Category: English

Cats

By Simon

Words for cat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *kattā = cat
Old Irish (Goídelc) cath = cat
Irish (Gaeilge) cat = cat
cat fireann = tomcat
piscín = kitten
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cat [kahd] = cat
cat fireann / moth-chat / cullach-cait = tomcat, bossy child
baircne = female cat, white cat
piseag [piʃag] = kitten
Manx (Gaelg) kayt = feline, cat, puss
kayt firryn = tomcat
pishin / pishanagh = kitten
Proto-Brythonic *kaθ = cat
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) cath, kath = cat
Welsh (Cymraeg) cath [kaθ] = cat, wild cat
cwrcath / gwrcath / cwrcyn = tomcat
cath fenyw = queen, female cat
cath fach = kitten
Old Cornish kat = cat
Middle Cornish cath = cat
Cornish (Kernewek) kath [kaːθ / kæːθ] = cat
kathik = kitten
Breton (Brezhoneg) kazh [ˈkɑːs] = cat, tomcat
kazheg [ˈkɑː.zes] = queen, female cat
kazhig [ˈkɑː.zik] = kitten

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Smudge, one of my sister's cats

Badgers

By Simon

Words for badger in Celtic languages.

Badgers, Dinefwr Park, Llandeilo

Proto-Celtic *brokkos = badger
Gaulish *broco / *brokkos = badger
Primitive Irish ᚁᚏᚑᚉᚔ (broci) = badger (genitive)
Old Irish (Goídelc) brocc [brok] = badger
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) brocc, broc = badger, brock
broclas = brock-holes
brocnait = she-badger
broic(th)enach = badger-warren, haunt of badgers
Irish (Gaeilge) broc [bˠɾˠɔk / bˠɾˠʌk] = badger, dirty-faced person, short thick-set person
brocach = badger’s burrow, fox’s earth
brocaire = terrier
brocaireacht = (act of) badger-baiting
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) broc [brɔxg] = badger, brock, grumpy/surly person
brocair [brɔxgɛrʲ] = badger/fox hunter
broc-lann [brɔxgl̪ˠən̪ˠ] = badger’s den/sett
broclach = (badger / fox) warren, messy area, rubbish, messy person
brocach [brɔxgəx] = badger-like, pertaining to or abounding in badgers, black-faced, stinking, squalid, filthy, odious
brocail [brɔxgal] = badger-like, pertaining to badgers
Manx (Gaelg) broc(k) = badger
brockagh = badger’s den
Proto-Brythonic *brox = badger
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) broch = badger, brock
brochwart = badger ward, keeper of a badger
Welsh (Cymraeg) broch [broːχ] = badger, brock
brochwart = badger ward, keeper of a badger
Old Cornish broch = badger
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) broch, bróch = badger
Cornish (Kernewek) brogh [bɹoːx] = badger
broghki = dachsund
Middle Breton (Brezonec) broch, broh, broc’h = badger
Breton (Brezhoneg) broc’h [ˈbʁoːx] = badger
broc’heta = to hunt badgers

Etymology: unknown, possibly cognate with Old High German braccho (sniffer dog). Words from the same Celtic roots include brochure, brooch and brock (male badger – northern England) in English, brock (badger) in Scott, broche (brooch, spit, spike, peg, pin) in French, brocco (thorn, stick) in Italian, and broco (having long projecting horns; bad-tempered) in Galician [Source].

Proto-Celtic *taskos = badger
Gaulish *tasgos = badger
Galatian τασκός (taksos) = badger

Etymology: unknown [Source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) mochyn daear / daearfochyn = badger

Etymology: from the Welsh mochyn (pig) and daear (earth, ground) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s a tune I wrote in 2017 called The Unexpected Badger / Y Mochyn Daear Annisgwyl

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

Blubrry podcast hosting

Bears

By Simon

Words for bear in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *artos = bear
Noric *𐌀𐌓𐌕𐌄(𐌁𐌖𐌈𐌆) (Arte(budz)) = bear(?)
Gaulish *artio = bear
Old Irish (Goídelc) art [ar͈t] = bear, hero, warrior
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) art [ar̪ˠʃd] = bear (archaic), hero
Proto-Brythonic *arθ [arθ] = bear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) arth [arθ] = bear
Welsh (Cymraeg) arth [arθ] = bear, fierce or rough person
Cornish (Kernewek) arth [ɒɹθ] = bear
Old Breton ard / arth = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg) arzh = bear

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ursa [ur̪ˠsə] = bear
Cornish (Kernewek) ors = bear
Breton (Brezhoneg) ourz = ourz

Etymology: possibly from the Latin ursa (she-bear), from ursus (bear), from the Proto-Italic *orssos (bear), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (bear) [Source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) mathgamain [ˈmaθɣəṽənʲ] = bear
Irish (Gaeilge) mathúin [ˈmˠahuːnʲ] = bear
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) mathan [ˈmahan] = bear
Manx (Gaelg) maghouin = bear

Etymology: from the Old Irish math (good) and gamuin (calf) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

bears

Calling Words

By Simon

Words for to call in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *garyo- = to cry, shout
Old Irish (Goídelc) gairid [ˈɡarʲiðʲ] = to call, cry out, summon, name
Irish (Gaeilge) gair [ɡaɾʲ] = to call, summon, invoke, name, proclaim, inaugurate, acclaim
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) gàir [gaːrʲ] = to laugh, shout, cry, make a noise, resound
Manx (Gaelg) guee = to invoke, crave, beseech, entreat, appeal, swear by, pray, beg, swear, curse
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) garddu = word
Welsh (Cymraeg) gair [ɡai̯r] = word; speech, phrase; greeting, salutation; short extempore address or exhortation; saying, proverb
Cornish (Kernewek) ger = word
Old Breton gerent = word
Breton (Brezhoneg) ger [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = word, phrase, question

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵeh₂r- (to call, cry out) [Source].

Proto-Brythonic *gėlwɨd = to call
Welsh (Cymraeg) galw [ˈɡalu / ˈɡaːlu] = to call, shout, bawl, summon, invite
Cornish (Kernewek) gelwel = to call, appeal, invite, summon
Breton (Brezhoneg) galven [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = to call, summon

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gal(o)s- (voice, cry) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Eating

By Simon

Words for to eat in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *essi = to eat
Old Irish (Goídelc) ithid [ˈiθʲiðʲ] = to eat
Irish (Gaeilge) ith [ɪ / ɪh] = to eat, feed, graze, bite, corrode, erode, consume, destroy, abuse, scold, revile, chew
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ith [iç] = to eat, gnaw, chew, devour, corrode, consume
Manx (Gaelg) ee [i] = to eat, devour, feed, erode, kill off, dispose; consumption, eating, depletion
Welsh (Cymraeg) ysu [ˈəsɨ / ˈəsi] = to consume, eat, devour, destroy, ruin, corrode, erode, wear away, torment, itch
Old Cornish esat = to eat, eating

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁édti (to eat) [Source].

Welsh (Cymraeg) bwyta [ˈbʊɨ̯ta / ˈbʊi̯ta] = to eat, consume, devour, ravage, waste, wear away, corrode, rust

Etymology: bwyd (food) +‎ –ha (denominative suffix) [Source].

Cornish (Kernewek) dybri / debry = to eat
Old Breton diprim = to eat
Breton (Brezhoneg) debriñ [ˈde.bʁɪ̃] = to eat

Etymology: uncertain

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Going, Going, Gone

By Simon

Words for to go in Celtic languages.

Note: this is one of the few irregular verbs in the celtic languages, and some different parts of the conjugations come from different roots.

Proto-Celtic *tēgeti = to go, step
Old Irish (Goídelc) téít [tʲeːdʲ] = to go, process, depart leave
Irish (Gaeilge) téigh [tʲeːɟ / tʲeːj / tʲeː] = to go, move, proceed, get on, fare, make, cost
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) tèid = will go – (future form of rach)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *stéygʰeti (to be walking, to be climbing) [Source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) dul = to go, going
Irish (Gaeilge) dul [d̪ˠʊlˠ] = going, passing, departure, way, method, means, proper, natural, arrangement, style – (verb noun of téigh)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) dol [dɔl̪ˠ] = (act of) going, (act of) proceeding
Manx (Gaelg) goll = to go, show out, disembark, going, sinking, passage, departure

