Seals

28th November 20205th April 2024 By Simon

Words for seal and other creatures in Celtic languages.

Species of seals that may be found around the Celtic lands include the common or harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Other species are available.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	rón = seal
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	rón, ron = seal
Irish (Gaeilge)	rón = seal rón beag = harbour/common seal rón glas = grey seal rónach = seals, abounding in seals cladach rónta = shoal of seals
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ròn [r̪ˠɔːn] = seal ròn cumanta / ròn-dubh = harbour/common seal ròn glas = grey seal rònan [r̪ˠɔːnan] = little seal rònach [r̪ˠɔːnəx] = pertaining to or abounding in seals rònanach [r̪ˠɔːnanəx] = pertaining to or abounding in little seals
Manx (Gaelg)	raun = seal raun beg = harbour/common seal raun glass/ghlass = grey seal raunagh = seal-like, seal hunt
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	moelronyeit, moelrawn, moelrhawn = hippopotamus, seal
Welsh (Cymraeg)	moelrhon, moelrhawn = seal, porpoise, dophin, hippopotamus moelrhonaidd = seal-like moelrhoniwr = seal hunter
Cornish (Kernewek)	reun = seal reun kemmyn = harbour/common seal reun loos = grey seal
Breton (Brezhoneg)	reunig = seal reunig morleue = harbour/common seal reunig gris = grey seal

Etymology: possibly from Old English hran (whale), from Proto-Germanic *harza/harza- (a kind of fish). Incidentally, the Irish name Rónán means “little seal” [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	morhwch, morwch = seal, porpoise, dolphin
Welsh (Cymraeg)	morwch, môr-hwch = seal, porpoise, dolphin
Old Cornish	morhoch = porpoise
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	morhoch = porpoise
Cornish (Kernewek)	morhogh = porpoise
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	morhouch, mourouch, moroch = porpoise
Breton (Brezhoneg)	morhoc’h = porpoise

Etymology (Welsh): from môr (sea) and hwch (calf). The words in Cornish and Breton come from similar roots [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	morylo = seal
Welsh (Cymraeg)	morlo [ˈmɔrlɔ] = seal, sealskin morlo cyffredin = common seal morlo llwyd = grey seal
Breton (Brezhoneg)	leue-mor = seal

Etymology (Welsh): from môr (sea) and llo (calf). The word in Breton come from similar roots [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

Sea Monsters

20th November 202020th November 2020 By Simon

Words for whale in Celtic languages.

Some species of whales that may be found around the Celtic lands include the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), the common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), the sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), and the killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca). Other species are available.

Proto-Celtic	*mori-mīlo = whale
Old Irish (Goídelc)	míl mór / bled / bledmil = whale, sea monster
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	murimil / bled = whale, sea monster
Irish (Gaeilge)	míol mór = whale míol mór an oighir = humpback whale míol mór an oighir = North Atlantic right whale droimeiteach beag = common minke whale droimeiteach = fin whale mhadadh-cuain = killer whale
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mial-mhór / muc-mhara / blaoch / bleth / bleidh mhiol = whale muc-mhara dhronnach, muc-mhara chrotach = humpback whale muc-mhara cheart thuathach = North Atlantic right whale muc-mhionc choitcheann, rorcual-beag = common minke whale muc-mhara nan saoidhean = sei whale muc-mhara dhruim-iteach / muc-an-sgadain = fin whale cráin dhubh / grampar = killer whale
Manx (Gaelg)	meeyl mooar, muc varrey = whale feer-whale = right whale muc-varrey Minke = minke whale
Welsh (Cymraeg)	morfil = whale, sea monster, the constellation Cetus (the Whale) morfil cefngrwm = humpback whale morfil cywir / morfil walbon = right whale morfil pigfain = common minke whale morfil sei / morfil asgellog sei = sei whale morfil asgellog llwyd = fin whale morfil danheddog / morfil ffyrnig / lleiddiad = killer whale
Cornish (Kernewek)	morvil = whale
Breton (Brezhoneg)	morvil = whale balum askellek = humpback whale balum reizh du = North Atlantic right whale skoazog = killer whale

Etymology: these words mean ‘sea creature’, ‘large beast’, ‘sea pig’ or something similar.

