Words for swan (cygnus) in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *eli- = swan |
|---|---|
| Gaulish | ala = swan alauda = skylark |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | elu = swan |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | ela(e) = swan |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | eala [ˈalˠə] = swan ealach = frequented by swans eala bhalbh = mute swan (Cygnus olor) eala ghlorach = whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | eala [jal̪ˠə] = swan eala bhàn = mute swan eala fhiadhaich = whooper swan ealag, eala-ghlas = cygnet, young swan eala-bheag = Bewick’s (tundra) swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii) |
| Manx (Gaelg) | olla, ollay = (mute) swan ollay chiaulee = whooper swan eean olla = cygnet |
| Proto-Brythonic | alarkos = swan |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | alarch = swan |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | alarch [ˈalarχ/ˈaːlarχ] = swan, the constellation Cygnus alarchaidd = pertaining to a swan, swanlike alarchen = cygnet alarches = female swan alarchwedd = swanlike alarch dôf, alarch mud = mute swan alarch y gogledd, alarch chwibanol, alarch gwyllt = whooper swan |
| Old Cornish | elerch = swan |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | elerch = swan |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | alargh = (mute) swan |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | alarc’h = swan alarc’hez = female cygnet |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | alarc’h = swan alarc’h roueel = mute swan alarc’h-kristilh = whooper swan |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁el- (swan, bird, waterfowl) [source].
Words from the same Proto-Celtic root include alondra (lark) in Spanish, alouette (lark) in French, and allodola (skylark) in Italian. They were probably borrowed from the Gaulish alauda (skylark), from ala (swan) [Source].
Words from the same PIE root include auk (swan) in English, alke (auk) in Danish and Norwegian, and álka (razorbill) in Faroese and Icelandic [Source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
