Words for Gael, Irish person and other wild types, in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *wēdelos = savage, woodsman |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | Goídel [ˈɡoːi̯ðʲel] = Gael, Irishman Goídelc [ˈɡoːi̯ðʲelɡ] = Irish (language) goídelach = Gaelic, Irish, Gaelic-speaking Goídelta = Gaelic, Irish |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | Gael [ɡeːlˠ] = Gael, Irish person; (Scottish) Highlander Gaeilge/Gaelainn = Irish (language) Gaeilgeoir = Irish speaker/learner Gaeilgeoireacht = (act of) speaking Irish Gaelach = Irish; attached to the Irish language/culture; native to ireland, homely, pleasant, common, ordinary Gaelachas = Irish characteristic(s); attachment to Irish culture Gaelaigh = to Gaelicize Gaeltacht = Irish(-speaking) people; Irish-speaking area; Gaelic-speaking area of Scotland. Gaelú = Gaelicization |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | Gàidheal [gɛː.əl̪ˠ] = Gael, Highlander Gàidhlig [gaːlɪgʲ] = (Scottish) Gaelic (language) A’ Ghàidhealtachd = Highlands Gàidhealach [gɛː.əl̪ˠəx] = (culturally) Gaelic; Highland-related Gàidhealachadh [gɛː.əl̪ˠəx] = making Gaelic; Gaelification, Gaelicisation Gàidheileamailteach [gɛː.aləmaldʲəx] = German learner of Gaelic |
| Manx (Gaelg) | Gael = Gael Gaelg, Gailck = Gaelic, Manx (language) Gaelgagh, Gailckagh = highland people, Manx, Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic Gaelgeyr = (Manx) Gaelic speaker Gaeltaght = Gaelic speaking area |
| Proto-Brythonic | *guɨðel = wild |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | Guoidel, Guodel, Gwydyl = Irishman |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | Gwyddel [ˈɡʊɨ̯ðɛl/ˈɡʊi̯ðɛl] = Irishman Gwyddeles = Irishwoman Gwyddeleg = Irish (language) Gwyddelegwr = Irish speaker, Irish scholar Gwyddelig = Irish, Hibernian; savage, barbarous |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | Godhal = Gael Godhalek = Gaelic (language) |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | Gouezel = Gael gouezel = Gaelic gouezeleg = Gaelic (language) gouezeleger = Gaelic speaker gouezelegva = Gaelic speaking area |
Etmology: from the Proto-Celtic *wēdus (wild), from the Proto-Indo-European *weydʰ- (wood, wilderness). The Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx words for Gael were borrowed from Proto-Brythonic [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)