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, TermOfis

Water Snakes (Eels)

12th November 202012th November 2020 By Simon

Words for eel in the Celtic languages.

In Celtic-speaking areas, the most common species of eels are the European eel or silver eel (Anguilla anguilla) ,and the European conger (eel) (Conger conger). Other eels are available.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	escong / escumg / esconga / escuma = eel
Irish (Gaeilge)	eascann [ˈasˠkən̪ˠ] = eel, reptile, snake eascann abhann = freshwater eel eascann choncair / eascann mhara = conger eel
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	easgann [esgən̪ˠ] / feasgainn [fesgɪn̪ʲ] = eel easgann-mhara / easgann-dhubh a’ chladaich = conger eel
Manx (Gaelg)	astan = eel astan marrey = sea eel, conger eel
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llysywen / ‘slywen = eel llysywen ariannaidd = silver eel llysywen fôr (y môr) / congren = European conger eel
Cornish (Kernewek)	sylli = eel
Breton (Brezhoneg)	silienn = eel silienn-dour-dous = European eel silienn-vor = European conger eel

Etymology: possibly from *esc (water) and the Proto-Indo-European *h₂éngʷʰis (snake).

Should you find that eels have infested your hovercraft, as they often do, here’s how you can say that in Celtic languages:

Irish: Tá m’árthach foluaineach lán d’eascanna
Scottish Gaelic: Tha a’ bàta-falbhain agam loma-làn easgannan
Manx: Ta my lhong chrowal lane dy astanyn
Cornish: Leun a sylli yw ow skath bargesi
Welsh: Mae fy hofrenfad yn llawn llyswennod
Breton: Leun gant sili eo ma dourruzer

This phrase in many more languages

Here’s a song I wrote some years ago which features hovercrafts and eels and has verses in Welsh and Irish.

Simon Ager · A Hen in My Hat / Iâr yn fy Het

Trout

5th November 202016th December 2022 By Simon

Words for trout and related fish in the Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	brecc = trout
Irish (Gaeilge)	breac [bʲɾʲak] = trout; fish breac buí / breac rua = brown trout breac-mara = sea trout
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	breac [brʲɛxɡ] = trout breac-donn, breac-mara, breac-sàile = brown/sea trout
Manx (Gaelg)	brack/breck = trout, brown trout; speckled, spotted breck awin / breck dhoan = brown trout breck gial = sea trout
Welsh (Cymraeg)	brychyn = a speckled one, freckled person, freckled face; trout brychiad = spotted or freckled person; sea trout, sewin brych y dail = sea trout, sewin

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *brikkos (speckled, spotted). from the Proto-Indo-European *perḱ- (motley, coloured, spotted).

Some trout-related expressions:

Irish: Chomh folláin le breac = as fit as a fiddle (“as healthy as a trout”)
Irish: An breac sa bhainne = the fly in the ointment (“the trout in the milk”)
Irish: Ní breac é go raibh sé ar an bport = don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched (“It’s not a trout until it’s in the port”)
Manx: Ta breck ‘sy laue ny share na braddan ‘sy lhingey = A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (“The trout in the hand is better than the salmon in the pool”)
Manx: Ta breck ‘sy vainney = a fly in the ointment (“a trout is in the milk”)
Manx: T’eh cha follan as breck = He’s a fit as a fiddle (“He’s as healthy as a trout”)

Welsh (Cymraeg)	brithyll = trout brithyll môr = sea trout, salmon trout
Old Cornish	breithil = trout
Cornish (Kernewek)	brythel = trout
Breton (Brezhoneg)	brezel = mackerel

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *mrixtil(l)o- / *mr-ī- (trout).

Cornish (Kernewek)	truth = trout
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dluzh = trout dluzh fario = brown trout dluzh-mor = sea trout

Etymology: unknown

The species of trout most common found in and around the Celtic speaking lands are the brown trout (Salmo trutta), and the sea trout (Salmo trutta trutta), which is also known as finnock in Scotland, sewin in Wales and white trout or salmon trout in Ireland [source].

Salmon

30th October 202030th October 2020 By Simon

Words for salmon in the Celtic languages. The species of salmon most common found around Celtic speaking lands is the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Other species of salmon are available.

There are three words for salmon in Proto-Celtic: *esoxs / *esāk, *φenk-īnjo and *φorko. Only the first one has descendents in the modern Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	esoxs / esāk = salmon
Gallaecian	*īsis = salmon
Gaulish	*esoks = salmon
Old Irish (Goídelc)	eo [eːo̯] = salmon
Irish (Gaeilge)	eo [oː / ɔː] = salmon; noble being, prince
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	eò [jɔː] = salmon (archaic) eog = salmon
Proto-Brythonic	*esāx = salmon
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ehawc = salmon
Welsh (Cymraeg)	eog [ˈɛ.ɔɡ / ˈeː.ɔɡ] = salmon, sea-trout, sewin, samlet
Old Cornish	ehoc = salmon
Cornish (Kernewek)	eghek = salmon
Middle Breton	eheuc = salmon
Breton (Brezhoneg)	eog = salmon

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *peysḱ- (fish).

Old Irish (Goídelc)	bratán = salmon
Irish (Gaeilge)	bradán [bˠɾˠəˈd̪ˠaːn̪ˠ / ˈbˠɾˠad̪ˠaːnˠ / ˈbˠɾˠɑd̪ˠɑnˠ] = salmon
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	braden [bradan] = salmon
Manx (Gaelg)	braddan = salmon

Etymology: from the Old Irish brat (captivity, bondage, robbery) and án (diminutive suffix).

Welsh (Cymraeg)	samon / samwn = salmon
Cornish (Kernewek)	sowman = salmon
Breton (Brezhoneg)	somon = salmon

Etymology: from the English salmon, from the Middle English samoun, samon, saumon (salmon), from the Anglo-Norman saumon (salmon), from the Old French saumon, from the Latin salmō (salmon), either from the Proto-Celtic *esoxs / *esāk, or from the Latin saliō (to leap).

Fish

25th October 202025th October 2020 By Simon

Words for fish in the Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ɸēskos = fish
Old Irish (Goídelc)	íasc = fish
Irish (Gaeilge)	iasc [iəsˠk] = fish, to fish iasc (uisce) abhann / locha [iəsˠk] = river / lake fish, freshwater fish iasc farraige / iasc mara [iəsˠk] = sea-fish, saltwater fish
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	iasg [iəsg] = fish, Pisces iasg fìor-uisge = freshwater fish iasg mara = saltwater fish
Manx (Gaelg)	eeast = fish eeast awin = freshwater fish eeast marrey = marine fish, sea fish
Proto-Brythonic	*uɨsk = fish
Welsh (Cymraeg)	Wysg [uːɨ̯sk / ʊi̯sk] = Usk (river)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pisḱ-/peysḱ- (fish). The name of the river Exe comes from the same root, as does Exmoor, where the river rises, Exmouth, where it meets the sea, and Exeter, which stands on the river.

Welsh (Cymraeg)	pysgod [ˈpəsɡɔd] = fish(es), Pisces pysgod aweddwr / pysgod dŵr croyw / pysgod dŵr glân [iəsˠk] = freshwater fish pysgod (y) môr [iəsˠk] = sea fish, saltwater fish
Cornish (Kernewek)	pysk [pɪːsk] / pesk = fish
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pesked = fish

Etymology: from the Latin piscātus, past participle of piscor (to fish), from piscis (fish), from Proto-Indo-European *pisḱ-/peysḱ- (fish).

Interesting idioms related to fish:

Irish: Iasc as uisce i do bhéal! = Restrain your tongue! (“Fish out of water in your mouth”)
Irish: Ar iascadh libh? = Did you catch fish / succeed in your quest
Irish: Ar iascach ar dhuine = to fish information from sb
Welsh: pysgota mewn dŵr llwyd = to fish in troubled waters

Buzzards

15th October 202015th October 2020 By Simon

Words for buzzard (Buteo buteo) and related birds of prey in the Celtic languages. Some appear to be related to each other, others are not.

