{"id":9086,"date":"2026-01-14T09:54:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T09:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/?p=9086"},"modified":"2026-01-14T09:54:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T09:54:31","slug":"smoothly-slippery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/2026\/01\/14\/smoothly-slippery\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoothly Slippery"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Words for <strong>slippery<\/strong>, <strong>smooth<\/strong> and related things in Celtic languages.<\/p>\n<p><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/79438865@N06\/7114581067\/in\/photolist-bQG65P-2qXUbd5-PNiA4Z-dNrNmS-4MWXnW-SoW4vF-2ptPk2L-qeNuNu-7TR11c-ptKZbD-2djJE3d-PRgwBK-28Df8Y7-oYHboc-2rK5hbt-2jxuPX-28DferG-6vhD6d-uYDnAy-bTrp8X-ayMhxS-njhdxS-uGxxHJ-uWPb2C-uYDnvo-8p5Pc1-2jAfMqh-uGxKpC-LzSMdo-8ZHz1J-28Df9Cd-27kMw1F-2kt13Nk-Sq3B85-8ZHz1G-8ZHz1A-yfF5Y9-pxfdqJ-2ofF1ii-85wECw-2e6KMpV-7DWU6-K4xrzk-92dqte-2n4GNDV-fuk4g-zcrVjo-2n4z2SE-8ZEqTD-8ZHz1w\" title=\"Slippery\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/5455\/7114581067_c25f997555_z.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"428\" alt=\"Slippery\"\/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Words marked with a * are reconstructions.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*slimnos, *slimonos<\/strong> = smooth, slippery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc)<\/th>\n<td><strong>slemon<\/strong> = slippery, smooth, polished, courteous<br \/>\n<strong>slemnaigid<\/strong> = smooth, polish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>slemon, slemain<\/strong> = smooth, polished, sleek, slippery, smooth, calm, temperate, gentle, affable, courteous<br \/>\n<strong>slemn\u00e1n<\/strong> = smoothness, flattery, cajoling talk<br \/>\n<strong>sleimne, slemnae<\/strong> = smoothness, slipperiness, gentleness<br \/>\n<strong>slemnaigid<\/strong> = to make smooth, polish, lubricate, soften, slip, slide<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\n<td><strong>sleamhain<\/strong> [\u02c8\u0283l\u02b2aw\u0259n\u02b2 \/ \u02c8\u0283l\u0320\u02b2\u00e3uw\u0259n\u02b2] = smooth, slippery, sleek, slippery, sly<br \/>\n<strong>sleamhaine<\/strong> = smoothness, sleekness, slipperiness<br \/>\n<strong>sleamhnaigh<\/strong> = to slide, to slip, to go unnoticed, to smooth<br \/>\n<strong>sleamhn\u00e1n<\/strong> = slide, runner, bob (of sledge), chute, shoot, slippery<br \/>\n<strong>sleamhn\u00e1nach<\/strong> = smooth, slippery, sly<br \/>\n<strong>sleamhn\u00e1na\u00ed<\/strong> = slippery \/ sly person<br \/>\n<strong>sleamhn\u00fa<\/strong> = to slide, slip, slither<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Scottish Gaelic (G\u00e0idhlig)<\/th>\n<td><strong>sleamhainn<\/strong> [\u0283l\u032a\u02b2\u025b\u0303\u0169.\u026an\u032a\u02b2] = slippery, smooth<br \/>\nstrong>sleamhaineag<\/strong> [\u0283l\u032a\u02b2\u00e3\u0169.\u026an\u032a\u02b2ag] = slide<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>shliawin, sliawin, shliawn<\/strong> [\u0283l\u02b2\u00e3un\u02b2] = slippery, smooth, sly, sleek, soapy, insidious, lubricated, greasy<br \/>\n<strong>shliawinaghey<\/strong> = to become slippery<br \/>\n<strong>shliawney<\/strong> = slippery<br \/>\n<strong>shliawinane<\/strong> = chute, slide, glide, runner, slipway, shoot<br \/>\n<strong>shliawinid<\/strong> = smoothness, slipperiness, slyness, insidiousness<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n<td><strong>*ll\u0268\u03b2\u0303n<\/strong> = coal (?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Welsh (Kembraec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>lin\u012bnt<\/strong> = to make smooth (?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>llywin, llyfyn, llyfnet, llyvn<\/strong> = smooth, level, plain, flat, polished, slippery<br \/>\n<strong>llyfnu, Llyfny<\/strong> = to harrow, to make smooth, to pat, to polish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>llyfn<\/strong> [\u026c\u0268\u031evn \/ \u026c\u026avn] = smooth, level, plain, flat, polished, slippery<br \/>\n<strong>llyfnaf, llyfnu<\/strong> = to harrow, to make smooth, to pat, to polish<br \/>\n<strong>llyfndra<\/strong> = smoothness, levelness, evenness, sleekness, ease, fluency<br \/>\n<strong>llyfnedig<\/strong> = smoothed, polished<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Cornish (Cernewec . Kernuak)<\/th>\n<td><strong>leven<\/strong> = smooth, even, level<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\n<td><strong>leven<\/strong> = even, level, plain, smooth<br \/>\n<strong>levena<\/strong> = to smooth<br \/>\n<strong>levender<\/strong> = evenness<br \/>\n<strong>levenhe<\/strong> = to level<br \/>\n<strong>levenheans<\/strong> = terracing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Breton (Brethonoc)<\/th>\n<td><strong>limn<\/strong> = smooth (?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Middle Breton (Brezonec)<\/th>\n<td><strong>dileffn<\/strong> = smooth, plain, polished<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\n<td><strong>levn<\/strong> [\u02c8l\u1ebdwn] = smooth, plain, polished<br \/>\n<strong>levnaat<\/strong> = smooth, smoothing<br \/>\n<strong>levnadur<\/strong> = polishing, smoothing<br \/>\n<strong>levna\u00f1<\/strong> [\u02c8l\u1ebdw.n\u02d0\u00e3] = to slip<br \/>\n<strong>levnenn<\/strong> = polished<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Etymology<\/strong>: from Proto-Indo-European <em>*(s)ley-<\/em> (slime, slimy, sticky, slippery). Words from the same roots possibly include <strong>slime<\/strong> in English, <strong>slijm<\/strong> (slime, mucus) in Dutch, <strong>Schleim<\/strong> (mucus, slime) in German, <strong>limon<\/strong> (silt) in French and <strong>limo<\/strong> (mud, slime, slit) in Spanish [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic\/slimnos\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.japanesepod101.com\/member\/go.php?r=759259&amp;i=b0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/images\/banners\/banner_japanesepod.jpg\" alt=\"The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com\" width=\"630\" height=\"83\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sources: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/\">Wiktionary<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/embed\/EtymologicalDictionaryOfProtoCeltic\">Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www3.smo.uhi.ac.uk\/sengoidelc\/duil-belrai\/english.html\">In D\u00fail B\u00e9lrai English &#8211; Old Irish glossary<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/dil.ie\/\">eDIL &#8211; Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teanglann.ie\/en\/fgb\/ceann\">Teanglann.ie<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.faclair.com\/\">Am Faclair Beag<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikisource.org\/wiki\/An_Etymological_Dictionary_of_the_Gaelic_Language\">An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionaryq.com\/gaelg\/\">Fockleyreen: Manx &#8211; English Dictionary<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mannin.info\/Mannin\/fockleyr\/m2e.php\">Online Manx Dictionary<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/corpus.gaelg.im\/\">Gaelg Corpus<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/geiriadur.ac.uk\/gpc\/gpc.html\">Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/lexiconcornubrit00willuoft\/page\/n5\/mode\/2up\">Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cornishdictionary.org.uk\/\">Gerlyver Kernewek<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/devri.bzh\/\">Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/geriafurch.bzh\/fr\">Geriafurch<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.brezhoneg.bzh\/87-termofis.htm\">TermOfis<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5001128073855040\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Blog horizontal --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5001128073855040\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"1685480124\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Words for slippery, smooth and related things in Celtic languages. Words marked with a * are reconstructions. Proto-Celtic *slimnos, *slimonos = smooth, slippery Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc) slemon = slippery, smooth, polished, courteous slemnaigid = smooth, polish Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) slemon, slemain = smooth, polished, sleek, slippery, smooth, calm, temperate, gentle, affable, courteous slemn\u00e1n = smoothness, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,16,26,19,20,21,3,22,5,6,37,7,27,8,10,40,11,12,13,23,43,18,14],"tags":[52,80,51,145,48,47,53,49,55,339,340,338,50],"class_list":["post-9086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adjectives","category-breton","category-kernewek-cornish","category-english","category-etymology","category-gaeilge-irish","category-language","category-gaelg-manx","category-middle-breton","category-middle-cornish","category-middle-irish","category-middle-welsh-kymraec","category-nouns","category-old-breton","category-old-irish-goidelc","category-old-welsh","category-proto-brythonic","category-proto-celtic","category-proto-indo-european","category-gaidhlig-scottish-gaelic","category-verbs","category-cymraeg-welsh","category-words","tag-breton","tag-celtic","tag-cornish","tag-etymology","tag-gaelic","tag-irish","tag-language","tag-manx","tag-scottish-gaelic","tag-slip","tag-slippery","tag-smooth","tag-welsh"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9086","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=9086"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9089,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9086\/revisions\/9089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}