Hexagonal

1st June 2023 By Simon

Words for six and related things in Celtic languages:

Six

Proto-Celtic	swexs = six suexos* = sixth
Old Irish (Goídelc)	sé [sʲeː] = six seisser = six people séda = six things seissed [ˈsʲesʲeð] = sixth sesca [ˈsʲeska] = sixty
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	sé, se, sē = six seisser, seissiur, seissir = six people seissed, sesset, sesedh, seisedh = sixth, one of six sé déc = sixteen sesca, sescot, sescat = sixty
Irish (Gaeilge)	sé [ʃeː/ʃɛ/ʃə]= six (an) seú = sixth seisear = six people sé déag = sixteen seasca = sixty
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sia [ʃia] = six (an) siathamh [ʃiə.əv] (6ᵐʰ) = sixth (6ᵗʰ) sianar [ʃianər] = six people sia deug = sixteen seasgad [ʃesgəd] = sixty sia-cheàrnach = hexagon
Manx (Gaelg)	shey = six, sextet an seú = sixth sheyoo, (yn) çheyoo = sixth shey jeig = sixteen shey jeigoo = sixteenth shey keayrtyn = sextuple, six times shey pingyn = sixpence
Gaulish	suex = six suexos = sixth
Proto-Brythonic	hwex [ˈhwɛːx] = six hwexed [hwɛˈxɛːd] = sixth
Cumbric	sethera, hither = six
Old Welsh	chwech = six
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	chwech, whech, whe, hwech, chwe = six hhuechet, cchuehet, chwechet, whechet = sixth
Welsh (Cymraeg)	chwech [χweːχ/hweːχ] = six, sixpence chweched (6ed) [ˈχwɛχɛd/ˈχwɛχad] = sixth chwedeg = sixty chwedegfed = sixieth chwechant = six hundred chwecheiniog = sixpenny bit, sixpence
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	huih, hweh, whéh = six hweffas, wheffes = sixth whehdeg = sixteen whehdegvas = sixteenth
Cornish (Kernewek)	hwegh = six hweghves, hweffes = sixth hwetek = sixteen hwetegves = sixteenth hweghmis = semester
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	chouech = six
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	huech, huec, c’huec’h, chouech, hueh = six huechuet, huehuet, c’huec’hved = sixth c’huezec, c’houezek = sixteen c’houezekved = sixteenth
Breton (Brezhoneg)	c’hwec’h [ˈxwɛx] = six c’hwec’hvet = sixth c’hwezek = sixteen c’hwezekvet = sixteenth c’hwec’h-ugent = 120 (620) c’hwec’h-kement* = sextuple c’hwec’h-kogn = hexagon c’hwec’h-miz = semester

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European swéḱs (six). Words from the same PIE root include six, sextuple, and words beginning with hex-, such as hexagon in English, and words for six in other Indo-European languages [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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Quintuple

23rd May 202323rd May 2023 By Simon

Words for five and related things in Celtic languages:

five

Proto-Celtic	kʷenkʷe = five kʷenkʷetos = fifth
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cóic [koːɡʲ] = five cóiced [ˈkoːɡʲeð] = fifth cóicer = five people, five things coíca = fifty
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cóic, cúic = five cóiced, cúced, coigid = fifth cóicer, cóicir, cuicir = five people/things cóic deac = fifteen coíca, coícad, cóic deich = fifty
Irish (Gaeilge)	cúig [kuːɟ] = five cúigiú [kuːˈɟuː/ˈkuːɟu] = fifth cúigear [ˈkuːɟəɾˠ] = five people/things cúige = one of five divisions of Ireland, province caoga = fifty cúigbhliantúil = five-yearly, quinquennial cúigchodach = fivefold, quintuple cúigréad = quintet
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	còig [koːgʲ] = five còigeamh(5ᵐʰ) fifth (4ᵗʰ)) còignear [koːgʲn̪ʲər] = five (people) còigearan [koːgʲəran] = quintuplet còig-fillte = quintuple, fivefold caogad [kɯːgəd] = fifty
Manx (Gaelg)	queig [kwɛɡ] = five queigagh, queigoo = fifth queigad = fifty queigin, queig-lhiatteean = pentagon queigane = quintuplet queig-filley = quintuple, five-fold
Proto-Brythonic	pɨmp [pɨmp] = five pɨmped [pɘmˈpɛːd] = fifth
Gaulish	pimpe, pempe = five pimpetos = fifth
Old Welsh	pimp = five petguaret = fifth pimmunt = fifty
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pimp, pym(p), pvmp, pum(p) = five pimphet, pemhet, pimhed, pymhed, pymhet = fifth pymthec = fifteen pymwnt, pumhwnt, pemhwnt, pummwnt = fifty pvmplyc, pymplyg, pumplyg = quintuple, fivefold
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pump [pɨ̞mp/pɪmp] = five pumed [pɛdˈwɛrɨ̞ð] (5ed) = fifth pumplyg = quintuple, fivefold, folded five times pumpunt = five pounds, five-pound note, fiver pedwaraid = set of five, fivesome pumseiniol = pentatonic (music)
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	pymp, pemp = five pympes = fifth pymthec, pemdhac = fifteen
Cornish (Kernewek)	pymp = five pympes, pempes = fifth pymthek, pemdhek = fifteen pympbys, pempbes = starfish (“five finger”)
Old Breton	pemp = five
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	pemp, puemb = five pempet, peempet, pempvet = fifth pempaat = to group into five pempkement = quintuple pempkementiñ = to quintuple pempkogneg = pentagon
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pemp [pɛmp/pɛ̃mp] = five pemp(v)et = fifth pemzek = fifteen pempad = quintet pempkorneg = pentagon

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe (five) [source].

English words from the same roots include five, fifth, fifty, fifty, quintet, and words beginning with penta-, such as pentathlon and pentameter [source].

Fourfold

18th May 202318th May 2023 By Simon

Words for four and related things in Celtic languages:

four

Proto-Celtic	kʷetwares = four kʷetwariyos = fourth
Gaulish	petru, petuar = four petuarios = fourth
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cethair [ˈkʲeθirʲ] = four cethramad [ˈkʲeθraṽað] = fourth cethracha = forty cethrar = four people cethardúil = four elements
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cethair = four cethramad = fourth cethrar = four people cethracha = forty cetharchair = four-sided, square, rectangular cethairríad = four-wheeled chariot or carriage cethardenus = space of four days cethardóit = group of four cetharaird = the four points of the compass, the four quarters, the world, universe
Irish (Gaeilge)	ceathair [ˈcahəɾʲ/ˈcæɾʲ] = four, quadruped ceithre [ˈcɛɾʲə/ˈçɛɾʲə] = four ceathrar [ˈcahɾˠəɾˠ/cæːɾˠ] = four people ceathracha = forty ceathrú [cahˈɾˠuː] = quarter, thigh, quatrain ceathrúnach = quartermaster ceathairbhliantúil = quadrennial ceathairchodach = fourfold, quadruple ceathairchosach = fourfooted, quadruped ceathairéad = quartet ceathairfhillte = quarto, fourfold
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ceithir [kʲehɪrʲ] = four ceathramh [kʲɛrəv] (4mh) fourth (4th) ceathrar [kʲɛrər] = four (people) ceathrad [kʲɛrəd] = forty cairteal [kar̪ˠʃdʲal] = quarter; quarters, lodgings ceithir-chasach = quadruped, four-legged animal ceithir-cheàrnach = quadrilateral ceithir-fillte = quadruple, fourfold, four-ply
Manx (Gaelg)	kiare [kʲeːə(r)] = four, foursome, quartet kiarroo, (yn) chiarroo = (the) fourth kerroo = fourth, quarter, quatrain kiarad = forty kiare-fillagh, kiare-filley = fourfold, quadruple kiare-lhiatteeagh, kiare-lhiatteean = four-sided, quadrilateral kiare-chassagh = four-footed, four-legged, quadruped
Proto-Brythonic	pedwar [pɛdˈwaːr] = four pėdwėrɨð [pe̝dwe̝ˈrˑɨːð] = fourth
Old Welsh	petguar = four petguaret = fourth
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pedwar, peduar = four (m) pedeyr, pedair, pedeir = four (f) pedweryd = fourth (m) pedwyred = fourth (m)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pedwar [ˈpɛdwar] = four (m) pedair [ˈpɛdai̯r/ˈpeːdai̯r] = four (f) pedwerydd [pɛdˈwɛrɨ̞ð] (4ydd) = fourth (m) pedwaredd [pɛdˈwarɛð] (4edd) = fourth (f) pedwarplyg = quadruple pedwaraf, pedwaru = to divide into four, quarter pedwaraid = set of four, foursome
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	peswar = four (m) pedar = four (f) peswardhec, pazawardhak = fourteen peswere, pyswere = fourth
Cornish (Kernewek)	peswar, pajar = four (m) peder = four (f) peswora, pajwora = fourth peswartrosek = fourfooted peswardhek = fourteen
Old Breton	petguar = four petguare = fourth
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	peuar, puar = four peuare, pevare = fourth pevar-benveg = quartet pevarc’hartier = to cut in quarters pévar c’hemend = quadruple pevar(-)c’hementi(ñ) = to quadruple
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pevar = four (m) peder = four (f) pevare, pavaread = fourth pevarved = fourth (m) pederved = fourth (f) pevarzek = fourteen pevarad = quartet pevarzuek = quadrilatéral

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwóres (four) and *kʷetwr̥yós (fourth) [source].

English words from the same roots include four, quarter, quart, quartet, quaruple, and words beginning with tetra-, such as tetradecimal (a 14-base counting system) [source].

Threesome

15th May 202315th May 2023 By Simon

Words for three and related things in Celtic languages:

three

Proto-Celtic	trīs = three tritiyos = third (in a sequence) trisano- = third (fraction*)
Celtiberian	Tiriś = three
Gaulish	treis = three (m) tiđres = three (f)<
Lusitanian	*trīs = three
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tri, trí [tʲrʲiː] = three tress = third (in a sequence) trían = third (fraction) tríar = three (people) tréide = three things trédenus = three days tréimse = three months trícha = thirty
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	trí = three tress = third (in a sequence), one of three trímad = third (in a sequence) trían = third (fraction) tríar = three persons, trio, three things tréimse = three months, a quarter (of a year) trícha = thirty
Irish (Gaeilge)	trí [tʲɾʲiː] = three tríú [tʲɾʲiːuː] = third (in a sequence), third part triúr [tʲɾʲuːɾˠ] = three (people) tríocha = thirty triantán = triangle triantánacht = trigonometry triantánaigh = to triangulate tríoiseach = three-dimensional
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	trì [triː] = three treas [tres] (3ˢ) third (3ʳᵈ) treasamh (3ᵐʰ) third (3ʳᵈ) triùir [truːrʲ] = three (people) trì-fillte = triple, threefold, three-ply trian [triən] = third (part) trìthead [triçəd] = thirty triantan [triəndan] = triangle iantanachd [iantanachd] = trigonometry
Manx (Gaelg)	tree [t̪riː] = three troor = three (people), threesome, triad, Trinity, trio, trinity treeoo, trass = third treead = thirty trooane, troorane = triangle
Proto-Brythonic	tri [triː] = three (m) teir = three (f) trɨdɨð [trɨˈdɨːð] = third (m) trɨdeð = third (f)
Old Welsh	tri [triː] = three (m) teir = three (f) tritid = third (in a sequence) trean = third (fraction)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tri = three (m) teir, tair = three (f) trited, trydet, trydyd = third teir coglaỼc, trichonglaỼc, trichongloc = triangular, three-cornered trydeblyc, tridyblic = three times, threefold, triple
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tri [triː] = three (m), tair [tai̯r] = three (f) triawd = trio, threesome, triology, triple trichorn = three-horned, three-cornered, tricorn hat tric(h)onglog = triangular, three-cornered trideg = thirty tridyblyg = three times, threefold, triple, triplicate trionglyn = triangle trydydd (3ydd) = third (m) trydedd (3edd) = third (f) teirgwaith = three times, thrice, on three occasions
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	tri, trei = three (m) teir, teyr = three (f) triddydh = the space of three days tridzha = third trihans = three hundred trindas, trinsys = Trinity triugans = three score, sixty trivorh = three-pronged
Cornish (Kernewek)	tri, trei = three (m) trei = three (f) tredhek, terdhek = thirteen tressa, tryja = third triasen = triplet trihorn = triangle tryflek = threefold, triple teyrgweyth = three times
Old Breton	tri = three
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	tri, try = three (m) teir, teyr = three (m) tri-c’hard = three quarters tri-ugent = sixty tri-chant = three hundred triad = trio, group of three tric’hogn, tricoign, tric’horn = triangle
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tri = three (m) teir [ˈte.iʁ] = three (f) trived (m) teirved (f) = third trizek = thirteen tregont = thirty tri-ugent = sixty trifarzh = three quarters tric’horn, tric’hogn = triangle

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *tréyes (three – m) and *tisres (three – f) [source].

English words from the same roots include tertiary, three, thrice, three, triad, tripod, triple and triplex [source].

A Pair of Twos

10th May 202327th May 2023 By Simon

Words for two and related things in Celtic languages:

two

Proto-Celtic	duwo = two dwau = two (masculine) dwī = two (feminine*)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	dá [daː] = two dechenc = two people déide = two things
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	dá = two, twice dechenc = a pair of persons déide = double, consisting of two, two things, a pair
Irish (Gaeilge)	dhá [ɣɑː/ɣaː] = two dá [d̪ˠɑː/d̪ˠaː] = two (used after an (the), aon (any) and céad (first)) dó = two (used when counting, e.g. a dó) dháréag = twelve daichead = forty déidhe = two persons or things, two, pair dís = two, pair, couple
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dà [daː] = two dà reug = twelve dà fhichead = forty dà-fhillte = double, twice over, two-way, twofold dà-chànanach = bilingual dà-chomhaireach = bidirectional dà-bheathach = amphibian dà-bheulach = duplicitous, two-faced
Manx (Gaelg)	daa [d̪eː/d̪ɛː] = two, both daa cheayrt = doubly, twice, twice over, double daa-hengagh, daa-hengoil = bilingual daa hroagh = two-way daa laare = double-decker daa lout = two-storey daa yeig = twelve daeed = forty
Proto-Brythonic	dọw = two (masculine) düi = two (feminine)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	dau, dou, deu, dev [ʉn] = two (masculine) dwy = two (feminine) dau dafodioc = double-tongued, two-tongued, bilingual deu dyblyc, deudeblyg, deudyblyc, deudyblic = twofold, double, duplicate deu eiryawc = deceitful, double-tongued doudec, deudec, deudeg = twelve, dozen deuckeyn, deugeint, deu vgein, deugein = forty duyweith, dwyweith, dwyweyth = twice, doubly
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dau [daɨ̯/dai̯] = two (masculine), both, pair, couple, second, twice dwy [duːɨ̯/dʊi̯] = two (feminine) daudafodiog = double-tongued, two-tongued, bilingual dauddeall = equivocal, ambiguous dauddyblaf, dauddyblu = to (re)double dauddyblyg, deuddyblyg = twofold, double, duplicate daueiriog, deueiriog = deceitful, double-tongued, prevaricating, false, equivocal deuddeg = twelve, dozen deugain = forty dwywaith = twice, doubly
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	dew = two (masculine), pair, couple dui, dyw = two (feminine) dewdhec = twelve dewugens = two score, forty deweth, dewyth = twice
Cornish (Kernewek)	dew = two (masculine) diw = two (feminine) dewdhek = dozen, twelve dew ugens = forty dewblek = double, twofold dewbries = married couple dewdhen = couple, pair dewek = binary diwweyth = twice
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	dou = two
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	daou, dou, deü = two div = two (feminine) doudec, douzec, daoudec, daouzek = twelve dou vguent, daouuguent, daou-ugent = forty daouad = duo daudroadecq, daoudriadeg, daou-droadek = biped daougementiñ = to double
Breton (Brezhoneg)	daou [dɔw] = two (masculine), double, couple div [diw] = two (feminine) daouzek = twelve daou-ugent = forty daouad = binomial, duo daouhanteriñ = to cut in two di(v) wezh = twice

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ (two) [source]. English words from the same roots include binary, double, duo, duplex, twig, twin and two [source].

One Alone

4th May 202327th May 2023 By Simon

Words for one and related things in Celtic languages:

One

Proto-Celtic	oinos/oyno- = one *oynānos = alone, personally
Old Irish (Goídelc)	oen [oːi̯n] = one oenar [ˈoːi̯nər] = one person, alone, by oneself oentu [ˈoːi̯n͈tu] = oneness, unity oínḟer [oːi̯nʲer] = one person
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	óen = one, the same, single, only, unique oenar = a single individual, one alone, one person oentu = oneness, unity, association, fellowship, alliance
Irish (Gaeilge)	aon [eːn̪ˠ/iːnˠ] = one, any, same, only aonad = unit aonadach = unitary aonán = individual aonar = one, lone, person, single, solitary aonarach = single, solitary, lone aonaracht = singularity, solitude aonarán = single, solitary person aontaigh = to unite aonú = first
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	aon [ɯ̃ːn] = one, same, sole, approximately, about aonachd = unity, union aonaich = to combine, coalesce, unite, intergrate aonaichte = united, integrated aonan = one item/thing/person aonar = one (person), (state of being) alone aonanag = onesie aonaranach = alone, desolate, deserted, lone, solitary aonrachd = solitude, solitariness
Manx (Gaelg)	un [eːn/ɯːn/uːn] = one unnane = one, identical, ace (in cards) nane = one unnaneagh = particular, singular, unanimous unnaneysee, unnaneysey = to unite unnaneysit = united
Proto-Brythonic	*ʉn [ʉːn] = one
Old Welsh	un = one ungueid = once
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	un, vn [ʉn] = one, single, individual unbin, vnbenn, unbyn = dictator, monarch, tyrant, despot, chief unkyrn, vncorn, ynkorn = unicorn, one-horned unweith, vn weith, vnwaith = once
Welsh (Cymraeg)	un [ɨːn/iːn] = one, single, individual, only, sole, unique, special, united, combined unaf, uno = to unite, unify, coalesce, amalgamate, combine, join, connect, agree, be reconciled unaidd = united, unary unawd = solo (music/dance) unawdr, unawdydd = soloist unben = dictator, monarch, tyrant, despot, chief unbriodas = monogamy uncorn, ungorn = unicorn, one-horned, chimney-stack unwaith = once, (on) one occasion, (at) one or any time, sometime
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	un = one, individual uncorn = unicorn unsel = only, alone unver = of one mind, unanimous, agreed unya = to make one, unite, join unwyth = once
Cornish (Kernewek)	unn, udn [ˈʏn/ˈɪᵈn] = one, only, single, sole unnik = individual, only, single, sole, unique unplek = singular unran = one-piece unsel = only unses = unit, unity untu = one-sided, unilateral unver = agreed, in agreement, unanimous unweyth = incidentally, once, only unya = to unite
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	un = one
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	un, unn, unan, vnan, en, eun, oun = one unanaat = to unify unanadur = unification unanded = uniqueness unander = singular unanelezh = unit, unity
Breton (Brezhoneg)	un, unan = one, someone, unit, unity unvanadur = unification unander = singular unvaniñ = to unify unanelezh = uniqueness

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(h₁)óynos (one, single) [source].

English words from the same roots include one, a, an and oenology (the study of wines and winemaking) [source].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Numbers