Irish (Gaeilge)	clamhán = (common) buzzard, bald patch, dodder clamhán lópach = rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	clamhan [kl̪ˠavan] / claman [kl̪ˠaman] = buzzard stannaire = (common) buzzard searrach-ruadh = (common) buzzard gilm [ɡʲilʲim] = (common) buzzard bleideir [bledʲɪrʲ] = (common) buzzard bleideir-molach / bleideir-tònach / clamhan-molach / clamhan-tònach = rough-legged buzzard
Manx (Gaelg)	shirragh / shyrragh = buzzard, falcon, kite, seeker, bird of prey stannair = buzzard, hawk shyrragh-ruy = (common) buzzard shirragh mollagh / clowan liauyr-lurgagh = rough-legged buzzard
Welsh (Cymraeg)	boda / bòd = buzzard, red kite, great bustard, bird of prey boda llwyd / boda teircaill = (Common) buzzard boda bacsiog / boda garwgoes = rough-legged buzzard bwncath = buzzard
Cornish (Kernewek)	bargos = buzzard bargos gar arow = rough-legged buzzard
Breton (Brezhoneg)	baou = buzzard baou voutin = common buzzard baou an toundra = rough-legged buzzard

Etymology: unknown

Old Irish (Goídelc)	lon [l͈on] = blackbird
Irish (Gaeilge)	lon / lon dubh = (Common / Eurasian) blackbird (Turdus merula), lon creige ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lon [l̪ˠɔn] / lòn-dubh [l̪ˠɔnˈduh] = blackbird, ouzel lon-monaidh = ring ouzel

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic	traskl / trozdi = thrush
Old Irish (Goídelc)	truit = starling
Irish (Gaeilge)	truis = thrush
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	druid [drɯdʲ] = starling, thrush
Manx (Gaelg)	treshlen = song thrush treshlen vooar = mistle thrush
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tresglen = (mistle) thrush tresglen y crawel = mistle thrush
Breton (Brezhoneg)	drask(l) = thrush drask-su = song thrush drask-rouee = mistle thrush

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *trozdo- (thrush).

Other Welsh words for blackbird include aderyn du (“black bird”), and pigfelyn (“yellow beak”).

A song thrush in Welsh is y fronfraith (“the speckled breast”), crecer, bronfraith y grug, aderyn bronfraith or bronfraith fawr.

Blackbirds

11th October 202015th October 2020 By Simon

Words for blackbirds, thrushes, ouzels and starlings in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	mesal-(s)kā / meisalko = blackbird
Irish (Gaeilge)	smólach = thrush smólach ceoil = song thursh (Turdus philomelos) smólach mór = mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	smèarach [smɛːrəx] / smaolach [smɯːl̪ˠəx] / smeòrach [smjɔːrəx] = thrush, mavis smeòrach-choitcheann = song thrush smólach mór = mistle thrush
Proto-Brythonic	*miyalx- = blackbird
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mwyalchen [muɨ̯ˈalχɛn / mui̯ˈalχɛn] = blackbird mwyalchen y mynydd = ring ouzel
Cornish (Kernewek)	molgh = thrush molgh dhu = blackbird molgh loos = song thrush molgh glas = mistle thrush molgh meneth = ring ouzel
Breton (Brezhoneg)	moualc’h / moualc’h zu = blackbird moualc’h-venez = ring ouzel

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ems- (black, blackbird).

Old Irish (Goídelc)	lon [l͈on] = blackbird
Irish (Gaeilge)	lon / lon dubh = (Common / Eurasian) blackbird (Turdus merula), lon creige ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lon [l̪ˠɔn] / lòn-dubh [l̪ˠɔnˈduh] = blackbird, ouzel lon-monaidh = ring ouzel
Manx (Gaelg)	llondoo = blackbird lhonnag = (immature) blackbird lhon ny keylley = mistle thrush lhon fainnit / lhon ny greg = ring ouzel

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic	traskl / trozdi = thrush
Old Irish (Goídelc)	truit = starling
Irish (Gaeilge)	truis = thrush
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	druid [drɯdʲ] = starling, thrush
Manx (Gaelg)	treshlen = song thrush treshlen vooar = mistle thrush
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tresglen = (mistle) thrush tresglen y crawel = mistle thrush
Breton (Brezhoneg)	drask(l) = thrush drask-su = song thrush drask-rouee = mistle thrush

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *trozdo- (thrush).

Other Welsh words for blackbird include aderyn du (“black bird”), and pigfelyn (“yellow beak”).

A song thrush in Welsh is y fronfraith (“the speckled breast”), crecer, bronfraith y grug, aderyn bronfraith or bronfraith fawr.

