Side by Side

19th May 2026 By Simon

In this post we’re looking at words for side, flank and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*toibos = side
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tóeb, táeb, toíb, taeb [ˈt̪oːi̯β / ˈt̪aːi̯β / ˈt̪oːi̯β] = side strong>lettáeb [ˈl̠ʲe.t̪aːi̯β] = side
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	taeb, tóib, tóeb, tuib = side, direction, part, region taebán, tóeban = little side, side, rafter
Irish (Gaeilge)	taobh [t̪ˠeːvˠ / t̪ˠiːvˠ] = side, border, edge, flank, aspect, direction, region, point of view, attitude, party, team, faction, cause, line of descent, reliance, dependence, recourse, resort taobhach = lateral, trusting, partial, biased taobhacht = trustfulness, confidence, tendentiousness, partiality taobhagán = hypotenuse taobhaí = companion, adherent, supporter taobhaigh = to draw near, approach, side with, support, rely on, trust, entrust to, urge, enjoin taobhaíocht = support taobhaitheoir = supporter, sympathizer aontaobhach = unilateral déthaobhach = bilateral, double-sided comhthaobhach = collateral leataobh = one side (of two), lay-by leataobhach = one-sided, lopsided, tilted, partial, biased do leataobh, i leataobh = aside
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	taobh [tɯːv] = side, flank, angle, aspect, facet, direction, way, point of view, liking, partiality, coast taobh a-muigh = outside, exterior taobh a-staigh = inside, interior aon-taobhach = one-sided, unilateral dà-thaobhach = double-sided, duplex, bilateral co-thaobhach [kɔ hɯːvəx] = aligning, collateral ri taobh = beside, by the side of, by, next to
Manx (Gaelg)	çheu [tʃeu] = side, beam, standpoint, page çheumooie = outside, without, outboard, exterior çheusthie = inside, within, indoor, interior, inland, inner un-çheuagh = unilateral daa-heuagh = bilateral co’heuagh = collateral
Proto-Brythonic	*tʉβ = side
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	tu = side
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tu = side tú há, tu a, tua, tv ac = towards, facing tu dalen, tvdalen = page
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tu [tɨː / tiː] = side, edge, flank, direction, area, district, region, place, point of view tu allan / tu fas = outside, exterior tu mewn = inside tu ôl = behind tua [tɨː.a / tiː.a] = towards, facing, around, in relation to, about, approximately tuaf, tuo = to tend, incline, side, lean towards, direct tudalen [tɨ̞ˈdalɛn / tɪˈdaːlɛn] = page (one side of a leaf of a book)
Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak)	tu = side, part, region tuhe, tyha = towards
Cornish (Kernewek)	tu [tyː / tiˑʊ] = side, direction, bearing tu a-ves = exterior tuedh = tendency, trend tuedha (troha / war-tu ha) = to tend (towards) tuedhder = orientation heptu [hɛpˈtyː / həpˈtiˑʊ] = neutral, nonaligned untu [ˈʏnty / ˈɪntɪʊ] = unilateral, one-sided war-tu = towards
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	tu = side tu-hont, tuhont = over there
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tu [tyː] = side, direction tu-hont = over there tuad = side, direction tuadur = position, location, orientation

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teygʷ- (flank, side). Words from the same PIE root possibly include стегно [steːɡno] (thigh) in Serbian, and stehno (thigh) in Czech [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

Directly Straight

12th May 202612th May 2026 By Simon

In this post we’re looking at words for straight, direct and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	díriuch [ˈd̠ʲiː.ɾʲux] = direct, straight, straightforward, upright strong>dírgid = to direct, guide, straighten
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	díriuch, dírech = direct, straight, straightforward, upright, just, right dírgas = righteousness, uprightness dírge, dírga = directing, straightness, directness dírgid = to straighten, to make straight, to direct, to aim, to guide
Irish (Gaeilge)	díreach [ˈdʲiːɾʲəx / ˈdʲiːɾʲa(h)] = straight, straightforwardness, straight course; straight, direct, just, exact(ly) díríocht = straightness, directness, uprightness díritheach = directing, rectifying díritheoir = director
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dìreach [dʲiːrʲəx] = straight, direct, just, directly, vertical, erect, upright, forthright dìreachadh [dʲiːrʲəxəɣ] = (act of) making straight, straightening dìreachd [dʲirʲəxg] = straightness dìrich [dʲiːrʲɪç] = make straight, straighten
Manx (Gaelg)	jeeragh [ˈdʒiːrax] = straight, straightforward, rigid, lineal, sincere, faithful, candid, honest, frank, direct, just, true, due, strict, exact, precise, erect, plumb, point-blank jeereyder = director, straightener jeerid = straightness, directness, strictness, sincerity, honesty jeerys = right, straightness, justice, rigidity

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Celtic *rego- (to extend, stretch, straighten), from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃réǵ-u-s ~ *h₃r̥ǵ-éw-s (straight), from *h₃réǵ (to straighten, to righten) [source]. Words from the same PIE root possibly include reacht (law) in Irish, cyfraith (law) in Welsh, direzione (direction, way, course) in Italian, and adress, adroit, correct, direct, dress, regular and right in English [source].

Proto-Celtic	* =
Old Irish (Goídelc)	seta = tall
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	seta, seda = long, slender, graceful
Irish (Gaeilge)	seada = long, slender, graceful (graceful)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	syth, seth = straight, direct sythu = to straighten, stand up, stiffen sythter. sythder = straightness, erectness, rigidity, stiffness sythyedic = fixed, stiffened, starched
Welsh (Cymraeg)	syth [sɨːθ / siːθ] = straight, direct, immediate, upright, erect, vertical, perpendicular, steep, stiff, rigid, unbending, steady, righteous, honest sythaf, sythu = to straighten, stand up, stiffen sythder = straightness, erectness, rigidity, stiffness syth(i)edig = fixed, stiffened, starched
Cornish (Kernewek)	syth, seth = direct, upright

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *sísdeti (to be sitting down), from *sed- (to sit) [source]. [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	diŵyr, diwyr = straight, direct diwyro = to straighten, turn back
Welsh (Cymraeg)	diwyr, di-ŵyr [ˈdɪ.ʊɨ̯r / ˈdiː.ʊi̯r] = undeviating, straight, direct, unbiased, regular, constant, correct diwyraf, diwyro = to straighten, turn back diwyredd = straight, direct diwyro = without deviating or bending, unswerving, unerring, straight, direct
Cornish (Kernewek)	diwirhaval = unlikely, improbable
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	diguis, diuir = cruel
Breton (Brezhoneg)	diwir [ˈdiwir / ˈdiɥːir] = cruel, disloyal, unfair, false, deceitful diwirdik = one who is not sensitive diwirheñvel = unbelievable, improbable diwiridikaat = numb diwirion = inauthentic, insincere, unrealistic

Etymology: from Proto-Brythonic *gwuɨr, from Proto-Celtic *weiros (crooked), from the Proto-Indo-European *weh₁iros (turned, twisted), from *weh₁y- (to twist, wrap) [source]. See also the post about words for Crooked.

A Stack of Heaps

7th May 20267th May 2026 By Simon

In this post we’re looking at words for heap, pile, stack and related words, in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*dasti- = heap, pile
Gaulish	Condate = Condé (a place in France)
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	daiss, daise, dassaib, daisib = heap, pile, rick, stack (esp. of corn) tegdais, tegdas, techdais = house, dwelling, mansion, room, apartment, tabernacle, church
Irish (Gaeilge)	dais = heap, stack (literary) teaghais, teaghdhais house, dwelling, tabernacle, church, room, apartment
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dais [daʃ] = heap, pile, (bread loaf-shaped) rick, stack dais-fheòir = haystack, hayrick dais-eòrna = stack/rick of barley dasieadh [daʃəɣ] = (act of) heaping, piling up, making a rick or stack taigheadas [tɤjədəs] = residence, housing, housekeeping
Manx (Gaelg)	dash = small pile, heap
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	das, dais = rick, stack, mow, heap, pile das(s)wrn = heap, pile, rick
Welsh (Cymraeg)	das = rick, stack, mow, heap, pile das (o) wair = hayrick, haystack das (o) fawn = peat stack, turf pile dasag, dasu = to stack, rick, pile, heap up dasiad = a ricking daswl = pile, stack daswr = one who stacks, ricks, piles up or heaps up daswrn = heap, pile, rick
Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak)	tasurn = a pile of wood, a wood-rick
Cornish (Kernewek)	das = stack, rick das wora = haystack, hayrick dasa = to stack
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	desi = pile (?)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tes = stacking, pile tesañ = to pile up, stacking tesenn = stack, pile

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- (to do, put, place) [source]. Words from the same PIE root possibly include дело (delo – affair, matter) in Russian, dáil (tryst, betrothal, legislature) in Irish, Ort (place, location) in German, odd, family and theme in English, and hacer (to do, make) in Spanish [source].

Proto-Celtic	karnos, karnom = heap of stones, cairn, tomb, horn, antler
Gaulish	karnon = horn karnuātus = horned
Old Irish (Goídelc)	carn = heap, pile
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	carn, carnd = heap, mound, hillock carna(ig)id, carnait, carnaigit = to heap up, pile up
Irish (Gaeilge)	carn [kɑːɾˠn̪ˠ / kaːɾˠn̪ˠ] = heap, pile, cairn, great amount carnach = full of cairns, made up in heaps, cumulative carnadh = accumulation carnán [ˈkɑːɾˠn̪ˠɑːn̪ˠ] = (small) heap, mound
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	càrn [kaːrˠn̪ˠ] = cairn, heap of stones, pile (up), stack of corn càrnach [kaːrˠn̪ˠəx] = rocky, stony càrnadh [kaːrˠn̪ˠəɣ] = (act of) heaping, piling (up), hoarding, heap, pile (up), accumulating, accumulation
Manx (Gaelg)	carn = heap, cairn, stack of stone carnagh = cumulative carnane = heap, mound, dump, cairn, rampart carnaneagh = heaped, piled up, cumulus, cumuliform
Proto-Brythonic	*karn = a pile of stones, a cairn
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	carn, karn = cairn, barrow, tumulus, mound, rock, heap, pile carned(d), karned = cairn, tumulus, mound, heap, pile, ruin
Welsh (Cymraeg)	carn [karn] = cairn, barrow, tumulus, mound, rock, heap, pile; drinking horn, handle carnedd [ˈkarnɛð] = cairn, tumulus, mound, heap, pile, ruin carneddaf, carneddu = to heap, pile, amass, accumulate carneddog, carneddol = abounding with heaps of stones, rocky carnen = a small cairn or tumulus
Old Cornish	carn =
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	carn = a rock, a rocky place, a high rock, a shelf in the sea, a heap of stones, the hilt, handle of an instrument
Cornish (Kernewek)	karn = rock-pile, tor, carn, heap of rock karnedh = cairn
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	carn = cairn, tumulus, horn (?)
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	carn = cairn, tumulus, horn
Breton (Brezhoneg)	karn = cairn, tumulus, horn

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂- (head, top, horn) [source]. Words from the same roots include cairn in English and Scots, procrastinate, cranium and giraffe in English, corne (horn) in French and krowa (cow) in Polish [source].

Shearing Fleeces

1st May 20261st May 2026 By Simon

Words for fleece, shearing and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*knawī = fleece
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cnaí = fleece
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cnaí, cnai, cnái = fleece
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cnuachd [krũə̃çgʲ] = lump, head, brow, forehead, shock (of hair)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cnu, cnuf, knu = fleece, clipping, a shearing cnaif, knaif = a shearing, clipping, carnage, fleece, shred
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cnu(f) = fleece cnufiaf, cnufio = to wrap up fleeces after shearing cnu(f)og = woolly, bushy, fleecy, fleeced, fleece-like cnuwch = bush of hair or fur, tuft, periwig; gammon of bacon, hock cnaif = a shearing, clipping, carnage, fleece, shred cneif(i)af, cneif(i)o = to shear, fleece, shave, clip, reap
Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak)	cneu, cnêu = a fleece
Cornish (Kernewek)	knew = fleece
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	creon = fleece
Breton (Brezhoneg)	krew, kreoñ = fleece kreoñañ = to cover oneself with fleece kreoñasenn = mop of hair kreoñek = (one) who has a fleece

Etymology: possibly related to Proto-Celtic *knā-yo- (to bite, chew) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*luxsmos = bare
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lomm [ˈl̪om] = bare lommraid = to shear off, strip off, cut off
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	lomm, lom = bare, naked, smooth, exact, threadbare lommrad, lommairt, lomra, lomrad = act of stripping, making bare, act of shearing (sheep), fleece, act of plundering, (literary) extract
Irish (Gaeilge)	lom [l̪ˠəumˠ / l̪ˠomˠ] = bare thing, bareness, openness, exposure, nakedness, poverty lomadh = baring, shearing, stripping, denudation, improvishment, fleecing lomair = to shear, fleece, denude, despoil lomra = fleece, mop (of hair) lomrach = fleecy, woolly lomrachán = shorn sheep, naked person, poor, ill-clad person lomracht = fleeciness, woolliness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lom [l̪ˠɔum~l̪ˠuimə] = bare, naked, nude, bleak, plain, unadorned, defenceless, destitute, gaunt, meagre, threadbare, leafless lomadair [l̪ˠomədɪrʲ] = (act of) shearer, shearing, shave lomadh [l̪ˠoməɣ] = (act of) shaving, shearing, shave lomair [l̪ˠomɛrʲ] = fleece lomaire [l̪ˠomɪrʲə] = shearer, mower
Manx (Gaelg)	lhome = bare, nude, meagre, naked, bald, spare loamragh = fleecy, fleeced, woolly loamrey = fleece, wool, shear, shearing, fell loamyr = shear lommyrt = shearing, shear, clipping
Proto-Brythonic	*llum = bare (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llum, llwm, llom = devoid, bare, barren, naked, threadbare, worn, ragged
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llwm = devoid, bare, barren, naked, threadbare, worn, ragged
Cornish (Kernewek)	lomm, lobm = bare, naked, unproductive lommhe, lobmhe = to bare, to strip bare lomder = bareness
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	lom = drop
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	loum, lom = drop
Breton (Brezhoneg)	lomm [lɔmː] = drop, sip (of drink), modest quantity, insignificant, nothing lomm-ha-lomm = little by little, step by step lommig [ˈlɔ̃mːik] = small drop, modest quantity, insignificant

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *lewp- (to strip, peel). Words from the same roots include lupt (to peel, eat) in Latvian, and maybe loupit (to plunder, to rob) in Czech, and лупить (to peel, beat, thrash, fleece) in Russian [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Teanglann.ie, Am Faclair Beag, An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Gaelg Corpus, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, TermOfis

Brittle Fragility

24th April 202624th April 2026 By Simon

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

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*briskos = brittle, fragile
Old Irish (Goídelc)	brisc = brittle, fragile
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	brisc = brittle, fragile, easily broken brisce = brittleness, brittle matter
Irish (Gaeilge)	briosc [bʲɾʲisˠk] = brittle, crisp, brisk, lively, ready, good-natured briosca = biscuit brioscaigh = to crisp brioscán = crisp (potato chip) brioscarnach = crunching, crackling, crunch, crackle brioslach = brittle thing(s)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	brisg [brʲiʃgʲ] = crisp, brittle, fragile, frangible, brisk, lively brisge(achd) [brʲiʃgʲə(xg)] = brittleness, fragility brisgean [brʲiʃgʲan] = gristle brisgeanan = crisps
Manx (Gaelg)	brishlagh = frangible, fragile, crips, brittle, breakable, easily broken brishtagh = bankrupt, brittle brishlid = crispness, brittleness, fragility, fatigue
Proto-Brythonic	*brɨsk = brittle, fragile (?)
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	bresq = brittle, fragile brechder = fragility
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bresk [bresk] = brittle, fragile, weak breskaat = to weaken breskadurezh = fragility breskted [ˈbresk.tet] = fragility, precariousness

Etymology: uncertain [source].

Proto-Celtic	*bruso- = fragile
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	breu, brau = brittle, fragile, weak, frail breulyt, breu-lyd = brittle, fragile, weak, frail, rotting breuaỽl, breuawl = brittle, fragile, weak, frail, broken, fleeting, transient, rotting, crumbly breuolaeth, breuolyaeth = brittleness, fragility, frailty, weakness
Welsh (Cymraeg)	brau [braɨ̯ / brai̯] = brittle, fragile, weak, frail, withered, perishable (goods), tender (meat), short (pastry), loose (soil); generous, free, kindly, unsparing, easy; ready, swift, quick; fine, refined, elegant breuedig = brittle, fragile breuhau = to make or become brittle or fragile, to crumble, rot, perish, tenderize breul(l)yd = brittle, fragile, weak, frail, rotting breuol = brittle, fragile, weak, frail, broken, fleeting, transient, rotting, crumbly breuol(i)aeth = brittleness, fragility, frailty, weakness, precariousness, mortality, death
Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak)	brau = brittle

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrus- (to break (apart), to shred) [source].

Cornish (Kernewek)	hedor = fragile hedoreth = fragilility
Breton (Brezhoneg)	hedorr [ˈheː.dɔr] = fragile, breakable

Etymology (Breton): from torr (broken) in Breton. Related to torri (to break, cut) in Welsh [source].

Dukes

15th April 202615th April 2026 By Simon

Words for duke and related things.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Middle Irish	diúc, diúic, diúice = leader, governor, duke diúicecht, diúiceacht = duchy
Irish (Gaeilge)	diúc, diúic [dʲuːk] = duke bandiúc [dʲuːk] = duchess diúcacht, diúiceacht = dukedom, duchy
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	diùc [dʲuːxg] = shot, cast, throw, report (of gun) ban-diùc = duchess diùcachd = duchy, dukedom
Manx (Gaelg)	duic, diuic = duke bendiuic = duchess ard-duic = archduke duicaght = duchy
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	duc, dug, dvwc, duwc dyk = duke, chief of a tribe, leader, captain dugiaeth, dukiaeth = dukedom, duchy, chiefdom, leadership
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dug [dɨːɡ / diːɡ] = duke, chief of a tribe, leader, captain duges = duchess dugiaeth, du(w)ciaeth = dukedom, duchy, chiefdom, leadership dugiol, duwciol = ducal
Cornish (Kernewek)	duk = duke dukes = duchess duketh = duchy
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	duc = duke duches, ducgez = duchess
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dug = duke dugez = duchess dugaj, dugelezh = duchy dugal = ducal

Etymology: from Middle English duk(e) (leader, guide, noble, duke), from Old French duc (duke), from Latin dux (leader, head, commander, general, captain, prince, ruler), from dūcō (to lead, guide), from Proto-Italic *doukō (to lead), from PIE *déwkti (to pull, draw, lead), *dewk- (to pull, draw, lead). The Breton words probably come from Middle or Old French [source].

Words from the same roots include duct, team, tether, tie and tow in English, touer (to tug or tow a ship, to haul a barge) in French, duque (duke) in Spanish, Zug (procession, train, pull, yank) in German, and dwyn (to steal, take, bring to) in Welsh [source].

Thrusting Throws

8th April 20268th April 2026 By Simon

Words for thrust, throw and related things.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*ɸarekoros = shot, thrust, throw
Old Irish (Goídelc)	airchor = cast, extension, shot, spear cast, stone’s throw (distance)
Middle Irish	airchor, airchair, aurchor = to put forward, extend, cast, shot
Irish (Gaeilge)	urchar [ˈuɾˠəxəɾˠ] = cast, shot
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	urchair [uruxɪrʲ] = shot, cast, throw, report (of gun) urchaireachd [uruxɪrʲəxg] = shooting
Manx (Gaelg)	orraghey = flight, shot, charge, sling, discharge, bolt, throw, cast
Proto-Brythonic	*ėrgör = assault, blow
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ergyr = thrust, push, onset, assault, attack, vanguard, host ergyrchgat = attacking host, battle
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ergyr = thrust, push, onset, assault, attack, vanguard, host ergyrch = onset, attack, fit ergyrchgad = attacking host, battle ergyr(io) = to rush, attack, thrust, push, drive
Old Cornish	ercor = thrust, push
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	ercor = (?)

Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *ɸare- (for(e)-) and *koros (putting, casting), from PIE *(s)ker- (to turn) [source]. Words from the same roots include cor (twist, turn, cast) in Irish, cur (placing, laying, throwing) in Scottish Gaelic, share, shear, shot in English, déchirer (to tear, rip up) in French, and ysgaru (to separate, split, divorce) in Welsh [source].

Nits

10th March 202610th March 2026 By Simon

Words for nit and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	snidā = nit snidākos = full of nits
Old Irish (Goídelc)	sned = shoulder
Middle Irish	sned, snid = nit snedach, sneadach = nitty, full of nits
Irish (Gaeilge)	sniodh = nit sneách = nitty sneáchán = person with nits in his hair, contemptible person sneáidíos = ants
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sneadh [ʃ̪nʲɤɣ] = nit (egg of a louse) sneadhag [ʃ̪nʲɤɣag] = nit (egg of a louse) snig [ʃ̪nʲigʲ] = nit (egg of a louse) sneadhach [ʃ̪nʲɤɣəx] = pertaining to or abounding in nits, nit-like
Manx (Gaelg)	sneig, sneing = nit, louse egg sniegagh, sniengagh = nitty
Proto-Brythonic	neð = nit (?) neðọg = full of nits (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	nedd, ned = nits nedawc = full of nits
Welsh (Cymraeg)	nedd [neːð] = nits nedden [ˈnɛðɛn / ˈneːðɛn] = nit neddog = full of nits
Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak)	nedh, nêdh = nits nedhan = nit
Cornish (Kernewek)	nedh = nits nedhen = nit
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	nez = nits nezenn, nezen = nit nezeuc = full of nits
Breton (Brezhoneg)	nez = nits nezenn = nit nezek = full of nits

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *-níd- (nit, louse egg) [source]. Words from the same roots include nit in English, gnīda (nit, maggot) in Latvian, hnida (nit) in Czech, and neet (nit, egg of louse) in Dutch, Nisse (nit) in German and thëri (nit) in Albanian [source].

Childish Infants

25th February 2026 By Simon

Words for baby, infant and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	lenab = baby, child, infant lenbaide = childish, puerile lenbaidecht = childishness, childish pursuits, childish play
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	lenap, lenab, lenam, lenb, lenbh, lenabh = baby, child, infant; young man, youth, boy lenbán, lelbán = infant, young child lenbdacht = infancy, childhood, childish pursuits lenbaide, lenbhaidhe = childish, puerile lenbaidecht, lenmaidecht = childishness, childish pursuits, childish play
Irish (Gaeilge)	leanbh [ˈlʲan̪ˠəvˠ / ˈl̠ʲanˠu(ː)] = child leanbaí = child-like, innocent, childish, puerile leanbaí = childhood, childishness, puerility leanb(h)án = little child, baby, darling leanbhaois = (age of) childhood, dotage
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	leanabh [l̪ʲɛnəv] = baby, (young) child, babe leanabhachd [l̪ʲɛnəbəxg] = infancy, childhood, childishness leanabhaidh [l̪ʲɛnəbɪ] = childish, infantile leanabhan [l̪ʲɛnəvan] = infant
Manx (Gaelg)	lhiannoo = baby, child, infant, family lhiannooagh = infantile, babyish, babylike, puerile, boyish; girlish, infantile

Etymology: unknown [source].

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	páitse, pāitside, pāitsidhe = a page, attendant, child
Irish (Gaeilge)	páiste [ˈpˠɑːʃtʲə / ˈpˠaːʃtʲə] = child páistiúil = child-like, childish páistiúilacht = childishness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	pàiste [paːʃdʲə] = child, infant pàistean [paːʃdʲan] = small infant pàisteanach [paːʃdʲanəx] = childish, infantile pàisteil [paːʃdʲal] = babyish
Manx (Gaelg)	paitçhey [ˈpɛːtʃə] = child, brat, kid, (boy) page

Etymology: from Old French page (page – youth attending a person of high degree), from Late Latin pagius (a servant), possibly from Latin pāgus (district, region, countryside, countryfolk), or from Ancient Greek παιδίον (paidíon – young child) [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	báb = baby, maiden (maiden) bábán = small baby bábánta = babyish, innocent bábóg [ˈbˠabˠɔɡ] = doll
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bàban† = baby
Manx (Gaelg)	babban = baby, babe, doll
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	baban = baby, infant, doll, puppet
Welsh (Cymraeg)	baban [ˈba(ː)ban] = baby, infant, doll, puppet babanaidd = infant(ile), babyish, childish, childlike babandod [baˈbandɔd] = babyhood, infancy, childhood, babyishness, childishness babanu = to baby, coddle, pamper, spoil, cherish
Middle Cornish (Cernewec . Kernuak)	baban = babe, child
Cornish (Kernewek)	baban [ˈba.ban] = baby, baby doll babi = baby
Breton (Brezhoneg)	babig(ed), baba = baby babigour = childcare worker babik = childish, babyish, puerile

Etymology: from Middle English babe, baban (baby, infant), and/or Old English *baba (a male child), from Proto-West Germanic *babō, from Proto-Germanic *babô. Words from the same roots include baby and babe in English baby (baby) in Dutch, baby (table football, baby, darling, sweetheart) in French, and baby (child, baby, small shot of whisky, tripod) in Italian [source].

For other words for child(ren) see the Cowherd, boy, child post.

Separation

28th January 2026 By Simon

Words for to separate, to split and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*skarati = to separate, to divide
Old Irish (Goídelc)	scaraid = to part, to separate, to sever etar·scara = to separate, to depart etarscarthae = separated
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	scarad, scarthain = act of separating, parting, departing, escaping scaraid, scart, scarad, scarthain = to separate, to part, to sever, to spread out, to unfold, to depart scarthach, scarthanach, sgartanach = separated, severed
Irish (Gaeilge)	scar [ˈskaɾˠ] = to part, separate, spread scaradh = separation, spreading scaradóir = spreader scartha = to separate scarúil = separative, separable scarúnaí = separatist
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sgar [sgar] = separate, divide, part, detach, sever, sunder, segregate sgarach [sgarəx] = separatist, schismatic, having cracks, fissures sgarachdach = separatist sgarachdainn [sgarəxgɪn̪ʲ] = (act of) separating, severing sgaradaiche [sgarədɪçə] = separatist sgaradair [sgarədɪrʲ] = separator, spacer
Manx (Gaelg)	scarr = to separate, to take away, parted, separated, divided scarrey = separation, disjunction, parting, secession, segregate, severence, spacing scarrey rish = to break away, part with, separate scarrit = detached, disconnected, parted, separated, spaced, sundry scarrt = parted, separated scart = apart, detached, disjoined, separate, divided, divorced
Proto-Brythonic	*ɨskarad = (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ysgar, yscar = separating, dividing, separation, division, split ysgar, yscar = to separate, divide, part yscaredic, ysgaredig = divorced, separated, apart yscarieth = divorce, separation, divion, split, miscarriage
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ysgar [əsˈɡar] = separating, dividing, separation, division, split, divorce, leaving, (de)parting ysgaradwy = separable, divorceable (y)sgaraf, (y)sgaru = to separate, divide, part, divorce ysgaredig = divorced, separated, apart ysgariad, ysgariaeth = divorce, separation, divion, split, miscarriage
Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak)	squardhy, squardye, squerdyé = to tear, to rend, to break to pieces, to be torn, to be rent, to be broken to piece
Cornish (Kernewek)	skward = laceration, rent, rip, slit, tear skwardya = to rip, to tear keskar = separation
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	scarat = split, separation
Breton (Brezhoneg)	skarat = split, separation, crack skarad = scission skarata = to make scissors, to compromise

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kerH- (to cut off, sever, separate, divide) [source]. Words from the same roots include (to) shear, carrion, carnage in English, chair (flesh) in French, carne (flesh, meat) in Spanish, and skirti (to separate, distinguish, devote) in Lithuanian, harr (to weed (out), prune, rid) in Albanian [source].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Tag: Welsh

Side by Side

Directly Straight

A Stack of Heaps

Shearing Fleeces

Brittle Fragility

Dukes

Thrusting Throws

Nits

Childish Infants

Separation