Category: Verbs

To Hear

By Simon

Words for to hear in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *klinuti = to hear
Old Irish (Goídelc) ro·cluinethar = to be hearing
Irish (Gaeilge) cluin [lʲeːɟ] = to hear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cluinn [kl̪ˠɯin̪ʲ] = to hear
Manx (Gaelg) cluin = to hear
Etymology from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱl̥néwti (to hear) [source]. Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary
Proto-Celtic *klusīti = to hear
Proto-Brythonic *klüwid [klyˈwiːd] = to hear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) clywet / clybot = to hear
Welsh (Cymraeg) clywed [ˈkləu̯ɛd] = to hear
Cornish (Kernewek) klewes [‘klɛwɛs] = to hear, feel, sense, perceive
Middle Breton klewed = to hear
Breton (Brezhoneg) klevet = to hear
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱlews- (to hear) [source]. Sources: Wiktionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

To Die

By Simon

Words for to die in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *marwos = dead
Old Irish (Goídelc) marb = dead; mortified, insensible, spiritually dead; stagnant (water)
Irish (Gaeilge) marbh [ˈmˠɑɾˠəvˠ / ˈmˠarˠuː / ˈmˠarˠu] = dead person, dead, inert, exhausted, inactive, motionless, slack, idle, unused
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) marbh [marav] = dead, lifeless; dull; benumbed, torpid; vapid, tasteless; to kill, murder, assassinate
Manx (Gaelg) marroo = to kill, kill off, dispatch, murder, assassinate, slaughter, liquidate, butcher, slay, exterminate, bag (game); dead, lifeless, inanimate, glassy (look), muggy, dull (pain), dud, dull, stagnant, defunct, mortified, slaughtered, departed, deceased, killed, extinct
Proto-Brythonic marw [ˈmarw] = to die
Welsh (Cymraeg) marw = to die, expire, cease to exist, vanish, fade away
Cornish (Kernewek) merwel [‘mɛrwɛl / ‘mɛrwɐl] = to die, decease, pass away, go out (light)
Middle Breton marf / maru = to die
Breton (Brezhoneg) mervel = to die, turn off, switch off, go out, become insensitive

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *mer- (to die), which is also the root of the English words mare, as in nightmare, and murder [source].

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

Irish (Gaeilge) básaigh = to die, put to death, execute
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bàsaich [baːsɪç] = to die, perish, starve, wither
Manx (Gaelg) geddyn baase = to die, perish, decease

Etymology: from the Irish bás (death), from the Proto-Celtic *bāstom / bāssom (death), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷeh₂- (to go) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie

To Come

By Simon

Words for to come in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) doicc [doˈhʲiɡʲ] = to come, approach
Irish (Gaeilge) tar [t̪ˠaɾˠ] = to come, survive
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) thig [higʲ] = to come, become, suit, fit, befit, agree with, please, recover, escape
Manx (Gaelg) tar = to come

Etymology: from the Old Irish to- (to, towards) and icc [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie

Welsh (Cymraeg) dod [dɔd / doːd] = to come, arrive, happen, become, develop
dŵad = North Wales version of dod
dyfod = literary version of dod
Cornish (Kernewek) dos [dɔ:z] = to come, arrive
Breton (Brezhoneg) donet / dont [dɔ̃nt] = to come, become, come back, happen, derive from

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

To Drink

By Simon

Words for to drink in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *ɸibeti = to drink
Gaulish ibetis = to drink
Old Irish (Goídelc) ibid [ˈivʲiðʲ] = to drink, to suckle
Irish (Gaeilge) ibh = to drink
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ibh = to drink
Manx (Gaelg) iu = to drink, imbibe, tipple, quaff
Proto-Brythonic *ɨβɨd [ɨˈβɨːd] = to drink
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) yuet = to drink
Welsh (Cymraeg) yfed [ˈəvɛd] = to drink
Cornish (Kernewek) eva [‘ɛva / ‘ɛvɐ] = to drink, absorb
Old Breton evaff = to drink
Middle Breton yvet = to drink
Breton (Brezhoneg) evañ [ˈe.vɑ̃] = to drink

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *píph₃eti (to drink) [source].

