Words for estuary / mouth (of a river) in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *adberos = mouth, confluence (of a river) |
|---|---|
| Pictish | *ᚐᚁᚓᚏ (aber) = mouth, confluence (of a river) |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | abar [ˈfʲilʲi] = confluence, river mouth |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | abar [ˈabˠəɾˠ] = boggy ground, morass abarach = boggy, muddy, sloughy abracht = boggy place |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | abar / obar = confluence, place where two or more streams meet; marsh, bog, fen |
| Manx (Gaelg) | aber = range, pasturage, river mouth, bunker, run |
| Proto-Brythonic | *aber [aˈbɛːr] = mouth, confluence (of a river) |
| Old Welsh) | oper, aper = estuary, mouth of a river |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | aber = estuary, mouth of a river |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | aber [ˈabɛr/ˈaːbɛr] = river mouth, estuary, confluence, bay, harbour, port, anchorage |
| Old Cornish | aber = estuary, mouth of a river |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | aber = confluence of waters, the junction of rivers |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | aber = river mouth |
| Old Breton | aperou = estuary, mouth of a river |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | aber = estuary, mouth of a river, confluence, creek |
Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *ad- (to(wards), at) and *beros (bearer, flow) [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *eni-berom = carrying in |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | *in(d)ber = river mouth |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | inber, indber, inbir = rivermouth |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | inbhear / inbhir [ˈabˠəɾˠ] = river mouth, estuary, firth inbhearach = having many estuaries |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | inbhir [in̪ʲɪrʲ] = estuary, river mouth, (internet) feed |
| Manx (Gaelg) | inver = estuary, river mouth |
Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *eni- (in) and *beros (bearer, flow), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (to bear, carry) [source].
Notes
These words appear mainly in placenames such as Aberaeron, Abererch, Aberffraw, Abergavenny (Y Fenni), Abergynolwyn, Aberystwyth, Abergwaun (Fishguard), Aberhonddu (Brecon), Aberteifi (Cardigan), Aberdaugleddau (Milford Haven), Aberpennar (Mountain Ash) and Abertawe (Swansea) in Wales.
Aberdeen (Obar Dheathain) , Aberfeldy (Obar Pheallaidh), Aberfoyle (Obar Phuill), Abernethy (Obar Neithich), Arbroath (Aber Brothaig), Invergowrie (Inbhir Ghobharaidh), Inverkeithing (Inbhir Chèitinn), Inverness (Inbhir Nis), Inbhir Nàrann (Nairn), Inbhir Pheofharain (Dingwall), Inbhir Ùige (Wick) in Scotland.
Aber/Obar appear in Scottish placenames of Pictish origin, and may have been borrowed from Pictish. Inbhir/Inver appear in other placenames [source].
More details of placenames featuring Aber and Inver.
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | gáeth = the sea, a stream, an estuary |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | gáeth, gáoth, gaoth = the sea, a stream, an estuary gáethlach = marsh, swamp |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | gaoth [ɡeːh / ɡiːh] = inlet of sea, estuary Gaoth Dobhair [ɡiːˈd̪ˠoːɾʲ] = Gweedore (a parish in County Donegal) |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | geodha [gʲɔ.ə] = inlet, cove, gully (by the sea), indent(ation) |
| Manx (Gaelg) | giau = creek, inlet, cove Giau Vooar ny Pershey = Persian Gulf |
Etymology: possibly from the Old Norse gjá (chasm, rift, crack) [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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