Here’s a tune I wrote called The Blackbird’s Tail / Cynffon yr Aderyn Du:

Simon Ager · The Blackbird’s Tail / Cynffon yr Aderyn Du

Jays

30th September 202030th September 2020 By Simon

Words for jays in Celtic languages.

Irish (Gaeilge)	scréachóg = jay, shrill-voiced bird scréachóg choille = (Eurasian) jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sgreuchag [sɡrʲiaxaɡ] = jay, nightjar, heron, gull, owl (a screeching bird); screacher, screamer; shrill woman sgreuchag-choille [sɡrʲiaxaɡ xɤl̪ʲə] = (Eurasian) jay
Manx (Gaelg)	screeaghag = jay screeaghag cheylley = (Eurasian) jay
Welsh (Cymraeg)	(y)sgrech [(ə)sˈkreːχ] = jay, starling; scream, screech, shriek (y)sgrechog [(ə)sˈkreːχɔɡ] = jay, parrot; screaming, screeching, squealing (y)sgrech y coed [(ə)sˈkreːχ ə kɔid] = (Eurasian) jay, starling

Etymology: these all mean something like “screecher / screamer (of the woods)”.

Cornish (Kernewek)	kegin = jay
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kegin-derv = (Eurasian) jay

Etymology: unknown

Owls

21st September 202022nd September 2020 By Simon

Words for owls in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	ulchobc(h)án / ulchubc(h)án = owl
Irish (Gaeilge)	ulchabhán / ulcachán = (barn) owl (Tyto alba) ulchabhán donn = tawny/brown owl (Strix aluco) ulchabhán réisc / ulchabhán chluasgearr = short-eared owl (Asio flammeus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ullaid [ul̪ˠadʲ] = (barn) owl ullaid-sgreuch = barn owl
Manx (Gaelg)	hullad = owl hullad vane / hullad soailt = barn owl hullad ghoan = tawny/brown owl hullad eairkagh = long-eared owl (Asio otus) hullad ny gurreeyn = short-eared owl
Cornish (Kernewek)	oula / ula = owl ula gwynn = barn owl ula kernek = long-eared owl ula gwenn = short-eared owl

Etymology: probably of imitative origin

Irish (Gaeilge)	cailleach oíche = barn owl
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cailleach-oidhche [kal̪ʲəxˈɤ̃ĩçə] = (tawny) owl, spiritless fellow cailleach-oidhche gheal = barn owl
Manx (Gaelg)	caillagh oie = barn owl, white owl

Etymology: means literally “night crone/witch”

Irish (Gaeilge)	ceann cait = long-eared owl
Manx (Gaelg)	kione kiyt = long-eared owl

Etymology: means literally “cat head”

Proto-Celtic	*kawannos = owl
Gaulish	*cauannos = owl
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	comhachag [kõ.əxag] = owl comhachag-ruadh / comhachag-dhonn = tawny/brown owl comhachag-adharcach = long-eared owl comhachag-chluasach = short-eared owl
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cuan = owl
Cornish (Kernewek)	kowan [ˈkɔwan / ˈkɔwɐn] = owl
Old Breton	couann = owl
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kaouenn = owl kaouenn penn-tev = tawny/brown owl

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kaw- (owl) – of imitative origin. Related to the Latin căvannus (night owl) [source].

Welsh (Cymraeg)	tylluan [təˈɬɨ̞.an / təˈɬiː.an] = owl tylluan wen / tylluan ysgubor = barn owl tylluan frech / tylluan felynddu / tylluan y coed / tylluan lwyd / tylluan rudd / y dylluan fig = tawny/brown owl
Breton (Brezhoneg)	toud penn-kazh = long-eared owl toud-lann = short-eared owl

Etymology: probably of imitative origin. I’m not sure if these words are cognate.

Breton (Brezhoneg)	grell voutin = barn owl

Etymology: unknown

Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwdihŵ [ɡʊdɪˈhuː] = owl gwdihŵ frech / gwdihŵ goch = tawny/brown owl

Etymology: probably of imitative origin

The owls included here are commonly found in Celtic-speaking lands. Other types of owls are available.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)

Seals

Sea Monsters

Water Snakes (Eels)

Trout

Salmon

Fish

Buzzards

Blackbirds

Jays

Owls