Proto-Celtic *ɸotlom = to drink
Old Irish (Goídelc) ól [oːl] = to drink
Irish (Gaeilge) ól [oːl̪ˠ / oːl / ɔːl̪ˠ] = to drink
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) òl [ɔːl̪ˠ] = to drink, sup, absorb
Manx (Gaelg) oyl = to drink

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pōtlo- / *péh₃tlom, from *peh₃- (to drink) [source].

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

To Eat

By Simon

Words for to eat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *ɸiteti = to eat
Old Irish (Goídelc) ithid = to eat
Irish (Gaeilge) ith [ɪ / ɪh / iː] = to eat, feed, graze; bite; corrode, erode; comsume, destroy; abuse, scold, revile; chew
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ith [iç] = to eat; gnaw, chew, devour; corrode; consume
Manx (Gaelg) ee [iː] = to eat, consume, feed

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *peyt- (food, nutrition) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Teaglann.ie

Cornish (Kernewek) debri [dɛbri] = to eat
dybri [dɪbri] = to eat
Breton (Brezhoneg) debriñ [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = to eat

Note: the Welsh for to eat is bwyta [ˈbʊɨ̯ta / ˈbʊi̯ta], which comes from bwyd (food) [source].

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

To Write

By Simon

Words for to write in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) scríbaid = to write
Irish (Gaeilge) scríobh [ʃcɾʲiːvˠ / ʃcɾʲiːw] = to write, fill in, fill out, compose
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) sgrìobh [sgrʲiːv] = to write, compose a book, record, engrave
Manx (Gaelg) screeu = to write, scribe, pen, document, inscribe
Welsh (Cymraeg) ysgrifennu [əsɡrɪˈvɛnɨ̞ / əsɡrɪˈvɛni] = to write, note (down)
Cornish (Kernewek) skrifa [‘skrifa / ‘skrifɐ ] = to write
Breton (Brezhoneg) skrivañ = to write

Etymology: from Latin scrībō (I write), from Proto-Italic *skreiβō (to carve), from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreybʰ- (to scratch, tear) [source].

Note: the Welsh word ysgrifennu is often abbreviated to sgrifennu or sgwennu is colloquial Welsh.

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

To Read

By Simon

Words for to read in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) légaid = to read, study, read aloud, recite
Irish (Gaeilge) léigh [lʲeːɟ] = to read
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) leugh [l̪ːev] = to read
Manx (Gaelg) lhaih [ˈkaːðəl] = to read
Welsh (Cymraeg) llên [ɬeːn] = literature, lore
darllen [ˈdarɬɛn / ˈdarɬɛn] = to read, peruse; read aloud; learn; discern by observation, understand a person’s character; scrutinize
Cornish (Kernewek) lenna [‘lɛn:a / ‘lɛnɐ] = to read
Breton (Brezhoneg) lenn = to read

Etymology: from Latin legō (I read), from the Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (to gather) [source].

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

To Sleep

By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for sleep and related things in Celtic languages.

Curled up sleeping cat

Proto-Celtic *sounos [ˈsow.nos] = sleep
Gaulish *sounos = sleep
*Kissōnyos = Gaulish god associated with Mercury
Old Irish (Goídelc) súan [suːa̯n] = slumber, sleep
súanaid = to sleep
Irish (Gaeilge) suan [sˠuən̪ˠ] = sleep, slumber
sunach = lethargic, sluggish, apathetic, dormant
sunacht = dormancy
suanaí = sleeper, lethargic, sluggish, apathetic person
suanaíocht = dozing, torport, lethargy
suanán = doze, nap
suanchógas, suanlaíoch = soporific
suanlios = dormitory
suanmhar = sleepy, drowsy, somnolent
suansiúl = sleep-walking, somnambulism
suansiúlaí = sleep-walker, somnambulist
suantraí = lullaby
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) suain [suən̪ʲ] = deep/sound sleep, slumber
suain-lann = dormitory
suaineach = drowsy, sleepy
suainealeach = hypnotic
suainealas = hypnosis, hypnotism
suainealachadh = hypnotising, hypnotism
Manx (Gaelg) saveen = doze, nap, slumber
saveeney = to doze
saveeney, saveenaghey = slumber
saveen-hooyl = somnambulism
saveen-hooyleyder = somnambulist
Proto-Brythonic *hʉn [hʉn] = sleep
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) hun = sleep
hunav, hunaw, hunaf = to sleep
Welsh (Cymraeg) hun [hɨːn/hiːn] = sleep, slumber, nap, drowsiness, rest, death
hunaint = lethargy, sleeping-sickness, coma, apathy, torpor
huniad = a sleeping, sleep
huno = to sleep, slumber, nap, fall asleep, die, fall into a state of apathy, indifference or unconcern
hunog, hunol = slumbering, sleepy, drowsy, sleeper, drowsy person
hun-gân = lullaby
Old Cornish hun = sleep
Middle Cornish hun = sleep
Cornish (Kernewek) hun = sleep
hungan = lullaby
Middle Breton hun = sleep
Breton (Brezhoneg) hun = sleep, nap
hunva = dormitory
hunvaleer = somnambulist, sleep walker
hunvre = dream
hunwezher = sleeping pill
hun don = deep sleep

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *supnós (sleep, death), from *swep- (to sleep) [source].

From the same PIE root we get the Latin word cancer (crab, tumor, cancer, lattice, grid), and related words in other languages, such as cancer, canker and incarcerate in English, cangrejo (crab) and cáncer (cancer) in Spanish [source].

Proto-Celtic *toleyo- = sleep
Old Irish (Goídelc) cotlud = sleeping, sleep
Irish (Gaeilge) codail [ˈkɔd̪ˠɪlʲ / ˈkʌd̪ˠɪlʲ] = to sleep
codlatach = sleepy, drowsy, dormant
codlatacht = sleepiness, drowsiness
codlatán = sleeper, sleepy-head, hibernating creature
codlatóir = sleeper
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) caidil [kadʲɪl] = to sleep, slumber, repose, delay
cadal = sleeping, slumbering, sleep, slumber
codaltach = dozy, drowsy, sleepy, soporific
Manx (Gaelg) caddil [ˈkaːðəl] = to sleep
cadley = sleep, sleepiness, asleep, dormant, unawakened

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)tel- (to be still) [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Teaglann.ie

Proto-Celtic *kuɸsketi, *kuf-sko- = to sleep
Proto-Brythonic *kuskɨd = to sleep
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) kesku, kyscwyt = to sleep
cwsg, cwsc = sleep
Welsh (Cymraeg) cysgu [ˈkəsɡɨ̞ / ˈkəsɡi] = to sleep, slumber, fall asleep; to fall into the sleep of death, to die; to be or become numb, to be torpid; to fall into a state of apathy, indifference or unconcern
cwsg = sleep, slumber, rest, dormancy, numbness, insensitiveness
cysgadur = sleeper, lazy and drowsy person, sleepy-head, hibernating animal
Cornish (Kernewek) koska [‘kɔska / ‘kʊskɐ] = to sleep
kosk = sleep
yn kosk = asleep
sagh-koska = sleeping bag
Breton (Brezhoneg) kousket = to sleep
kousked = sleep
kouskerez = sleeping
sac’h-kousket = sleeping bag, duvet

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ḱewb- (to bend, turn) [source]. The English word hip comes from the same PIE root, as does the Albanian word sup (shoulder) [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

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To See & To Be

By Simon

Today we’re looking at the verbs to be and to see, and related words, in Celtic languages. This verb is one of the few irregular verbs in the Celtic languages. Different parts of the conjugated forms come from different roots.

bee

Proto-Celtic *buyeti = to be, become
Gaulish biiete = to be
Old Irish (Goídelc) bí [bʲiː] = to be
Irish (Gaeilge) bí [bʲiː] = to be, exist (conjugation)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bi [bi] = to be, exist (conjugation)
Manx (Gaelg) bee [biː] = to be
Proto-Brythonic *bujɨd = to be, become
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) bot = to be
Welsh (Cymraeg) bod [boːd] = to be (conjugation)
bodaeth = existence, the state of being, ontology; a being, living creature
bodiad = (the state of) being, existence
bodiadol = being, existing, present (tense)
Cornish (Kernewek) bos [ˈbɔːz] = to be, become, exist (conjugation)
Old Breton bout/bud/but = to be
Breton (Brezhoneg) bezañ [ˈbe.zɑ̃] = to be (conjugation)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (to become, grow, appear) [source], which is also the root of such English words as wise, wit, view, vision, video, guide, druid and history [source].

Proto-Celtic *tāti = to be (stative)
Old Irish (Goídelc) at·tá [atˈtaː] = to be, have
Irish (Gaeilge) tá [t̪ˠæː] = am/is/are (present tense of the verb bí (to be) in the affirmative form)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) tha [ha] = am/is/are (present tense of the verb bi (to be) in the affirmative form)
Manx (Gaelg) ta [ta] = am/is/are (present tense of the verb bee (to be) in the affirmative form)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) tau = to be
Welsh (Cymraeg) taw [taːu̯ / tau̯] = that, being, existing, present (tense)
Middle Cornish otte/atta [ˈbɔːz] = that (?)
Old Breton to = that (?)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-(t) (to stand (up)) [source].

Proto-Celtic *weleti = to see
*wele = see (imperative)
*weless = seer, poet
Primitive Irish ᚃᚓᚂᚔᚈᚐᚄ (velitas) = poet
Old Irish (Goídelc) fil [fʲilʲ] = am/is/are (present progressive conjunct of at·tá)
fili [ˈfʲilʲi] = poet, seer
filidecht / filedacht [ˈfʲilʲəð(ʲ)əxt] = poetry, divination
Irish (Gaeilge) bhfuil [vˠɪlʲ / wɪlʲ] = am/is/are (present affirmative form of the verb bí)
níl [n̠ʲiːlʲ] = am not/is not/are not (present negative form of the verb bí) – from ní fhuil
file = poet, satirist, scold
filíocht = poetry
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bheil [vel] = am/is/are (present affirmative form of the verb bi)
chan eil [xan̪ʲ el] = am not/is not/are not (present negative form of the verb bi)
filidh [filɪ] = poet, bard, minstrel
filidheachd [filɪjəxg] = poetry, versification, rhyming
Manx (Gaelg) vel [vel] = am/is/are (present affirmative form of the verb bee)
cha nel = am not/is not/are not (present negative form of the verb bee)
feelee [ˈfʲilʲi] = poet
feeleeaght = poetry
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) gwelet / guelud = to see
Welsh (Cymraeg) gweld [ɡwɛld] = to see, behold, perceive with the eyes, grasp intellectually, understand, visualize, imagine, view, inspect, interview, visit, inquire (conjugation)
gweledydd = seer, prophet, beholder
gweledig = in sight, visible, perceptible, seen, perceived
anweledig = invisible
Cornish (Kernewek) gweles [‘gwɛlɛs / ‘gwɛlɐz] = to see (conjugation)
gweladow = visible
anweladow = invisible
Breton (Brezhoneg) gwelet = to hear, keep an eye on, watch (conjugation)
gwelapi = visible
disgwel / diwel = invisible
rakwelet = to foresee, predict, preview

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *wel- (to see). This verb came to mean “there is” in Old Irish and its descendents, but continued to mean to see in the Brythonic languages [source].

Proto-Celtic *ad-kʷis-o- = to see
Old Irish (Goídelc) aicci = sees
Irish (Gaeilge) feic [fʲɛc] = to see
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) faic [fɛçgʲ] = to see, look, behold, observe
Manx (Gaelg) faik = to see

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kʷey- (to observe), or from *kʷes- (see) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, logainm.ie, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

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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