This page contains words that are cognate in all or some of the six modern Celtic languages.
Click on the English versions that are links and you will be taken to the Celtiadur, where you can see what each word means, and how some of them are pronounced. There are also details of related words and expressions, and words in older versions of the Celtic languages, such as Middle Welsh and Old Irish. More Celtic Cognates
These words are cognate in all six Celtic languages.
| Gaeilge (Irish) |
Gàidhlig (Gaelic) |
Gaelg (Manx) |
Cymraeg (Welsh) |
Kernewek (Cornish) |
Brezhoneg (Breton) |
English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aingeal | aingeal | aile | angel | eledh | ael | fire angel |
| ainm | ainm | ennym | enw | hanow | anv | name |
| anáil | anail | ennal | anadl | anal | anal | breath |
| anam | anam | annym | enaid | enev | ene | soul spirit |
| aois | aois | eash | oes oed |
oos ooj |
oad | age |
| ár | àr | haar | aer | ar* hâr* |
air* | slaughter battle |
| barr | bàrr | baare | bar | barr | barr | top point summit |
| beatha | beatha | beaghey | bywyd | bewnans | buhez | life |
| beo | beò | bio | byw | bew | bev | alive living |
| bior | bior | birr byr |
bêr | ber* | ber | point thorn spear |
| bith* | bith | beays | byd | bys | bed | world being existence |
| bord | bòrd | boayrd | bwrdd bwrd |
bord bordh |
bourzh | table board |
| both | bothan bùth |
bwaane bwaag |
bwd bwth |
bod* | bod | booth hut cottage |
| brath | brath | brah | brad | bras | barad | betray(al) treachery conspiracy deception |
| brí | brìgh | bree | bri | bri | bri | strength essence power honour dignity |
| brugh | brugh | brogh | bro | bro | bro | country territory broch |
| bua | buaidh | booie | budd | budh | buz | victory profit |
| bun | bun | bun | bôn | ben | ben | base foundation |
| — | — | — | byson | bysow | bizou | ring, jewel |
| caí | caoidh | coe | cwyn | kynvan | keuziañ | lament mourning weeping |
| Cáisg | Càisg | Caisht | Pasg | Pask | Pask | Easter |
| caileann | cailindha | caillyn | calan | kalan | kala kaland |
calends 1st of month |
| carcair | carcair | carchyr | carchar | carhar* | karc'har | prison jail |
| carbad | carbad | carbyd | cerbyd | cerpit* | karbed | chariot car |
| carr | càr | carr | car | karr | karr | car chariot wagon |
| cath | cath | cah | cad | kas | kad | battle |
| céim | ceum | keim | cam | kamm | kamm | step |
| Ceilteach Seilt |
Ceilteach | Celtiagh | Celt | Kelt | kelt | Celt |
| ciorcal | cearcall | kiarkyl | cylch | kelgh kylgh |
klec'h | circle ring |
| clog | clag | clag | cloch | klogh | kloc'h | bell clock |
| clú | cliù | goo | clyw | klew | klev | hearing fame |
| cré | criadh | cray | pridd | pri | pri | clay soil ash |
| criathar | criathar | creear | crwydr | kroder | krouer | sieve riddle wandering |
| crith | crith | crie | cryd | kren | kren | fever trembling shaking |
| cúl | cùl | cooyl | cil | kil | kil | back corner |
| curach | curach | curragh | corwg | koroug | korac'h | coracle currach |
| diaidh | dèidh | jei | diwedd | diwedh | diwezh | end after |
| dréacht | dreachd | draght dreaght |
darn | darn | darn | part piece |
| díoghail | dìoghail | jeeyl | dial | dial | dial | revenge vengence damage |
| driocht | draoidheachd | druaight | derwyddiaeth | drewydhieth | drouizelezh | magic sorcery druidism |
| feall | feall | foall | gwall | gwall | gwall | deceit treachery mistake defect |
| féile | fèil | feaill feailley |
gŵyl | gool | gouel | feast festival |
| feis | fèis | feish | gwest | gwester | guest* | festival entertainment guest |
| ficheall | fidhcheall | feeal | gwyddbwyll | gwydhbol | gwezboell | chess |
| flaith | flath | flah | gwlad | gwlas gulas |
glad | prince lordship country nation |
| fleá | fleadh | fleah | gwledd | gwledh | gloê | feast banquet |
| ga | gath | goull | gwayw | guw | goaf | spear javelin beam |
| gair gáir |
goir gàir |
gerr | gair gawr |
ger | ger | call shout word |
| gairm | gairm | gerrym | garm | garm | garm | call shout yell |
| gal | gal | gaal gall |
gâl | gal | gal* | ardour vapour enemy |
| geil | geil | gyndyr | gwellt | gwels | geot gwelt |
grass graze |
| gríos | grìos | gree | gwres | gwres | gwrez | warmth heat |
| lathach | lathach | lathar laagh |
llaid | leys | lec'hid | mud mire swamp |
| leabhar | leabhar | lioar | llyfr | lyver | levr | book |
| leath | leth | lieh | lled | les | led | half breadth width |
| luan | luan | lune | llun | lun | lun | Monday moon |
| marbh | marbh | merriu marroo |
marw marwolaeth |
mernans | marv | dead death deceased |
| méid | meud | mooad | maint | myns | ment | size amount quantity |
| Nollaig | Nollaig | Nollick | Nadolig | Nadelik | Nedeleg | Christmas |
| olann | olann | ollan | gwlân | gwlan | glaon | wool |
| ord | òrd | oardyr ordyr |
urdd | urdh | urzh | order sequence |
| peaca | peaca | peccah | pech | pegh | pec'h | sin guilt |
| póg | pòg | paag | pocyn | poccuil* | pok | kiss |
| rann roinn |
rann roinn |
rheynn | rhan | radn | rann | division part |
| rath | rath | raah rah |
rhad | ras | rat | grace virtue |
| rún | rùn | roon | rhin cyfrin |
rin kevrin |
rin | secret mystery |
| roth | roth | roar | rhod | ros | rod | wheel bicycle |
| rúsc | rùsg | roost | rhisgl | rusken | rusk | bark beehive |
| saighead | saighead | side | saeth | seth | saezh | arrow |
| samhail | samhail samhla |
soyl | hafal | haval | hañvalat | likeness model similarity |
| scafa | sgiof sgoth sgib |
skiff | (y)sgraff | skath | skof | boat skiff |
| seo | seo | shoh | — | — | — | this |
| seol | seòl | shiaull | hwyl | gool | gouel | sail |
| sí síth |
sìth sìoth |
shee | hedd | hedh | hez | peace mound fairy |
| sin | sin | shen | hwn hon hyn |
henn | henn* | that this |
| siabhainn* | siabhann | sheeabin | sebon | sebon | soavon | soap |
| slat | slat | slat | llath | lath | lazh | stick rod staff |
| solas | solas | sollys | golau | golow | gouloù | light flame |
| suan | suain | saveen | hun | hun | hun | sleep slumber |
| spiorad | spiorad | spyrryd | ysbryd | sperys spyrys |
spered | soul life spirit |
| sráid | sràid | straid | stryd | stret | straed | street alley highway |
| tábla | tàbla | taabyl | tabl | tabel | taol | table board |
| táille | tàille | tailley | tâl talaith |
tal | tailh | fare fee tally |
| teach | taigh | thie | tŷ | chi | ti | house |
| teanga | teanga | çhengey | tafod | taves tavas |
teod | language tongue tribe people |
| teas | teas | çhiass | tes | tes | tes | heat warmth |
| tine | teine | çhenney | tân | tan | tan | fire lightning |
| toll | toll | towl | twll | toll | toull | hollow empty hole |
| tonn | tonn | tonn | ton | ton | tonn | wave billow |
| trócaire | tròcair | trocair | trugar trugaredd |
tregeredh | trugar* trugarez |
merciful pity thanks |
| tuí | tugha | thoo | to | to | to | roof thatch |
| uamhan | uabhann | owan | ofn | own | ovn | fear dread |
| uamhanach | uabhannach | owanagh | ofnog | ownek | aonik | fearful dreadful timid |
| uath fuath |
uabhas fuath |
feoh | uthr | euth | euz | horror dread fright |
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These words are cognate in some of the Celtic languages.
| Gaeilge (Irish) |
Gàidhlig (Gaelic) |
Gaelg (Manx) |
Cymraeg (Welsh) |
Kernewek (Cornish) |
Brezhoneg (Breton) |
English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ábhar | adhbar | oyr | — | — | material matter reason |
|
| anseo | an-seo | ayns shoh | yma | omma | amañ | here |
| ansin | an-sin | ayns shen | yna | ena | aze | there |
| ansiúd | an-siud | ayns shid | yno | yn tre | ahont | yonder |
| — | — | — | annwyd | anwos | anoued | cold chill |
| — | — | — | awen | awen | awen | muse inspiration imagination |
| bád | bàta | baatey | bad | — | bag | boat |
| basc* | basc* | — | baich | begh | bec'h | load burden |
| bás | bàs | basse | — | — | — | death |
| beannacht | beannachd | bannaght | bendith | bennath | bennozh | blessing benediction |
| — | — | — | bedd | bedh | bez | grave ditch |
| — | — | — | bel | bell | — | war tummult |
| béarla Béarla |
Beurla | Baarle | — | — | — | speech English |
| bréag | breug | breag | — | — | — | lie falsehood |
| Brigit | — | — | brain(t) | bryntin brentin |
brient | privilege(d) honour |
| briocht | — | — | lled(f)rith | — | brith* | charm spell enchantment |
| bruth | bruth | — | brwd | bredion* | broud | heat hot(ness) ardent |
| buinne | — | — | ben | — | — | cart wagon wattle |
| cábán | caban | cabbane | caban | — | koban | cabin hut booth |
| caint | cainnt | caaynt | — | — | — | speech to speak talk |
| caladh | caladh | calloo callee |
— | — | — | harbour landing place |
| caoin | caoin | keayn | cwyn | can* | — | lament weep complaint anguish |
| — | — | — | cegin | kegin | kegin | kitchen |
| cistin | cistin | kishteen | — | — | — | kitchen |
| clár | clàr | claare | clawr | — | kleur | board table cover |
| cogadh | cogadh | caggey | — | — | — | war fighting |
| coir | coire | — | caredd | cara* | karez | mistake sin |
| colg | colg | caulg | col coly cola |
kolgh | — | husk prickle bristle |
| colum* | — | — | cwlwm | kolm kolmen |
skoulmoù skoulm |
knot |
| cruth | cruth | croo | pryd | — | — | shape, form |
| cuire | — | — | cordd | kordh | — | tribe clan troop |
| cuas | cuas | — | cau | kew | kev | cavity hollow crypt |
| — | — | — | cudd | kudh | kuzh | secret hidden |
| cumasc | cumeasg | — | cymysg | kemmysk | kemmesk | mix(ture) tumult blend(ed) |
| — | — | — | cusan | kussyn | — | kiss |
| — | — | — | cwch | kok | kouc'h | boat beehive |
| — | — | — | cwsg | kosk | kousked | sleep slumber |
| daigh | daigh | — | goddeith | — | — | flame fire pain |
| dáil | dàil | — | dadl dawl |
dadhel | dael | meeting assembly argument |
| damhna | damhna | — | defnydd | devnydh | danvez | matter material substance |
| dealg | dealg | jialg | dala | delc* | — | needle pin sting |
| deatach | deatach | jaagh | — | — | — | smoke vapour |
| dán | dàn | daan | dawn | — | donezon | poem gift faculty |
| díon | dìon | jeen | — | — | — | protection waterproof roof |
| dlí | dlighe | — | dyled | — | dlead | law debt duty |
| doras | doras | dorrys | drws | daras | — | door |
| — | — | — | dôr | — | dor | door |
| dú | dùth | dooie | — | — | — | place natural |
| duais | duais | — | — | — | — | gift prize reward |
| éad | eud | ead | eiddig (?) | — | — | jealousy envy zeal |
| eagla | eagal | aggle | — | — | — | fear horror |
| éasca | èasga | eayst | — | — | — | moon |
| eire | eire | errey | arau | — | — | load burden |
| éag | eug | — | angau | ankow | ankow | dead death deceased |
| fad | fad | foddid | — | — | — | length distance duration |
| fadhb | fadhb | uddan | oddf | — | — | knot lump problem |
| fáilte | fàilte | failt | — | — | — | welcome |
| fáinne | fàinne | fainey | — | — | — | ring circle coil |
| féan | feun | fainagh | — | — | — | wagon cart chariot |
| — | — | — | ffenestr | fenester | prenestr fenestr |
window |
| fiabhras | fiabhras | — | — | — | — | fever |
| ficheall | fiodhcheall | feeal | gwyddbwyll | gwydhbol | gwezboell | chess |
| fios | fios | fys | gwŷs | — | — | knowledge information |
| fochraig | — | — | gwobr | gober | gopr | prize reward fee |
| fos | fois | — | gwas | — | — | rest relaxation abode |
| fraigh | fraigh | — | achwre | — | — | wall palisade fence |
| fuath | fuath | feoh | — | — | — | fearful horror terror |
| fuinneog | uinneag | uinnag | — | — | — | window |
| gealach | gealach | giallagh | — | — | — | moon |
| gor | gor | — | gôr | — | gor | pus light to warm |
| gnách | gnàchach | — | — | — | — | customary usual familiar |
| gnáth | gnàth | — | gnawd | gnas | — | custom habit quality |
| — | — | — | hanner | hanter | hanter | half |
| — | — | — | hiraeth | hireth | hiraezh | longing homesick(ness) melancholy |
| — | — | — | hud | hud | hud | magic |
| icht* | — | — | iaith | yeth | yezh | language people |
| ionadh | iongnadh | — | angnawd annawd |
— | — | unknown obscure unusual surprise |
| iontas | iongantas | yindys | — | — | — | wonder surprise admiration |
| láib | làb | — | — | loub | — | mud mire slime |
| lasair | lasair | lossyr | llachar | — | — | bright shining flame |
| leas | leus | lossey | — | — | — | light ray blister |
| léibheann | — | — | llwyfan | — | — | stage terrace |
| líon | lìon | — | llin | lin | lin | flax lint |
| léann | léigheann | — | llên | lien | lenn | to read reading literature learning |
| leastar | leastar | — | llestr | lester | lestr | vessel ship cup vase |
| léigh | leugh | lhaih | lleaf lleu |
— | — | to read literature |
| líth | lì | — | — | — | lid | festival prosperity ceremony |
| — | — | — | lloer | loor | loar | moon |
| long | long | lhong | llong | — | — | ship vessel |
| longfort | long-phort | lhong-phurt | — | — | — | seaport camp stronghold |
| múch | — | — | mwg | mog | mog | smoke fume(s) fire |
| mullach | mullach | mullagh | — | — | — | top roof |
| nae | — | — | noe | new | nev | boat trough |
| nath | nath | — | nâd | — | — | song poem knowledge |
| nimh | nimh | nieu | — | — | — | poison venom |
| nod | nòd | — | nod | nos | not | note mark symbol |
| ocras | acras | acc(y)rys | — | — | — | hunger desire |
| oráid | — | — | arawt | areth | eured | prayer |
| óir | oir | oyr | — | — | — | for because reason |
| príosún | prìosan | pryssoon | — | prison | prizon | prison |
| pís* | — | — | pwys | poos | pouez | weight heavy important |
| réilig | réilig réileag |
ruillick rhullick |
— | — | — | graveyard ossuary |
| rian | rian | rane | — | — | — | course path method river |
| Samhain | Samhain | Sauin Souney |
— | — | — | Halloween November |
| sanas | sanas | sannish | hanes | hanas | — | whisper history secret |
| saol | saoghal | seihll | — | — | — | world existence lifetime |
| séad seoid |
seud | — | chwant | hwans | c'hoant | desire jewel |
| sealbh | sealbh | shelloo | (h)elw | — | — | luck fortune profit |
| síbín | sibein | shebeen | — | — | — | shebeen illicit pub |
| sith-* | — | — | hyd | hes | hed | length long extent |
| slaod | slaod | sleayd | — | — | — | layer raft trudge |
| slaodach | slaodach | sleaydagh | — | — | — | flowing slow trailing |
| smúit | smùid | smooid | — | — | — | smoke fume steam |
| snaidhm | snaidhm | sniem | nadd | — | nascañ | knot carving hinder |
| snas | snas | — | — | — | — | finish polish elegance |
| snáth | snàth | snaie | — | — | neud | thread fibre |
| — | stuth | stoo | stwff | stoff | — | material stuff substance |
| tart | tart | taart | tarth | — | — | thirst dryness mist |
| te | teth | çheh | — | — | — | heat |
| toit | toit | toghan | — | — | — | smoke vapour steam |
| tonn | tonn | — | ton | ton* | tonn | surface land skin |
| troid | trod | troddan | — | — | — | fight quarrel |
| uaigh | uaigh | oaie oaye |
— | — | — | grave tomb |
| ualach | uallach | — | — | — | — | burden load |
| uath | uath | — | uthr | euth | euzh | fearful horror dread |
| urnaí | ùrnaigh | yeearree | — | — | — | prayer |
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Complete Cognates, Partial Cognates . Cognates arranged thematically: Adjectives | Animals | Birds | Clothes | Colours | Conjunctions | Countries | Directions | Food and Drink | Landscape | Languages | Metals | Musical terms | Numbers | Parts of the body | People | Pronouns | Prepositions | Sea creatures | Time expressions | Trees and Plants | Verbs | Weather | Tools | Other words
A collection of Celtic cognates, with definitions, pronunciation, etymologies - includes the modern Celtic languages, older versions of these languages, such as Middle Welsh, Old Irish, and their extinct and reconstructed relatives and ancestors, including Gaulish, Celtiberian, Proto-Brythonic and Proto-Celtic.
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Breton, Celtiberian, Cornish, Cumbric, Gaulish, Irish, Lepontic, Lusitanian, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh
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