Category: Cornish (Kernewek)

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

Animals

By Simon

Words for animal and related beasts in Celtic languages.

Animals / Anifeiliad

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic *mīlom = animal
Old Irish (Goídelc) míl = animal, louse, hare
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) míl, miol [mʲiːl] = animal, louse
Irish (Gaeilge) míol [mʲiːlˠ, mʲiːl] = animal, creature, insect, louse
míolach = lousy, verminous, measly, mean, full of animals
míolachán = verminous person or animal
míoladóir = louse-picker, scrounger
míoladóireacht = picking live, scrounging
míoleolaí = zoologist
míoleolaíocht = zoology
míolra = vermin
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) mial [miəl̪ˠ] = louse, tick, animal (archaic)
mialach [miəl̪ˠəx] = lousy, abounding in live, harmless
mialachd [miəl̪ˠəxg] = lousiness, harmlessness
mialtag [miəl̪ˠdag] = gnat
mial-bhalla = bedbug
mial-eòlas = = zoology
Manx (Gaelg) meeyl [miːl] = gnat, insect, louse, gnat
meeyllagh = insectlike, lousy, verminous
meeyllyn = vermin, flies
meeyllaghys = lousiness
Proto-Brythonic *mil [ˈmiːl] = animal
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) mil = animal, beast, creature
Welsh (Cymraeg) mil [miːl] = animal, beast, creature
milaidd = pertaining to animals, like an animal, bestial
mildraeth, mildraith = zoology, zoography, natural history
mildraethydd = zoologist, zoographer
milfa = menagerie
milfeddyg = verterinary, surgeon, farrier
milgi = greyhound
enfil = animal, beast, creature
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) mil = animal, beast
milen = brutish, brutal, cruel
milgy = hound, greyhound
Cornish (Kernewek) mil = animal
milonieth = zoology
milus = brutal
miluster = brutality
milva = zoo
milvedhek = vet, vetinary surgeon
Middle Breton mil = animal
Breton (Brezhoneg) mil [ˈmiːl] = animal
euzhvil = monster
morvil = whale

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)meh₁l- (small animal) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) anmandae, anmande = animal, creature
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) anmandae = living creature, animal, beast, head of cattle
Irish (Gaeilge) ainmhí [anʲəvʲiː]= animal, brute, monster
ainmhíoch = animal, brutish
ainmhíocht = animal nature, brutishness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ainmhidh [ɛnɛvɪ] = animal, beast of burden, heifer
ainmhidheach [ɛnɛvɪjəx] = brutish, beastly
ainmhidheachd [ɛnɛvɪjəxg] = brutality, brutishness

Etymology: from the Old Irish ainim(m) (soul, life), from the Latin anima (soul, spirt, life; breath), or from the Proto-Celtic *anaman (soul, spirit), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁mos, from *h₂enh₁- (breathe), which is also the root of the English word animal [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec) aniueileit, anyueyl, anieuil = animal, beast, creature
aniueileid, anifeilyeid, anifeiliaidd = animal-like, bestial
Welsh (Cymraeg) anifail [aˈnɪvai̯l / aˈniːvai̯l] = animal, beast, creature
anifeil(i)aidd = animal-like, bestial, brutish, savage, foul
anifeilig = animal(-like), bestial, brutal
anifeiliol = animal(-like), bestial, beastly, brutal
anifeilrwydd = carnality, sensuality
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) eneval = animal
enevales = female animal
Cornish (Kernewek) eneval = animal
eneval dov = pet
Middle Breton (Brezonec) aneual, anneual = animal
Breton (Brezhoneg) aneval [ãˈneːval] = animal

Etymology: from the Latin animal (animal, living creature), from animālis (animate, living), from anima (soul, spirt, life; breath) [source].

Proto-Celtic *betrixs = (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc) bethadach = animal
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) bethach, bethadach = animal, creature, beast
Irish (Gaeilge) beithíoch [bʲɛˈhiəx / ˈbʲɛhiəx / ˈbʲɛhiə(h)] = beast, (large) animal, brute; (large) specimen of creature, bovine animal; heifer, cow, cattle, horse
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) beathach [bɛhəx] = animal, beast, head of cattle, brute
beathachachadh [bɛhəxəɣ] = living, feeding, nourishing, sustaining, nourishment, nutrition
beathachail [bɛhəxal] = nutritious, nutritional
beathachair [bɛhəxɛrʲ] = animator
beathaich [bɛhɪç] = feed, nourish, support, sustain
beithir [behɪrʲ] = any wild or savage thing, beast; thunderbolt; lightning; strong gust of wind; warrior, hero
Manx (Gaelg) baagh = animal, pet, beast
beishtagh = beastly, bestial, brutish, monstrous, filthy

Etymology: from the Middle Irish betha (life), from Old Irish bethu (life), from Proto-Celtic *biwotūts (life), from *biwos (alive), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós (alive) [source].