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic *monītor = go
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) muinithir = goes around
Proto-Brythonic *moned = go
Welsh (Cymraeg) mynd [mɨ̞nd / mɪnd] = to go, leave, depart, die, disappear, perish, come to an end, elapse, pass
Cornish (Kernewek) mos = to go, become
Breton (Brezhoneg) monet = to go, to become

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *menH- [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Deafness

By Simon

Words for deaf in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *bodaros = deaf
Old Irish (Goídelc) bodar [ˈboðar] = deaf
Irish (Gaeilge) bodhar [bˠəuɾˠ] = deaf; bothered, confused; dull; numb; immovable, stagnant
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) bodhar [bo.ər] = deaf; dull; diseased (of cattle, esp. with anthrax)
Manx (Gaelg) bouyr = deaf
Proto-Brythonic *boðar = deaf
Welsh (Cymraeg) byddar = deaf, hard of hearing, deaf person; not giving ear to request, pigheaded; dead, deadened, numb
Cornish (Kernewek) bodhar = deaf
Breton (Brezhoneg) bouzar = deaf; on the house (free of charge)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰodʰHrós (deaf) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, , Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Roundness

By Simon

Words for round in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *krundis = round
Old Irish (Goídelc) cruind, cruinn = round
Irish (Gaeilge) cruinn [kɾˠiːnʲ / kɾˠɪn̠ʲ] = round; gathered; exact, accurate; clear, coherent; concentrated; frugal, sparing, miserly
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) cruinn [krɯin̪ʲ] = round, circular, spherical; rotund; neat, succinct, well-formed; assembled, gathered together
Manx (Gaelg) cruinn = accurate, detailed, unambigous, round, spherical, circular, circumstantial, compact, consummate, exact, scrupulous, strict
Proto-Brythonic *krunn = round
Welsh (Cymraeg) crwn [krʊn] = round, circular, rotund, spherical, globular; cylindrical; fat, plump, fleshy; complete, entire; young, small
Cornish (Kernewek) krenn = round
Breton (Brezhoneg) krenn = medium, clean, full, round,

Etymology: unknown, possibly borrowed from a non-Indo-European language [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, , Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

On the roundabout / Ar y cwmpasog

Wickedly Bad

By Simon

Words for bad in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *drukos = bad
Old Irish (Goídelc) droch [drox] = bad
Irish (Gaeilge) droch = bad, poor, evil, ill
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) droch [drɔx] = bad, evil, wicked
Manx (Gaelg) drogh = evil, wicked, bad, abusive, unenviable, misfortune, badness
Proto-Brythonic *drug = bad
Welsh (Cymraeg) drwg [druːɡ] = bad, rotten, putrid, poor, piteous, wretched, sorry, grievous, sad; unfavourable, injurious, harmful, unpleasant, indecent, obscene, counterfeit, false, harsh, cruel, severe, ruthless
Cornish (Kernewek) drog = bad, evil, invalid, naughty, wicked, nasty
Breton (Brezhoneg) drouk [ˈdruːk] = bad, evil

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *dʰrewgʰ- (to deceive) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, , Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Clean & Pure

By Simon

Words for clean in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *glanos = clean, clear
Old Irish (Goídelc) glan [ɡlan] = clear, pure, clear
Irish (Gaeilge) glan [ɡlˠanˠ] = clean, clear, pure, bright, well-made, distinct; complete, extact
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) glan [gl̪ˠan] = clean, pure, bright, sheer, downright, great, grand, grovy
Manx (Gaelg) glen = clean, fair, fresh-coloured, clear, pure, chaste, hygienic, sheer, emphatic, downright, peremptory, flat (refusal), cloudless, undefiled, clearcut, unclouded
Proto-Brythonic *glan [ˈɡlan] = clean, clear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) glan = clean, clear
Welsh (Cymraeg) glân [glan] = clean, cleansed, neat; clear of sin, pure, good, virtuous, uncorrupted, undefiled, fair, honest, sincere; holy; fair of countenance, beautiful, handsome; complete, clean, utter, entire
Cornish (Kernewek) glan = clear, clean, pure
Old Breton glan = pure
Middle Breton glan = pure
Breton (Brezhoneg) glan = pure

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰl̥h₃-nó-s, *ǵʰelh₃- (green, yellow) [Source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, , Am Faclair Beag, MacBain’s Dictionary, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old-Irish Glossary, teanglann.ie, On-Line Manx Dictionary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau