Category: Words

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

Bears

By Simon

Words for bear in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *artos = bear
Noric *𐌀𐌓𐌕𐌄(𐌁𐌖𐌈𐌆) (Arte(budz)) = bear(?)
Gaulish *artio = bear
Old Irish (Goídelc) art [ar͈t] = bear, hero, warrior
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) art [ar̪ˠʃd] = bear (archaic), hero
Proto-Brythonic *arθ [arθ] = bear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) arth [arθ] = bear
Welsh (Cymraeg) arth [arθ] = bear, fierce or rough person
Cornish (Kernewek) arth [ɒɹθ] = bear
Old Breton ard / arth = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg) arzh = bear

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ursa [ur̪ˠsə] = bear
Cornish (Kernewek) ors = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg) ourz = ourz

Etymology: possibly from the Latin ursa (she-bear), from ursus (bear), from the Proto-Italic *orssos (bear), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) mathgamain [ˈmaθɣəṽənʲ] = bear
Irish (Gaeilge) mathúin [ˈmˠahuːnʲ] = bear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) mathan [ˈmahan] = bear
Manx (Gaelg) maghouin = bear

Etymology: from the Old Irish math (good) and gamuin (calf) [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

bears

Calling Words

By Simon

Words for to call in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *garyo- = to cry, shout
Old Irish (Goídelc) gairid [ˈɡarʲiðʲ] = to call, cry out, summon, name
Irish (Gaeilge) gair [ɡaɾʲ] = to call, summon, invoke, name, proclaim, inaugurate, acclaim
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) gàir [gaːrʲ] = to laugh, shout, cry, make a noise, resound
Manx (Gaelg) guee = to invoke, crave, beseech, entreat, appeal, swear by, pray, beg, swear, curse
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) garddu = word
Welsh (Cymraeg) gair [ɡai̯r] = word; speech, phrase; greeting, salutation; short extempore address or exhortation; saying, proverb
Cornish (Kernewek) ger = word
Old Breton gerent = word
Breton (Brezhoneg) ger [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = word, phrase, question

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵeh₂r- (to call, cry out) [Source].

Proto-Brythonic *gėlwɨd = to call
Welsh (Cymraeg) galw [ˈɡalu / ˈɡaːlu] = to call, shout, bawl, summon, invite
Cornish (Kernewek) gelwel = to call, appeal, invite, summon
Breton (Brezhoneg) galven [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = to call, summon

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gal(o)s- (voice, cry) [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

Eating

By Simon

Words for to eat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *essi = to eat
Old Irish (Goídelc) ithid [ˈiθʲiðʲ] = to eat
Irish (Gaeilge) ith [ɪ / ɪh] = to eat, feed, graze, bite, corrode, erode, consume, destroy, abuse, scold, revile, chew
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ith [iç] = to eat, gnaw, chew, devour, corrode, consume
Manx (Gaelg) ee [i] = to eat, devour, feed, erode, kill off, dispose; consumption, eating, depletion
Welsh (Cymraeg) ysu [ˈəsɨ / ˈəsi] = to consume, eat, devour, destroy, ruin, corrode, erode, wear away, torment, itch
Old Cornish esat = to eat, eating

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁édti (to eat) [Source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) bwyta [ˈbʊɨ̯ta / ˈbʊi̯ta] = to eat, consume, devour, ravage, waste, wear away, corrode, rust

Etymology: bwyd (food) +‎ –ha (denominative suffix) [Source].

Cornish (Kernewek) dybri / debry = to eat
Old Breton diprim = to eat
Breton (Brezhoneg) debriñ [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = to eat

Etymology: uncertain

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

Going, Going, Gone

By Simon

Words for to go in Celtic languages.

Note: this is one of the few irregular verbs in the celtic languages, and some different parts of the conjugations come from different roots.

Proto-Celtic *tēgeti = to go, step
Old Irish (Goídelc) téít [tʲeːdʲ] = to go, process, depart leave
Irish (Gaeilge) téigh [tʲeːɟ / tʲeːj / tʲeː] = to go, move, proceed, get on, fare, make, cost
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) tèid = will go – (future form of rach)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *stéygʰeti (to be walking, to be climbing) [Source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) dul = to go, going
Irish (Gaeilge) dul [d̪ˠʊlˠ] = going, passing, departure, way, method, means, proper, natural, arrangement, style – (verb noun of téigh)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) dol [dɔl̪ˠ] = (act of) going, (act of) proceeding
Manx (Gaelg) goll = to go, show out, disembark, going, sinking, passage, departure

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic *monītor = go
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) muinithir = goes around
Proto-Brythonic *moned = go
Welsh (Cymraeg) mynd [mɨ̞nd / mɪnd] = to go, leave, depart, die, disappear, perish, come to an end, elapse, pass
Cornish (Kernewek) mos = to go, become
Breton (Brezhoneg) monet = to go, to become

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *menH- [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

Deafness

By Simon

Words for deaf in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *bodaros = deaf
Old Irish (Goídelc) bodar [ˈboðar] = deaf
Irish (Gaeilge) bodhar [bˠəuɾˠ] = deaf; bothered, confused; dull; numb; immovable, stagnant
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bodhar [bo.ər] = deaf; dull; diseased (of cattle, esp. with anthrax)
Manx (Gaelg) bouyr = deaf
Proto-Brythonic *boðar = deaf
Welsh (Cymraeg) byddar = deaf, hard of hearing, deaf person; not giving ear to request, pigheaded; dead, deadened, numb
Cornish (Kernewek) bodhar = deaf
Breton (Brezhoneg) bouzar = deaf; on the house (free of charge)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰodʰHrós (deaf) [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

Roundness

By Simon

Words for round in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *krundis = round
Old Irish (Goídelc) cruind, cruinn = round
Irish (Gaeilge) cruinn [kɾˠiːnʲ / kɾˠɪn̠ʲ] = round; gathered; exact, accurate; clear, coherent; concentrated; frugal, sparing, miserly
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cruinn [krɯin̪ʲ] = round, circular, spherical; rotund; neat, succinct, well-formed; assembled, gathered together
Manx (Gaelg) cruinn = accurate, detailed, unambigous, round, spherical, circular, circumstantial, compact, consummate, exact, scrupulous, strict
Proto-Brythonic *krunn = round
Welsh (Cymraeg) crwn [krʊn] = round, circular, rotund, spherical, globular; cylindrical; fat, plump, fleshy; complete, entire; young, small
Cornish (Kernewek) krenn = round
Breton (Brezhoneg) krenn = medium, clean, full, round,

Etymology: unknown, possibly borrowed from a non-Indo-European language [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

On the roundabout / Ar y cwmpasog

Wickedly Bad

By Simon

Words for bad in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *drukos = bad
Old Irish (Goídelc) droch [drox] = bad
Irish (Gaeilge) droch = bad, poor, evil, ill
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) droch [drɔx] = bad, evil, wicked
Manx (Gaelg) drogh = evil, wicked, bad, abusive, unenviable, misfortune, badness
Proto-Brythonic *drug = bad
Welsh (Cymraeg) drwg [druːɡ] = bad, rotten, putrid, poor, piteous, wretched, sorry, grievous, sad; unfavourable, injurious, harmful, unpleasant, indecent, obscene, counterfeit, false, harsh, cruel, severe, ruthless
Cornish (Kernewek) drog = bad, evil, invalid, naughty, wicked, nasty
Breton (Brezhoneg) drouk [ˈdruːk] = bad, evil

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ- (to deceive) [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