The verb to be in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *butā = to be |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | both = to be |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | bí = to be, to exist |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | bì [bi] = to be, to exist |
| Manx (Gaelg) | ve = to be |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | bod [boːd] = to be |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | boz [bɔ:z] = to be, to become, to exist |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | bezañ = to be |
Note: this verb is irregular in all the Celtic languages, and some of the different conjugations come from different roots.
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuh₂- (to become, grow, appear) [source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau
Strictly speaking, in Gaelg (Manx), bee is either the imperative be! or the future tense will be. “To be” is dy ve and the present participle form is simply ve.