{"id":9307,"date":"2026-09-11T16:39:52","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:39:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/?p=9307"},"modified":"2026-09-11T16:39:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:39:53","slug":"he-she-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/2026\/09\/11\/he-she-it\/","title":{"rendered":"He, She, It"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this post we’re looking at words for he<\/strong>, she<\/strong>, it<\/strong> and related pronouns in Celtic languages.<\/p>\n

\"He,<\/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
Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n*es, *ēs<\/strong> = he, she, it
\n*ed<\/strong> = it
\n*esyo<\/strong> his, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gaulish<\/th>\neiasom<\/strong> = he (?)
\neiabo<\/strong> = he (?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Irish (Goídelc)<\/th>\né, hé, hǽ, sé<\/strong> [ˈeː] = he, it
\na, aí<\/strong> = his
\ned, hed<\/strong> [ˈ(h)eð] = it, this<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\nsé, se, sē<\/strong> = he, it
\nissi, isí<\/strong> = she, her (emphatic)
\na, aí, áe<\/strong> = his, its
\ned<\/strong> = it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\nsé, é<\/strong> [ʃeː \/ ʃɛ \/ eː] = he, him, it
\neisean<\/strong>[ˈɛʃənˠ] = he, him (emphatic)
\né féin<\/strong> = himself
\na<\/strong> [ə] = his, its
\nea<\/strong> [a] = it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)<\/th>\ne<\/strong> [ɛ] = he, him, it
\nesan<\/strong> [ɛsən] = he, him (emphatic)
\ne fhèin<\/strong> = himself
\na<\/strong> [ə] = his, its
\neadh<\/strong> [a] = it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\neh<\/strong> = he, him, it
\neshyn<\/strong> = he, him, himself (emphatic)
\ne hene, eh hene<\/strong> = himself, itself
\ne<\/strong> = his, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n*eβ̃<\/strong> = he, it
\n*emen<\/strong> = he (emphatic)
\n*eið<\/strong> = his, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Welsh (Kembraec)<\/th>\nem<\/strong> = he, him, it
\nnini, nyni<\/strong> = we, us, ourselves (emphatic)
\nhi, i<\/strong> = his, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\nef, e<\/strong> = he, him, it
\nnini, nyni<\/strong> = we, us, ourselves (emphatic)
\ny hun, ehun, ehunan, ei hun(an)<\/strong> = himself, itself
\nhi, y, ei<\/strong> = his, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\nef<\/strong> [eːv] = he, him, it (literary<\/em>)
\nefyntau<\/strong> [eːv] = he also, and him too (literary<\/em>)
\n(f)e<\/strong> [veː] = he, him, it (south Wales<\/em>)
\nyntau<\/strong> [ˈənta(ɨ̯) \/ ˈəntai̯] = he also, and him too
\n(f)o<\/strong> [voː] = he, him, it (north Wales<\/em>)
\n(f)othau<\/strong> [voː] = he also, and him too (north Wales<\/em>)
\nei (… (f)e\/(f)o)<\/strong> [ei̯ \/ iː \/ ɪ] = his, its
\nei hun<\/strong> = himself, itself<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Cornish (Cernewec \/ Kernuak)<\/th>\ne, ef, ev<\/strong> = he, him, it
\ny, e, a<\/strong> = his, its
\ny honan<\/strong> = himself<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\nev, e<\/strong> = he, him
\neev<\/strong> = he, him (emphatic)
\ny<\/strong> = his
\nev y honan, y honan, y honen<\/strong> = himself, itself<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Breton (Brethonoc)<\/th>\nem<\/strong> = he, him<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Breton (Brezonec)<\/th>\neff<\/strong> = he, him
\ne, he, è<\/strong> = his<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\neñ(v)<\/strong> [ẽw] = he, him
\neñv<\/strong> = he, him
\ne, he<\/strong> = his
\ne-unan<\/strong> = himself<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Etymology<\/strong>: from Proto-Indo-European *ís<\/em> (this, he) [source<\/a>]. Words from the same roots include hi<\/strong> (there) in Catalan, aí<\/strong> (there) in Portuguese, ahí<\/strong> (there, that) in Spanish [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n*sī<\/strong> = she
\n*esyās<\/strong> = her, hers, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Irish (Goídelc)<\/th>\nsí, í<\/strong> = she, it
\nsissi<\/strong> = she, it (emphatic)
\na, aí<\/strong> = hers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\nsí, í, sī<\/strong> = she, her
\nissi, isí<\/strong> = she, her (emphatic)
\na, aí, áe<\/strong> = hers, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\nsí<\/strong> [ʃiː] = she, it
\nise<\/strong> = she, her (emphatic)
\ni fhèin<\/strong> = herself
\na<\/strong> [ə] = her, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)<\/th>\ni<\/strong> [i] = she, her, it
\nsise, ise<\/strong> = she, her (emphatic)
\ni féin<\/strong> = herself
\na<\/strong> [ə] = her, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\nee<\/strong> [iː] = she, her, it
\neeish, ish<\/strong> = she, her (emphatic)
\nee hene<\/strong> = herself, her, itself
\ne<\/strong> = her, hers, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n*hi<\/strong> = she
\n*eið<\/strong> = her, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Welsh (Kembraec)<\/th>\nem<\/strong> = she, its
\nhithou, ithou<\/strong> = her also, and her too
\nhi, i<\/strong> = her, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\nhi<\/strong> = she, her, it
\nhitheu, hithe<\/strong> = her also, and her too
\ny, i<\/strong> = her, its<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\nhi<\/strong> [hiː] = she, her, it
\nhithau<\/strong> [ˈhɪθaɨ̯ \/ ˈhɪθai̯] = her also, (and) her too
\nei (… hi)<\/strong> [ei̯ \/ iː \/ ɪ] = her, its
\nei hun<\/strong> = herself, itself<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Cornish (Cernewec \/ Kernuak)<\/th>\nhy, hi<\/strong> = she, her, it
\nhyhy<\/strong> = she, her, herself (emphatic)
\ny, a<\/strong> = her
\ny honan<\/strong> = herself<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\nhi, hy, hei<\/strong> = she, her
\nhyhi<\/strong> = she, her, herself (emphatic)
\nhy, hy re<\/strong> = hers
\nhy honan, hei hy honan, hi hy honan, hy honen<\/strong> = herself, solo, itself<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Breton (Brezonec)<\/th>\nhy<\/strong> = she
\nhe<\/strong> [e] = her<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\nhi<\/strong> [hi] = she
\nhehi<\/strong> = she, her (emphathic)
\nhe<\/strong> [e] = her
\nhe-unan<\/strong> = herself<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Etymology<\/strong>: from Proto-Indo-European síh₂<\/em> (she) [source<\/a>]. Words from the same roots include she<\/strong> in English, zij<\/strong> (she, they) in Dutch, sie<\/strong> (she, her) in German [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n*eyes, *yoi<\/strong> = they
\n*ens<\/strong> = them
\n*eisom<\/strong> = their(s)
\n*eibis<\/strong> = (to) them<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Irish (Goídelc)<\/th>\né, íat, iat<\/strong> = they
\na, aí<\/strong> = their, theirs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\níat<\/strong> = they, them
\na, aí, áe<\/strong> = their, theirs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\nsiad<\/strong> [ʃiəd̪ˠ] = they
\nsiadsan<\/strong> [ˈʃiəd̪ˠsənˠ] = they (emphatic)
\niad<\/strong> [iəd̪ˠ] = they, them
\niadsan<\/strong> [ˈiət̪ˠsˠənˠ] = they (emphatic)
\na<\/strong> = their<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)<\/th>\niad<\/strong> [iəd] = they
\niadsan<\/strong> [ˈiədsən] = they (emphatic)
\niad fhèin<\/strong> = themselves
\nan<\/strong> [ən] = their<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\nad<\/strong> = they, them
\nadsyn<\/strong> = they, them, themselves (emphatic)
\nadhene<\/strong> = themselves
\nnyn<\/strong> = their, theirs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n*eið<\/strong> = their<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\nwy, wynt, hwy, hwynt<\/strong> = they
\ny<\/strong> = their<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\nnhw<\/strong> [nuː \/ n̥uː] = they
\nnhwthau<\/strong> [ˈnʊθa \/ ˈnʊθɛ] = they also, and them too
\nhwy, wy<\/strong> [huːɨ̯ \/ hʊi̯] = they, them (literary<\/em>)
\nhwythau<\/strong> [ˈhʊɨ̯θaɨ̯ \/ ˈhʊi̯θai̯] = they also, and them too
\nhwynt<\/strong> [hʊɨ̯nt \/ hʊi̯nt] = they (literary<\/em>)
\nhwyntau, wyntau<\/strong> = they also, and them too (literary<\/em>)
\neu, ‘u, ‘w<\/strong> [ei̯] = them
\neu (… nhw)<\/strong> = their<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Cornish (Cernewec \/ Kernuak)<\/th>\ny<\/strong> = they
\nan<\/strong> = them
\naga<\/strong> = their<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\ni<\/strong> = they
\nynsi<\/strong> = they (emphatic)
\naga … i<\/strong> = them, their
\naga honem, aga honan, anjei<\/strong> = themselves
\n‘ga, aga (… i)<\/strong> = their
\naga re, dhedha<\/strong> = theirs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Breton (Brezonec)<\/th>\nint, y<\/strong> = they, them<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\nint, i<\/strong> [ĩnt \/ i] = they, them
\no<\/strong> [o] = their, theirs
\no-unan<\/strong> = themselves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Etymology<\/strong>: from Proto-Indo-European *éyes<\/em>, the plural of *ís<\/em> (this, he) [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n

\"The<\/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 Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary<\/a>, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru<\/a>, Gerlyver Kernehe, itk<\/a>, Dictionaire Favereau<\/a>, TermOfis<\/a>, English – ProtoCeltic WordList<\/a> (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Unlimited<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this post we’re looking at words for he, she, it and related pronouns in Celtic languages. Words marked with a * are reconstructions. Proto-Celtic *es, *\u0113s = he, she, it *ed = it *esyo his, its Gaulish eiasom = he (?) eiabo = he (?) Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc) \u00e9, h\u00e9, h\u01fd, s\u00e9 [\u02c8e\u02d0] = […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,101,26,81,25,61,21,3,22,5,6,37,7,8,10,40,93,447,11,12,13,23,82,18,14],"tags":[52,80,51,48,460,466,465,47,462,53,49,459,464,50],"class_list":["post-9307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breton","category-catalan-catala","category-kernewek-cornish","category-dutch-nederlands","category-gaulish","category-german","category-gaeilge-irish","category-language","category-gaelg-manx","category-middle-breton","category-middle-cornish","category-middle-irish","category-middle-welsh-kymraec","category-old-breton","category-old-irish-goidelc","category-old-welsh","category-portuguese-portugues","category-pronouns","category-proto-brythonic","category-proto-celtic","category-proto-indo-european","category-gaidhlig-scottish-gaelic","category-spanish-espanol","category-cymraeg-welsh","category-words","tag-breton","tag-celtic","tag-cornish","tag-gaelic","tag-he","tag-her","tag-him","tag-irish","tag-it","tag-language","tag-manx","tag-pronouns","tag-them","tag-welsh"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9307","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=9307"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9307\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9309,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9307\/revisions\/9309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}