Words for companion, ceilidh and related things in Celtic languages.
Ceilidh at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in the Isle of Skye / Cèilidh aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig san Eilean Sgitheanach
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *kēlyos = companion, servant |
|---|---|
| Primitive Irish | ᚉᚓᚂᚔ (celi) = follower, devotee (genitive) |
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | céile [ˈkʲeːlʲe] = client, companion, husband, liege, servant, spouse, subject, vassal céilide [ˈkʲeːlʲiðʲe] = visit, visiting coicéile = companion, comrade, friend, friendship |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | céile, ceile, céli = servant, bondsman, vassal, subject, fellow, companion, husband céileachas = adultery céilide = visit, act of visiting coicéile, cocéle, coceli = vassal, bondsman, companion, fellow, friend coicéilsine, cocéilsine, cocélsine = fellowship, clientship |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | céile [ˈceːlʲə] = companion, spouse céileachas = companionship, cohabitation, copulation céilí = friend call, visit, social evening, Irish dancing session céilíoch = person fond of social visits, sociable person céilíocht = sociableness, companionableness céiliúil = companionable coigéile = mate, companion coigéilsine = fellowship, companionship |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | cèile [kʲeːlə] = fellow, partner, significant other, spouse, counterpart cèile-còmhraige = opponent, antagonist cèile-pòsta = married partner (husband or wife) cèileach [kʲeːləx] = entertaining cèileachadh [kʲeːləxəɣ] = participating/sharing in, twinning, partnering (of a city) cèiliche [kʲeːlɪçə] = visitor cèilidh [kʲeːlɪ] = ceilidh, visit, (act of) visiting cèilidheach [kʲeːlɪjəx] = companionable, fond of company, sociable |
| Manx (Gaelg) | keilley = match dy cheilley = joined, together e cheilley = fellow ry-cheilley = en masse, together, with each other kaylee = ceilidh |
| Proto-Brythonic | *kuɨlð = servant, companion |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | cilit, cilid, kilid, kilyd = servant, companion |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cilydd [ˈkɪlɨ̞ð/ˈkiːlɪð] = fellow, companion, neighbour, enemy, other cilyddol = reciprocal, mutual at ei gilydd = together gyda’i gilydd = together ei gilydd = each other o bryd i’w gilydd = from time to time |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | cele = companion, fellow, one of two |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kila = companion |
| Old Breton | kiled = friend |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | kile = the other (one), friend |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | kile = associate, stooge, colleague, sidekick |
Etymology: possibly the Proto-Celtic word originally meant ‘wayfarer’, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱey- (to settle, to be lying down) [source].
The English word ceilidh [ˈkeɪli] (an informal social gathering where traditional Irish or Scottish folk music is played, with dancing and storytelling; a ceilidh dance; to dance a ceilidh) was borrowed from Scottish Gaelic and/or from Irish [source]. Someone who attends a ceilidh is apparently a ceilidher [source].
The Welsh equivalent of a ceilidh is a twmpath, which also meanings hillock, knoll, mound, pile, gathering or assembly. It’s also a known as a twmpath dawns (folk-dance, barn dance, public dance) or noson lawen (“merry/joyful evening”). In Cornish a ceilidh is a troyll, which also means spiral or swirl, and in Breton they are known as fest-noz [source].
| Irish (Gaeilge) | comhar [kõːɾˠ] = combined work, mutual assistance, co-operation, partnership |
|---|---|
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | coimheart [kɔ̃jəRʃd] = companion |
| Manx (Gaelg) | commeeys = communion, connection, league, mess, participation, partnership, relations (between people) |
| Proto-Brythonic | *kumpar = peer, fellow, spouse, partner, companion |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | kymar = peer, fellow, spouse, partner, companion |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cymar [ˈkəmar] = equal, peer, companion, mate, fellow, spouse, consort cymar bywyd = life partner cymhares = female partner, wife, mate, companion, equal cymharus = well matched, well paired, corresponding, matching, appropriate, fitting cymheiriaeth = a coupling together, partnership |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | cespar = spouse, married person, mate |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | kespar / kespares = partner kesplegadow = compatible |
Etymology (Brythonic words): from Latin compār (fellow, partner, equal [person], spouse), from con- (used to indicate being or bringing together), from cum (with), and pār (even, equal, like; companion, comrade, mate, spouse) [source]. The Goidelic words may come from different roots.
Words from the same roots include compare, pair, par (equal value) and peer in English, paar (pair, couple, some) in Dutch, and péire (pair) in Irish [source].
| Proto-Brythonic | *ko-u̯ekt- = companion, comrade, friend (?) *ko-u̯ektii̯ŏ- = company, band or gathering of companions, troop, host, retinue |
|---|---|
| Old Welsh (Kembraec) | coueidid = company, band or gathering of companions, troop, host, retinue |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | kyueith, kyweith = companion, comrade, friend kiueithad = society, company, partnership kyweithaed = gathering, company kyweythas, kyweithas, keuey[th]as = soceity, company, fellowship, companionship kweithasgar = sociable, gentle, kind(ly), gracious kyweithit, ky()eithyd, kyweithyd = company, band or gathering of companions, troop, host, retinue |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | cywaith = companion, comrade, friend; association, harmony cyweithad = society, company, partnership cyweithäed = gathering, company cyweithas = soceity, company, fellowship, companionship, alliance, commerce; sociable, gentle, kindly cyweithasu = to associate, civilze, treat with courtesy cyweithasgar = sociable, gentle, kind(ly), gracious cyweith(i)asol = social, kind, gentle courteous cyweithydd = company, band or gathering of companions, troop, host, retinue |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | coweth, cowyth = companion, fellow, mate, comrade cowethas = company, society cowethe = company, sociery cowethes = female companion, help-mate cowetheyans = communion, fellowship cowethys = acquainted |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | koweth / kowethes = companion, comrade, friend, mate, peer kowethas = association, society kowethasek = social kowethegeth = friendship kowethek = friendly kowethus = gregarious kowethyades, kowethyas = colleague kowethyadow = socialable kowethyans = company, organisation |
Etymology: from Proto-Brythonic *ko- (together, equal, similar) u̯ekt- (to move, go) [source].
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
