh = snow
Middle Breton erch = snow
Breton (Brezhoneg) erc’h = snow

Etymology possibly from the Proto Celtic *argyos (white), from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂r̥ǵ-yó-s, from *h₂erǵ- (white). Or from the Proto Celtic *ɸarg(y)os (sprinkling, spatter) from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)pregʰ- (to scatter, jerk). [source].

The English word freckle comes from the same root, via the Old Norse freknur (speckles) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here are a few snow-related songs:

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek

Ivy

By Simon

Words for ivy (Hedera) and related words in Celtic languages.

Ivy / Eiddew

Proto-Celtic *ɸedennos = ivy
Old Irish (Goídelc) eiden(n) = ivy
Irish (Gaeilge) eidheann [eːn̪ˠ] = ivy
eidhneán = ivy, ivy branch
eidhneán nimhe = poison ivy
eidhneán talún = ground ivy
eidhneánach, eidhneach = ivied, ivy-clad
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) eidheann [ˈe.ən̪ˠ] = ivy
eidheann na creige, eidheann-choitcheann = (common/Eurpean) ivy (Hedera helix)
eidheann-thalmhainn = ground ivy
eidheann mu chrann = ivy, honeysuckle
eidheann-duilleagach = ivy-leaved
Manx (Gaelg) hibbin = ivy
thammag hibbin = ivy bush
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) eido = ivy
Welsh (Cymraeg) eiddew, eiddo [ˈei̯ðɛu̯] = ivy
eiddew’r ddaear = ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
grawn (yr) eiddew = ivy-berries
llwyn eiddew = ivy bush
tân (e)iddew = erysipelas, Saint Anthony’s fire, shingles, herpes
Cornish (Kernewek) idhyow [ˈɪðjɔʊ/ˈɪðjɔ] = ivy
idhyow dor = ground ivy
Breton (Brezhoneg) iliav = ivy
iliav-red = (common/Eurpean) ivy

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *ped-n̥-no-s, from *ped- (to bind, tie, restrain) [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

Blubrry podcast hosting

Holly

By Simon

Words for holly in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *kolinnos = holly
Old Irish (Goídelc) cuilenn [ˈkulʲen͈] = (wood of the) holly tree
Irish (Gaeilge) cuileann = holly
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cuileann [kulən͈ˠ] = holly
Manx (Gaelg) cullyn = holly
Welsh (Cymraeg) celynnen [ˈkɛlɨ̞n / ˈkeːlɪn] = holly
Cornish (Kernewek) kelynnen = holly
Breton (Brezhoneg) kelenenn = holly

Bright Berries, Maybe Holly?

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *ḱol- (thorn, thorny plant). [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Christmas

By Simon

Words for Christmas in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) Notlaic = Christmas
Irish (Gaeilge) Nollaig [ˈn̪ˠɔl̪ˠəɟ / ˈn̪ˠɔl̪ˠəc / ˈn̪ˠʌl̪ˠəc] = Christmas
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) Nollaig [n̪ˠɔl̪ɪgʲ] = Christmas
Manx (Gaelg) Nollick [ˈnɔlik] = Christmas
Old Welsh Natolic = Christmas
Welsh (Cymraeg) Nadolig = Christmas, birthday
Cornish (Kernewek) Nadelik [na’dɛlɪk / nə’dɛlɐk] = Christmas
Old Breton Notolic = Christmas
Breton (Brezhoneg) Nedeleg = Christmas

Etymology: from Latin nātālīcius (birth, birthday). [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Poets, Seers & Bards

By Simon

Words for poets, seers & bards in Celtic languages.

The Cheif Bard of The Fens

Proto-Celtic *weless = seer, poet
Gaulish uelets = seer, poet
Primitive Irish ᚃᚓᚂᚔᚈᚐᚄ (velitas) = seer, poet
Old Irish (Goídelc) fili [ˈfʲilʲi] = poet, seer
Irish (Gaeilge) file = poet; satirist, scold
filíocht = poetry
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) filidh [filɪ] = poet, bard, minstrel, warbler, songster, philosopher, orator
filidheachd [filɪjəxg] = poetry of a filidh; versification
Manx (Gaelg) feelee = poet
feeleeaght = poetry

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *weleti (to see), from the Proto-Indo-European *wel- (to see) [source].

Proto-Celtic *wātis = soothsayer, prophet
Gaulish οὐάτεις (uatis) = seer
Old Irish (Goídelc) fáíth [faːθʲ] = seer, soothsayer, prophet
fáíthsine = prophecy, augury
Irish (Gaeilge) fáigh = seer, prophet, wise man, sage
fáighbhean = prophetess, wise woman
fáidheadóir = prophet, predictor, soothsayer; profound, sage
fáidheadóireacht = prophecy, prediction; wise, sagacious, speech
fáidhiúil = prophetic, wise, sagacious
fáidhiúilacht = prophetic quality, sagaciousness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) fàidh [faːj] = prophet, seer; soothsayer
fàidheadair [faːjədɛrʲ] = prophet
fàisneachd = prophecy, prediction, foretelling
fàidheadaireachd = prophesying, prophecy, prediction, divination
Manx (Gaelg) fadeyr = prophet
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) guant, gwaud, gwawt = song of praise
Welsh (Cymraeg) gwawd = song of praise, panegyric, eulogy, praise, exaltation; mockery, derision, ridicule, lampoon, scorn, satire
gwawdaidd = scornful, jeering, satirical
gwawdair = poem, eulogy, praise, commendation
gwawdawr = poet
gwawdio = to mock deride
gwawdlun = caricature
gwawdlyd = mocking, scornful

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *weh₂t- (excited, inspired, possessed, excited) [source].

Proto-Celtic *bardos = poet, bard
Old Irish (Goídelc) bard [bar͈d] = bard, poet
Irish (Gaeilge) bard [bˠɑːɾˠd̪ˠ / bˠæːɾˠd̪ˠ] = poet, bard, scold
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bàrd [baːr̪ˠd] = poet, versifier (traditionally ranked below the seven grades of filidh), bard, rhymer
Manx (Gaelg) bard = poet, bard
Proto-Brythonic *barð [ˈbarð] = poet, bard
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) bart, bard, bardd = poet, bard
Welsh (Cymraeg) bardd [barð] = poet, bard, literary person, author, prophet, philosopher, priest
Old Cornish barth = poet, bard
Cornish (Kernewek) bardh [barð / bærð] = (male) bard, poet
Middle Breton barz = bard, poet
Breton (Brezhoneg) barzh = bard, poet

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷerH- (to approve, praise) [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)

To Sing

By Simon

Words for to sing & to say in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *kaneti [ke̝ˈnɨːd] = to sing
Old Irish (Goídelc) canaid [ˈkaniðʲ] = to sing
Irish (Gaeilge) can [kanˠ] = to chant, sing; to speak, talk; to call, name
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) can [kan] = to sing, rehearse, say, name, call
Manx (Gaelg) caayn = bray, whine; song; (poetry) lay
Proto-Brythonic *kėnɨd [ke̝ˈnɨːd] = to sing
Old Welsh canam [ke̝ˈnɨːd] = to sing
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) canu [ke̝ˈnɨːd] = to sing
Welsh (Cymraeg) canu [ˈkanɨ̞] / ˈkaːni] = to sing; to intone, chant; to state, say; to produce musical sounds; to compose poetry, celebrate in song
Cornish (Kernewek) kana [‘kana / ‘kɒnɐ] = to sing
Middle Breton canaff = to sing
Breton (Brezhoneg) kanañ = to sing

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n- / *kan- / *kana- (to sing) [source], which is also the root of the English word hen [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Teaglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Speech & Talking

By Simon

Words for speech & talk in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) cainnt [kan͈ʲtʲ] = speech, talk, conversation; act of speaking
Irish (Gaeilge) caint [kan̠ʲtʲ / kəin̠ʲtʲ] = speech, talking
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cainnt [kãĩn̠ʲdʲ] = to speak, talk, commune
Manx (Gaelg) caaynt = spoken language, spoken word, talk

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Cornish (Kernewek) kows [kɔʊz] = talk, speech
Breton (Brezhoneg) kaoz = speech, discussion, rumour
Welsh (Cymraeg) lleferydd [ɬɛˈvɛrɨ̞ð] / ɬɛˈvɛrɪð] = utterance, speech

Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau