Celtic connections

The six Celtic languages currently spoken are divided into two branches: Goidelic or Gaelic, and Brythonic or British. The former branch consists of Irish, Manx and Scottish Gaelic, while the latter branch includes Welsh, Cornish and Breton. While there are many similarities between the languages in each branch, there are fewer similiarities between the two branches as they have had thousands of years to grow apart.

Differences in spelling and sound changes can disguise related words, but there are quite a few cognates that appear in most or all of the Celtic languages. In some cases the words in one language might be archaic or only used in place names, and more cognates can be found in earlier versions of the the languages. Some words are cognate within each branch of the Celtic languages, but not between the branches.

Words marked with an asterisk are archaic and/or used only in place names. The Cornish words shown are in Common Cornish (Kernewek Kemmyn). The Breton words are in Peurunvan/Modern Standard Spelling.

Sound changes

Some words beginning with p or b in the Brythonic or P-Celtic languages begin with c, k or qu (/k/) in the Goidelic or Q-Celtic languages. For example, head is pen in Welsh and ceann in Irish.
Some words beginning with gw in the Brythnoic languages begin with f in the Goidelic languages. For example, hair is gwallt in Welsh and falt in Irish.
Some words beginning with s(e/i) /ʃ/ in the Goidelic languages begin with h in the Brythnoic languages. For example, old is sean in Irish and hen in Welsh.

Cognates that appear in all or most of the Celtic languages

Adjectives

Gaeilge (Irish)	Gàidhlig (Gaelic)	Gaelg (Manx)	Cymraeg (Welsh)	Kernewek (Cornish)	Brezhoneg (Breton)	English
beag	beag	beg	bach / bychan	byghan	bihan	small
bodhar	bodhar	bouyr	byddar	bodhar	bouzar	deaf
caol	caol	keyl	cul	kul		narrow
deas	deas	jesh	braf / hyfryd / neis /	deghow		nice
droch	droch	drogh	drwg	drog	drouk	bad
leathan	leathann	lhean	llydan	ledan	ledan	wide / broad
maith	math / deagh	mie	da	da	mat	good
mear	mear	merre	miri			merry / mad / merriment / fun
mór	mòr	mooar	mawr (bras)	meur (bras)	meur (bras)	big / large
nua	nuadh	noa	newydd	nowydh	nevez	new
óg	òg	aeg	ifanc	yowynk	yaouank	young
sean	sean	shenn	hen	hen	hen / kozh	old

Animals and other creatures

Gaeilge (Irish)	Gàidhlig (Gaelic)	Gaelg (Manx)	Cymraeg (Welsh)	Kernewek (Cornish)	Brezhoneg (Breton)	English
ainmhithe	ainmhidh	baagh / cretoor	anifail / creadur / mil	enyval / best	aneval / loen	animal / beast
asal	asal	assyl	asyn	asen	azen	ass / donkey
bó	bó	booa	buwch	bugh	buoc'h	cow
bran* (caróg)	bran*	fannag	brân	bran	bran	raven / crow
broc	broc	brock	broch	brogh	broc'h	badger
caora	caora	keyrrey	dafad	davas	dañvad	sheep
capall	(each)	cabbyl	ceffyl	margh	marc'h	horse
cat	cat	kayt	cath	kath	kazh	cat
cú	cù	coo	ci	ki	ki	dog / hound
eallach	eallaidh	ollagh	buwch	bugh	buoc'h	cattle
éan	eun	eean (ushag)	edn* (aderyn)	edhen	evn (labous)	bird
gabhar	gobhar	goayr	gafr	gaver	gavr	goat
láir	làir	laair	caseg			mare
lao	laogh	lheiy	llo	lugh	leue	calf
luchóg	luch	lugh	llygoden	logosenn	logodenn	mouse
muc	muc	muc	mochyn	mogh	moc'h	pig
nathair	nathair	(aarnieu / ardnieu)	neidr	nader	naer	snake
searrach	searrach	sharragh	ebol			foal
stail	greadhair	collagh / grihder	march / stalwyn	margh	marc'h	stallion
tarbh	tarbh	tarroo	tarw	tarow	tarv	bull

Notes

cú means hound in Irish - dog is madra
eean in Manx means chick, fowl, or young bird

Colours

Gaeilge (Irish)	Gàidhlig (Gaelic)	Gaelg (Manx)	Cymraeg (Welsh)	Kernewek (Cornish)	Brezhoneg (Breton)	English
airgead	airgead	argid	arian	arghans	arc'hant	silver
buí	buidhe	bwee	melyn	melyn	melen	yellow
dearg	dearg	jiarg	coch	kogh	ruz	red
donn	donn	dhone	dwn* (brown)		duard	brown / dun
dubh	dubh	doo	du	du	du	black
fionn	fionn	fynn	gwyn	gwynn	gwenn	white / blond
glas	glas	glass	glas	glas	glas	blue / green
gorm	gorm	gorrym	gwrm*			blue / green

Numbers

Gaeilge (Irish)	Gàidhlig (Gaelic)	Gaelg (Manx)	Cymraeg (Welsh)	Kernewek (Cornish)	Brezhoneg (Breton)	English
aon	aon	nane/un	un	onan	unan	one
dó	dha	da	dau / dwy	dew / diw	daou / div	two
trí	trì	tree	tri / tair	tri / teyr	tri / teir	three
ceathar	ceithir	kiare	pedwar / pedair	peswar / peder	pevar / peder	four
cúig	cóig	queig	pump	pymp	pemp	five
sé	sia	shey	chwech	hwegh	c'hwec'h	six
seacht	seachd	siaght	saith	seyth	seizh	seven
ocht	ochd	hoght	wyth	eth	eizh	eight
naoi	naoi	nuy	naw	naw	nav	nine
deich	deich	jeih	deg	deg	dek	ten
fiche	fichead	feed	ugain	ugens	ugent	twenty
céad	ceud	keead	cant	kans	kant	hundred
míle	mìle	meeiley	mil	mil	mil	thousand

Note

Welsh, Cornish and Breton have masculine and feminine forms for two, three and four

Parts of the body

Gaeilge (Irish)	Gàidhlig (Gaelic)	Gaelg (Manx)	Cymraeg (Welsh)	Kernewek (Cornish)	Brezhoneg (Breton)	English
béal	beul	beeal	ceg	ganow	geol (genoù)	mouth
bil	bil	meill	byl (gwefus)	gwelv	muzell / gweuz	lip / edge
bolg	bolg	bolg	bol	bol	kof / sac'h-boued	belly / stomach
bos	bas	bass	bos* (cledr y llaw)		boz	palm
cas	cos	cass	coes	garr	gar	leg
ceann	ceann	kione	pen	penn	penn	head
cluas	cluas	cleaysh	clust	skovarn	skouarn	ear
cnámh	cnàimh	craue	asgwrn	askorn	askorn	bone
dorn	dòrn	doarn	dwrn	dorn	meih-dorn	fist
dromlach / cnámh droma	cnàimh-droma	craue drommey / jialg	meingefn		livenn-gein	spine / backbone
folt / gruaig	folt	folt	gwallt	gols blew	blev	hair
géag / lámh	gàirdean / làmh	roih	braich	bregh	brec'h	arm
glúin	glùin	glioon	pen-glin / glin	glyn	glinn / penn glin	knee
gualainn	gualainn / slinnean	geaylin / geayliney / shlinganagh	ysgywdd	skoedh	skoaz	shoulder
ionga	ìne / ionga	yngin	ewin	ewin	ivin	(finger/toe) nail
inchinn	eanchainn	inçhyn	ymennydd	ympynyon	empenn	brain
lámh	làmh	laue	llaw	lof	lau	hand
méar	meur	mair	bys	bys	biz	finger
muineál	muineal	mwannal	gwddf / mŵn* / mwnwgl*	conna	gouzoug / goûg	neck
scornach / sceadamán	sgòrnan / sgloige / sgòrn / sgoige	scoarnagh / troat	gwddf	lonk	gouzoug / goûg	throat
súil	sùil	sooill	llygad	lagas	skouarn	eye
srón	sròn	stroin	trwyn	troen	fri	nose
teanga	teanga	çhengey	tafod	taves	teod	tongue / language
uillinn	uileann / uilinn	uillin	penelin / elin	elyn	ilin / klin-brec'h	elbow

Notes

geol = muzzle / snout, genoù = mouth (BR)
meih-dorn = fist, dorn = hand (BR)
byl = edge, gwefus = lip (CY)

Pronouns

Gaeilge (Irish)	Gàidhlig (Gaelic)	Gaelg (Manx)	Cymraeg (Welsh)	Kernewek (Cornish)	Brezhoneg (Breton)	English
mé	mi	mee	i/fi/mi	me	me	I
tú	thu	oo	ti	ty	te	you (sg)
sé	è	eh	fe/fo/ef	ev	eñ	he
sí	i	ee	hi	hy	hi	she
muid / sinn	sinn	shin	ni	ni	ni	we
sibh	sibh	siu	chi / chwi	hwi	c'hwi	you (pl)
siad	iad	ad	nhw / hwy / hwynt	i	int	they

Time expressions

Gaeilge (Irish)	Gàidhlig (Gaelic)	Gaelg (Manx)	Cymraeg (Welsh)	Kernewek (Cornish)	Brezhoneg (Breton)	English
am	àm	am	amser	amser	amzer	time
aois / céad	ceud	eash / keead	canrif	cansbledhen	kantved	century
bliain	bliadhna	blein	blwyddyn	blydhen	bloaz	year
mí	mi / mìos	mee	mis	mis	miz	month
seachtain	seachdain	shiaghtin	wythnos	seythun	sizhun	week
lá	latha	laa	dydd	dydh	deiz	day
uair	uair	oor	awr	eur	eur	hour
nóiméad	mionaid	minnid	munud	mynysenn	munut	minute
soicind	dìog	tullagh	eiliad		segond / enn	second

Verbs

Gaeilge (Irish)	Gàidhlig (Gaelic)	Gaelg (Manx)	Cymraeg (Welsh)	Kernewek (Cornish)	Brezhoneg (Breton)	English
mair / cónaigh	beò	bieau	byw	byw	bevañ	to live
bí	bì	bee	bod	bos	bezañ	to be
caint	bruidhinn	caaynt	siarad	kewsel	komz	to talk
déan	dèan	jean	gwneud	gul	ober	to do
feic	faic	faik	gweld	gweles	gwelet	to see
ith	ith	ee	bwyta / difa*	dybri	debriñ	to eat
labhair	labhair	loayrt	llefaru	leverel	komz	to speak
léigh	leughagh	lhiah	darllen	redya	lenn	to read
lorg	lorg	lurg	chwilio	hwilas	klask	to search
moladh	moladh	moylley	moli / canmol		meuliñ	to praise
nigh	nì	nee	ymolchi	omwolghi	gwalc'hiñ / golc'hiñ	to wash
ól	òl	iu / oyl	yfed	eva	evan	to drink
rith	ruith	roie	rhedeg	resek	redek	to run
seas	seas	shass	sefyll	sevel	sevel	to stand
siúil	siubhail	shooill	cerdded	kerdhes	kerzhout	to walk
suigh	siudhe	soie	eistedd	esedha	sichañ	to sit
tacht	tachd	soie	(ys)tagu	taga	tagañ	to choke
téigh	rach	goll	mynd	mos	moned	to go

Other words

Gaeilge (Irish)	Gàidhlig (Gaelic)	Gaelg (Manx)	Cymraeg (Welsh)	Kernewek (Cornish)	Brezhoneg (Breton)	English
abhainn	abhainn	awin	afon	avon	aven (stêr)	river
agus	agus	as	a/ac	hag	ha/hag	and
ainm	ainm	ennym	enw	hanow	anv	name
anáil	anail	ennal	anadl	anal	anal	breath
anseo	an-seo	ayns shoh	yma	omma	amañ	here
ansin	an-sin	ayns shen	yna	ena	aze	there
ansiúd (thall ansin)	an-siud	ayns shid	draw / acw	yn tre	ahont	yonder
aois	aois	eash	oes / oed	oes	oad	age
bárd	bàrd	bard	bardd	bardh	barzh	poet
bean	bean	bene	banw* / menyw	ben	maouez	woman
beatha	beatha	beghey	bywyd	bywnans	buhez	life
bia	biadh	bee	bwyd	buit	boued	food
bith* (domhain)	bith (domhain)	(seihll / dowan)	byd	bys	bed	world
bórd / tábla	bòrd	boayrd	bwrdd / bord	bord	bourzh / taol	table
brí	brìgh	bree	bri	bry	bri	strength / energy / force
buachaill	buachaill	bochilley	bugail	bugel	bugul / bugel	shepherd / boy
Cáisg	Càisg	Caisht	Pasg	Pask	Pask	Easter
cáis	càise	caashey	caws	keus	keuz / formaj	cheese
cistin	cistin	kishteen	cegin	kegin	kegin	kitchen
duine	duine	dooiney	dyn	den	den	man / person
fáilte	fàilte	failt	(croeso)	dynnargh	donet mat	welcome
fíor	fìor	feer	gwir	gwir	gwir	true
grian	grian	grian	haul	howl	heol	sun
inbhear	aber	aber	aber	aber	aber	estuary
mol	mol	moyll	mawl / moliant		meuleudi	to praise
póg	pòg	paag	poc* (cusan / sws)		pok	kiss
leabhar	leabhar	lioar	llyfr	lyver	levr	book
léine	léine	lheiney	crys	krys	krez	shirt
pobail / muintir	pobaill / muinntir	pobbyl / mooinjer	pobl	pobel	pobl	people / community
muir	muir	mooir	môr	mor	mor	sea
Nollaig	Nollaig	Nollick	Nadolig	Nadelik	Nedeleg	Christmas
olann	olann	ollan	gwlân	gwlan	glaon	wool
scamall / néal	baideal / neul	bodjal / neeal	cwmwl / niwl	kommol / niwl	koumoulenn / nivlenn	cloud / mist
seo	seo	shoh	hwn / hon / hyn		mañ	this
siabhainn* sópa / gallúnach	siabhann	sheeabin	sebon	sebon	soavon	soap
sin	sin	shen	hwnnw / honno / hynny	homma / honna	se	that
siúd	siud	shid	draw / acw		ahont	yon / that
sliabh	sliabh	slieau	mynydd	menydh	menez	mountain
slua	sluagh	sleih	llu	lu	lu	people / horde / force
sú	sùgh	soo / soolagh	sudd / sug	súgan	soubenn	juice / sap / soup
táille	taille	tailley	tâl / talaith	tal	tailh	fare / fee / tally
teach	taigh	thie	tŷ	chi	ti	house
teaghlach	teaghlach	lught thie mooinjer thielagh	teulu	teylu	tiegezh	family
teanga	teanga	çhengey	iaith / tafod	yeth / taves	yezh / teod	language / tongue
uaimh	uaimh	oghe / ooig	ogof	fow / gogo / kav / mogow	kavarn / groc'h / mougev / megin	cave
uisce	uisge	ushtey	dŵr	dowr	dour	water

Notes

Words in brackets are the more common forms, or non-cognates
Sea is also farraige is Irish, fairge is Scottish Gaelic, and faarkey in Manx.
Man is also fear is Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and fer in Manx.
Brí = strength, energy, force, significance, meaning (GE)
Bourzh = deck/bridge (of a ship), taol = table (BR)
Bugul = shepherd, bugel = child (BR)
Lu = army (BR)

Links

Stòr-fhaclan Co-dhàimheil Ceilteach (Database of Celtic cognates)
http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/faclair/scc/lorg.php

McBain's Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language
http://www.ceantar.org/Dicts/MB2/

Other pages about Celtic languages

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