Words from the same roots include words for food and life in Celtic languages, quick and zoo in English, and vida (life) in Spanish [source].

Proto-Celtic *lutno- = (young) animal
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) loth [l̪ˠɔh] = fily, foal, colt
lothag [l̪ˠɔhag] = young colt / filly / foal
lothaire [l̪ˠɔhɪrʲə] = gangly / spindly person
lothach [l̪ˠɔhəx] = abounding in fillies / foals / colts
Manx (Gaelg) lhiy = colt
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) lluden, llydyn, llwdyn = (young) animal, beast
llwdyngar = involving (carnal) bestiality
Welsh (Cymraeg) llwdn = the young of an animal (colt, foal, kid, etc), animal, beast, young man, youth, oaf, dolt
llwdngar = involving (carnal) bestiality
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) lodn = young cow or sheep, young ox, bullock, steer, wether
Cornish (Kernewek) lodn = bullock, young ox
lodnek = bovine
lodnow = cattle
Middle Breton (Brezonec) loeznet, loezn, loznet = animal, beast
loeznedus = abounding in animals
Breton (Brezhoneg) loen [ˈlwẽːn] = animal, beast
loeniñ = to brutalise, labour, punish
loenedus = gamey
loenegezh = bestiality
loenek = animal, bestial, brutish

Etymology: from PIE *polH- (animal young), from *peh₂w- (smallness). Words from the same roots include few, filly, foal, pony and puppy in English [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, Lexicon Cornu-britannicum: A Dictionary of the Ancient Celtic Language of Cornwall, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Donkeys

By Simon

Words for donkey (Equus asinus) and related beasts in Celtic languages.

The Donkey Sanctuary

Old Irish (Goídelc) asal = ass, she-ass
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) asal, assal = ass, she-ass
asan, assan = ass
Irish (Gaeilge) asal [ˈasˠəlˠ] = ass, donkey
láir asail = she-ass
searrach asail = donkey foal
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) asal [asal̪ˠ]= ass, donkey
aiseal [aʃəl̪ˠ] = ass, donkey
asan [asan] = ass, donkey
asalach = asinine
asal-stiallach = zebra
leth-asal = mule
Manx (Gaelg) assyl = ass, donkey
assylagh = asinine
laair assyl = female donkey, jenny, she-ass
sharragh assyl = donkey foal
lieh-assyl, cabbyl assylagh = mule
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) asin, assyn = (male) donkey / (he-)ass
assenn, assen = donkey, ass; female donkey, she-ass, jenny
asennic = little/young (female) donkey
Welsh (Cymraeg) asyn [ˈasɨ̞n / ˈasɪn] = (male) donkey / (he-)ass, an absurd or stubborn person
asyneiddiwch = asininity, mulishness, stupidity, obstinacy
asynnaidd = asininie, mulish, stupid, obstinate
asynnyn = little/young donkey
asen [ˈasɛn] = donkey, ass; female donkey, she-ass, jenny
asennig = little/young (female) donkey
asennyn = young/little ass
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) asen = ass, donkey
Cornish (Kernewek) asen = ass, donkey
asenik = ass foal
Middle Breton (Brezonec) azen, asenn, asen = donkey, ignorant man
azenaat = to become ignorant
azenañ, asénna = to give birth, farrowing (donkey)
azener = donkey-driver
azenerezh = stupid/idiotic comment, stupidity
azenez = she-ass
azenig = baby/little donkey
Breton (Brezhoneg) azen = donkey
azenañ = to give birth, farrowing (donkey)

Etymology: the Brythonic words come from the Latin asina from asinus (donkey, ass), which is of unknown origin [source]. The Goidelic words come from the same root via the Latin asellus (young ass, donkey) [source].

The English word ass (donkey) was borrowed from an old Brythonic language, via the Middle English asse (ass, donkey) and the Old English assa and assen (she-ass) [source].

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