{"id":4194,"date":"2019-04-02T14:37:30","date_gmt":"2019-04-02T13:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/?p=4194"},"modified":"2025-09-27T14:23:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T13:23:20","slug":"king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/2019\/04\/02\/king\/","title":{"rendered":"Kings and Queens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Words for king<\/strong> and related things in Celtic languages.<\/p>\n

\"Brian
\nBrian Boru, High King of Ireland (1002-1014) \/ Brian B\u00f3ruma mac Cenn\u00e9tig, Ard-R\u00ed ar \u00c9irinn<\/em><\/p>\n

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n*r\u012bxs\/*rig-<\/strong> = king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Celtiberian<\/th>\nreikis<\/strong> = king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gaulish<\/th>\nr\u012bx<\/strong> = king – appears in names like Katur\u012bx, Su\u0101dur\u012bx, *Werkingetor\u012bx (Vercingetorix) and Asterix<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Primitive Irish<\/th>\n\u168f\u1694\u168c\u1690\u1684 (rigas) = (of the) king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc)<\/th>\nr\u00ed<\/strong> [r\u0348\u02b2i\u02d0] = king
\nr\u00edgdae<\/strong> = regal, kingly
\nr\u00edgd\u00fan<\/strong> = palace<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\nr\u00ed, r\u00edg, rig<\/strong> = king, head, chief
\nr\u00edg\u00e1n<\/strong> = a sub-king, chief
\nr\u00edgamail, rioghamhail<\/strong> = royal
\nr\u00edgdacht<\/strong> = kingliness, kingly qualities, a kingdom
\nr\u00edgda(e)<\/strong> = a royal dwelling place, palace
\nr\u00edgrach<\/strong> = = royal, kingly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\nr\u00ed<\/strong> [\u027e\u02e0i\u02d0] = king, sovereign, monarch
\nr\u00edoga<\/strong> = regal, royal
\nr\u00edora<\/strong> = kings, royal persons, royalty, dynasty<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Gaelic (G\u00e0idhlig)<\/th>\nr\u00ecgh<\/strong> [r\u032a\u02b2i\u02d0] = king
\nbanr\u00ecgh<\/strong> = queen
\n\u00e0rd-r\u00ecgh<\/strong> = high king
\nm\u00f2r-r\u00ecgh<\/strong> = emperor
\nr\u00ecoghachadh<\/strong> = reigning, reign
\nr\u00ecoghachd<\/strong> = kingdom, realm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\nree<\/strong> = king
\nreejerey<\/strong> = cavalier, chevalier, king, knight, lord, paladin, prince
\nreeoil<\/strong> = kinglike, monarchy, regal, royal
\nreeaght, reeriaght, riaght, ream<\/strong> = kingdom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n*ri\u0263<\/strong> [\u02c8ri\u02d0\u0263] = king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Welsh<\/th>\nrig<\/strong> = king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\nri, rhi<\/strong> = king
\nrhiaidd, rh\u00efaidd<\/strong> = regal, royal, noble, generous
\nrieu, riav<\/strong> = king, lord, ruler, chieftain
\nrriawdr, riawdr<\/strong> = lord, ruler, chieftain, God<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\nrhi<\/strong> [r\u0325i\u02d0] = king, prince, lord, ruler, chieftain
\nrhiaidd<\/strong> = regal, noble, aristocratic, dignified
\nrhiau<\/strong> = king, lord, ruler, chieftain
\nrhiawdr<\/strong> = lord, ruler, chieftain, God<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)<\/th>\nruy, ruif<\/strong> = king, sovereign, ruler
\nryal, real<\/strong> = royal, kingly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\nriel<\/strong> = regal, royal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Breton<\/th>\nri<\/strong> = king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Breton (Brezonec)<\/th>\nri, r\u00ed<\/strong> = king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\nri<\/strong> [\u02c8\u0281i\u02d0] = king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Etymology<\/strong>: from Proto-Indo-European *h\u2083r\u1e17\u01f5s<\/em> (king, ruler) [source<\/a>]. Words from the same Proto-Celtic root include rich<\/strong> in English, ryk<\/strong> (rich, wealthy) in Afrikaans, ricco<\/strong> (rich, wealthy, affluent) in Italian, riche<\/strong> (rich) in French, Reich<\/strong> (empire, realm) in German, and rikas<\/strong> (rich, wealthy, opulent, plentiful) in Finnish [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n

English words with the suffix -ric<\/em>, such as bishopric (a diocese or region of a church which a bishop governs), and comes from the same Proto-Celtic root [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n*r\u012bgan\u012b<\/strong>= queen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gaulish<\/th>\nrigani<\/strong> = queen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc)<\/th>\nr\u00edgan<\/strong> = queen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\nr\u00edgain, r\u00edgan, r\u00edgnae<\/strong> = queen, noble lady<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\nr\u00edon<\/strong> = queen, queenly, noble, lady, fair maiden
\nbanr\u00edon<\/strong> = queen
\n(ban)r\u00edonacht<\/strong> = queenship
\nr\u00edona\u00ed<\/strong> = queenly
\nr\u00edonaigh<\/strong> = to queen (chess)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Gaelic (G\u00e0idhlig)<\/th>\nr\u00ecghinn<\/strong> [r\u032a\u02b2i.\u026an\u032a\u02b2] = princess (archaic<\/em>)
\nr\u00ecbhinn<\/strong> [r\u032a\u02b2i\u02d0v\u026an\u032a\u02b2] = maid, maiden, girl, Venus, adder, queen (archaic<\/em>)
\nbanr\u00ecgh<\/strong> = queen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\nreeven<\/strong> = queen
\nrein<\/strong> = queen
\nben-rein<\/strong> = queen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n*rri\u0263\u0117n<\/strong> [r\u0348i\u02c8\u0263e\u031d\u02d0n] = queen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\nriein, riain<\/strong> = (young) woman, girl, damsel, lass, maiden, virgin, queen, noble girl, lady<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\nrhiain<\/strong> = (young) woman, girl, damsel, lass, maiden, virgin, queen, noble girl, lady<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Etymology<\/strong>: from Proto-Indo-European *h\u2083r\u1e17\u01f5nih\u2082<\/em> (queen), from *h\u2083r\u1e17\u01f5s<\/em> (king, ruler) [source<\/a>]. Words from the same roots include reine<\/strong> (queen) in French, reina<\/strong> (queen) in Spanish, erregina<\/strong> (queen) in Basque, and regin\u0103<\/strong> (queen) in Romanian [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\nrh\u1efcyf, rwyf, r\u1efcy<\/strong> = king, lord, ruler, chieftain, leader
\nrwyfa\u1efc, rwyfa\u1efc<\/strong> = to have dominion over, govern, rule
\nrwyuannus, rhwyvanus<\/strong> = royal, kinglike, governing
\nruyvenit<\/strong> = prince, king, ruler
\nrhwyfiadur, ruyfadur, rwyfyadur, r\u1efcyfyadur<\/strong> = chief(tain), lord, leader, ruler, protector<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\nrhwy(f)<\/strong> = king, lord, ruler, chieftain, leader
\nrhwyfo<\/strong> = to have dominion over, govern, rule, lead, be ostentatious, live in splendour
\nrhwyfanes<\/strong> = queen, lady
\nrhwyfaniad<\/strong> = reign, government, rule, kingdom
\nrhwyfanus<\/strong> = royal, kinglike, governing
\nrhwyfenydd<\/strong> = prince, king, ruler
\nrhwyf(i)adur<\/strong> = chief(tain), lord, leader, ruler, protector<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Cornish<\/th>\nruifanes<\/strong> = queen
\nruifadur<\/strong> = chief(tain), lord, leader<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)<\/th>\nruy, ruif<\/strong> = king, sovereign, ruler
\nruifanes, ruivanes<\/strong> = a female ruler, queen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\nruvanes<\/strong> = queen
\nruvaneth<\/strong> = kingdom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Breton<\/th>\nroe<\/strong> = king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Breton (Brezonec)<\/th>\nroe, ro\u00e9, roue, rou\u00e8<\/strong> = king
\nrouanes, roanez, rouan\u00e9s<\/strong> = queen
\nrouantelez, roeantelez<\/strong> = kingdom
\nroueel<\/strong> = royal
\nroueeler<\/strong> = royalist
\nroueelezh<\/strong> = royalty
\nroueelouriezh<\/strong> = royalism
\nroueoni<\/strong> = reign<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\nroue<\/strong> = king
\nrouanez<\/strong> = queen
\nrouantelezh<\/strong> = kingdom, monarchy
\nroueel<\/strong> = royal
\nroueelezh<\/strong> = royalty
\nroueelouriezh<\/strong> = royalism<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Etymology<\/strong>: from Old French roi<\/em> (king), from Latin r\u0113gem<\/em> (king, ruler, despot, tyrant), from Proto-Italic *r\u0113ks<\/em> (king), from Proto-Indo-European *h\u2083r\u1e17\u01f5s<\/em> (king, ruler) [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Words from the same Latin root include re<\/strong> (king) in Italian, roi<\/strong> (king) in French, viceroy<\/strong> in English and rey<\/strong> (king) in Spanish [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n*brigant\u012bnos<\/strong> = (someone) pre-eminent, outstanding<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n*br\u0268\u0263\u0117ntin<\/strong> [br\u0268\u0263e\u031dn\u02c8ti\u02d0n] = lord, king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\nbreenhin, breennin, breyenhin, brenhin<\/strong> = king
\nbrenhynes, brenhines<\/strong> = queen, goddess, queen bee
\nbrenineiziaw<\/strong> = to become kingly
\nbrenhynyaeth, brenhinyaeth<\/strong> = royalty, kingship, reign<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\nbrenin<\/strong> [\u02c8br\u025bn\u026an \/ \u02c8bre\u02d0n\u026an] = king, sovereign, monarch, head of region
\nbrenineiddio<\/strong> = to make\/become regal\/kingly, make (sb) a king
\nbreninesaidd<\/strong> = queen-like, queenly
\nbreninesol<\/strong> = queen-like, queenly, pertaining to a queen
\nbreningarol<\/strong> = royalist
\nbreniniaethu<\/strong> = to reign, govern
\nbreninoldeb<\/strong> = kingship, royalty
\nbrenhines<\/strong> = queen, goddess, queen bee
\nbrenhiniaeth<\/strong> = royalty, kingship, reign, government<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)<\/th>\nbrentyn, bryntyn<\/strong> = privileged, sovereign, noble, excellent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornish (KerneweK)<\/th>\nbryntin, brentin<\/strong> = grand, great, noble, splendid, superb<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Breton<\/th>\nbrientin, brientinion<\/strong> = king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Breton (Brezonec)<\/th>\nbrientin<\/strong> = aristocrat
\nbrientinelezh<\/strong> = aristocracy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\nbrientin<\/strong> = aristocrat
\nbrientinel<\/strong> = aristocratic
\nbrientinelezh<\/strong> = aristocracy
\nbrienteg, brientek<\/strong> = privileged
\nbrientekaat<\/strong> = to favour
\nbriental<\/strong> = royalties<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Etymology<\/strong>: from Proto-Indo-European *b\u02b0\u00e9r\u01f5\u02b0onts<\/em> (high), from *b\u02b0er\u01f5\u02b0-<\/em> (to rise up, ascend) [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n

From the same Proto-Celtic root, , we get the tribal name *Brigant\u012b<\/strong> (Brigantes – a Celtic tribe that occupied much of what is now northern England), Brigantia<\/strong> (a Celtic goddess of victory, and the territory of the Brigantes), the name Bridget<\/strong>, the Irish name Br\u00edd<\/strong>, the Scottish Gaelic name Br\u00ecghde<\/strong>, the Manx name Breeshey<\/strong>, and the placenames such as Bragan\u00e7a<\/strong> (a city in northeastern Portugal), Bregenz<\/strong> (a city in western Austria) and Brianza<\/strong> (a city in northern Italy), [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n

English words from the same PIE root include bourgeois<\/strong>, burrow<\/strong>, fort<\/strong> and maybe burgler<\/strong> [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\nmechdeyrn, mychdeyrn, machdeyrn<\/strong> = king, lord, monarch, emperor
\nmechteyrnged, mychteyrnged<\/strong> = tribute due to an overlord from an inferior lord<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\nmechdeyrn, mychdeyrn, machdeyrn<\/strong> = king, lord, monarch, emperor, God, tributary prince, viceroy
\nmechdeyrnged, mychdeyrnged<\/strong> = tribute due to an overlord from an inferior lord<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)<\/th>\nmychtern<\/strong> = sovereign, king
\nmychternes<\/strong> = queen
\nmychterneth<\/strong> = sovereignity, dominion, royalty, kingdom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\nmyghtern, metern<\/strong> [m\u026ax’t\u025brn] = king, monarch
\nmyghternes, meternes<\/strong> = monarch, queen
\nmyghterneth, meterneth<\/strong> = kingdom
\nmyghternses, meternses<\/strong> = kingship, monarchy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Breton<\/th>\nmachtiern<\/strong> = king<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Etymology<\/strong>: from Welsh mach<\/em> (surety, guarantor, sponsor, hostage) and teyrn<\/em> (sovereign, monarch, king) [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Sources: Wiktionary<\/a>, Am Faclair Beag<\/a>, Online Manx Dictionary<\/a>, Teanglann.ie<\/a>, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language<\/a>, In D\u00fail B\u00e9lrai English – Old Irish glossary<\/a>, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru<\/a>, Gerlyver Kernewek<\/a>, Dictionaire Favereau<\/a>, TermOfis<\/a>, English – ProtoCeltic WordList<\/a> (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Blubrry<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Words for king and related things in Celtic languages. Brian Boru, High King of Ireland (1002-1014) \/ Brian B\u00f3ruma mac Cenn\u00e9tig, Ard-R\u00ed ar \u00c9irinn Words marked with a * are reconstructions. Proto-Celtic *r\u012bxs\/*rig- = king Celtiberian reikis = king Gaulish r\u012bx = king – appears in names like Katur\u012bx, Su\u0101dur\u012bx, *Werkingetor\u012bx (Vercingetorix) and Asterix Primitive […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100,16,17,26,19,20,44,25,61,21,3,36,22,5,6,7,8,10,40,42,11,12,13,23,82,43,18,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-basque-euskera","category-breton","category-celtiberian","category-kernewek-cornish","category-english","category-etymology","category-french","category-gaulish","category-german","category-gaeilge-irish","category-language","category-latin","category-gaelg-manx","category-middle-breton","category-middle-cornish","category-middle-welsh-kymraec","category-old-breton","category-old-irish-goidelc","category-old-welsh","category-primitive-irish","category-proto-brythonic","category-proto-celtic","category-proto-indo-european","category-gaidhlig-scottish-gaelic","category-spanish-espanol","category-verbs","category-cymraeg-welsh","category-words"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4194"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8999,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4194\/revisions\/8999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}