Words for wolf in Celtic languages.
Proto-Celtic | *waylos = wolf |
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Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | fáel [faːi̯l] = wolf, howler |
Irish (Gaeilge) | foal [fˠeːlˠ / fˠiːlˠ] = wolf |
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | foal [fɯːlˠ] = wolf, wild dog |
Manx (Gaelg) | filliu = wolf |
Etymology
From the Proto-Indo-European *waylos (wolf, howler) – this was apparently used instead of the usual PIE word for wolf, *wĺ̥kʷos, due to taboos [source].
Note: faol is an archaic and literary word for wolf in Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It does appear in the word faolchú (wild dog) though. More common words for wolf in Irish include mac tíre (“son of the land”) and madra alla (“wild dog”). In Scottish Gaelic a wolf is madadh-allaidh (“wild dog”), mac-tìre (“son of the land”) or faol-chù (“wild dog”).
Proto-Celtic | *bledyos = wolf |
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Old Irish (Goídelc) | bled = sea monster |
Irish (Gaeilge) | bleidmhíol = monster, whale |
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | bleidh-mhial [ble viəlˠ] = sea monster (esp. whale – archaic) |
Proto-Brythonic | *blėð = wolf |
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | bleidd = wolf |
Welsh (Cymraeg) | blaidd [blai̯ð] = wolf |
Old Cornish | bleit = wolf |
Cornish (Kernewek) | bleydh [blɛɪð / bləɪð] = wolf |
Old Breton | bleid = wolf |
Breton (Brezhoneg) | bleiz [ˈblɛjs] = wolf |
Etymology: unknown – probably borrowed from a non-Indo-European language [source].
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau