Fingers and Toes

Words for finger, toe and related things in Celtic languages.

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Proto-Celtic *makro = finger
Old Irish (Goídelc) mér [mʲeːr] = finger, digit, toe
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) mér, mer, meóir, meúir = finger, digit, toe
Irish (Gaeilge) méar [mʲeːɾˠ] = finger, digit, toe, leg (of crustaceans, mollusks, etc), arm (of a cuttle fish)
an mhéar thosaigh/cholbha = the forefinger, index finger
an mhéar fhada/láir/mheáin = (the) middle finger
méar an fháinne = ring finger
an mhéar bheag / lúidín / lúideog = (the) little finger
méar coise = toe
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) meur [miar] = finger, digit, branch (of an organisation/family), key (in music), point (of an antler), knot (in wood)
meur-meomhair = forefinger, index finger
meur-meadhain / (am) meur fada / (am) meur meadhanach = middle finger
màthair na lùdaige / mac an aba / am madadh fada = ring finger
meur beag an airgid / plaoisgeag = little finger
Manx (Gaelg) mair = finger, digit, prong, ray, (piano) key, hand (of clock), tributary (of river)
corrag / corvair = the forefinger, index finger
mair vooar = the middle finger
mair ny fainey = ring finger
mair veg = the little finger
mair chass / mair choshey = toe
mair choshey veg / mair veg ny coshey = little toe

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *mh₂ḱros (lean, meager), which is also the root of the English word meagre/meager, the French word maigre (meagre, skinny, lean, thin), and the Spanish word magro (lean)[source].

Proto-Celtic *bissī / *bistis = finger
Old Irish (Goídelc) biss = icicle
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) biss, byss, bys = finger, toe, latch
Welsh (Cymraeg) bys [bɨːs / biːs] = finger (of hand/glove), toe; medium, agency; hand (of clock); latch
bys bawd = thumb
bys blaen = forefinger, index finger
bys y cogwrn = middle finger (“knuckle finger”)
bys y gyfaredd = ring finger
bys bach = little finger, ear-finger; minute-hand
bys(i)aid = as much as can be held on or taken up by the finger, a pinch
byseddaf, byseddu, bysedda = to finger, thumb, use the fingers
byseddog = having fingers, fingered
byseg = thimble
bysfedd = finger’s breadth, digit
byson = ring for the finger
Old Cornish bis/bes = finger
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) bis, bes = finger
bis truit = toe
bisou, besaw = ring
Cornish (Kernewek) bys, bes = finger, digit
bys bras = thumb
bys rag = index finger
bys kres = middle finger
bys bysow = ring finger
bys byghan / bes bian = little finger
byskon = thimble
bysow, besow = ring
Middle Breton (Brezonec) bes, bys, bis = finger
besou, bisou = ring
Breton (Brezhoneg) biz [biːs] = finger, hand (of clock), tooth (of tool), leg (of anchor), tentacle, tendril
biz-meud = thumb
biz-yod = index finger
biz bras = middle finger
biz-gwalenn / biz bizou = ring finger
biz bihan / skouarnel = little finger
bizou, bizoù [ˈbiːzu] = ring, jewel
bizouier = jeweller
bizour = jewel

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *gʷist- (twig, finger). The French word bijou (a piece of jewellry), comes from the same root, via the Breton bizoù (ring), from biz (finger) [source].

Proto-Celtic *māto = finger
Old Welsh (Kymraec) máut = finger, toe, latch
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) mawd, baut, bawd = finger, toe, latch
Welsh (Cymraeg) bawd = thumb, big toe; claw (of crab), hoof
bawd troed = big toe
bawdheglaf, bawdheglu = to hitch-hike
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) meut = thumb
Cornish (Kernewek) meus = thumb
meusva = inch
meusya = to hitchhike
Middle Breton (Brezonec) meut = thumb
Breton (Brezhoneg) meud [ˈmøːt] = thumb, pincer, claw
meud-troad = big toe, toe
meudadenn = grip (of the thumb)
meudata = to knead with one’s thumb

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *mē- [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) ordu = thumb, big toe
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) ordu, órdu = thumb, big toe
Irish (Gaeilge) ordóg [ˈəuɾˠd̪ˠoːɡ] = thumb, big toe, claw, pincers, bit, piece, fragment
ordóg coise = big toe
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) òrdag [ɔːr̪ˠdag] = thumb, big toe
òrdag-coise / òrdag-mhór = big toe
òrdag-làimhe = thumb
òrdag bheag an airgid = little toe, little finger
Manx (Gaelg) ordaag = thumb
ordaag chass / ordaag choshey / ordaag vooar = big toe

Etymology: possibly from the Old Irish ord/ordd (hammer, piece, fragment, stub), from the Proto-Celtic *ordos (hammer) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc) ladar = grasp, grip
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) ladar, ladair = fork or space between the fingers or between the thumb and the rest of the hand; grip, grasp; space between the toes
Irish (Gaeilge) ladhar [lˠaiɾˠ] = space between toes or fingers, toe, claw, prong, (clawed) hand
ladhar mhór = big toe
ladhar bheag = little toe
laidhricín = little toe, little finger
lúidín / lúideog = little finger, little toe
lúidín coise = little toe
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ladhar [l̪ˠɤ.ər] = hoof, prong, toe, claw (of lobster)
ladhrag [l̪ˠɤːrag] = toe, prong, hoof
an ladhar mór = big toe
lùdag / lùdag bheag / lùdag dhubh na catha [l̪ˠuːdag] = little finger, hinge

Etymology: unknown [source].

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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

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Seals

Words for seal and other creatures in Celtic languages.

Seals

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].

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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

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Water Snakes (Eels)

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).

Eels

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.

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

Trout

Words for trout and related fish in the Celtic languages.

Trout

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].

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

Salmon

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) [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).

Salmon Jumping Falls (NPS/D. Jacob)

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

Blackbirds

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.

blackbird

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

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

Owls

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.

tylluan/owl

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

Ducks

Words for ducks in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) *lachu [ˈl͈axu] = duck
Irish (Gaeilge) lacha [ˈl̪ˠaxə] = duck
lacha bhreac / lacha chriosrua / seil lacha = shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
iolar mara / coirneach / mallard = mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) lach [l̪ˠax] = (wild) duck
crà-ghèadh / cràighiadh / crà-eun = shelduck
lach-Mhoire / lach-riabhach = mallard
Manx (Gaelg) laagh = duck, wild goose
laagh chryss-ruy = shelduck
laagh voirrey / mallard = mallard

Etymology: possibly from the same Proto-Indo-European root as the Lithuanian word lak (to fly).

Irish (Gaeilge) tonóg = duck; dumpy little woman
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) tunnag [ˈtʰun̪ˠak] = duck
tunnag-mhonaidh / tunnag-fhiadhaich = mallard
Manx (Gaelg) thunnag = duck
thunnag vreck = shelduck

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic *awis = bird (?)
Irish (Gaeilge) aí / ai / aoi = swan
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ai = swan
Proto-Brythonic *(s)awyetos = duck (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) hwyat / hwyeit = duck
Welsh (Cymraeg) hwyad(en) [ˈhʊɨ̯.ad / ˈhʊi̯.ad] = (female) duck
hwyaden yr eithin / hwayaden fraith = shelduck
hwyaden wyllt / meilad = mallard
Old Cornish hoet = duck
Cornish (Kernewek) hos = duck
hos eythyn = shelduck
hos gwyls / mallart = mallard
Breton (Brezhoneg) houad = duck
tadorn toveel = shelduck
houad-korz = mallard

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwis (bird) [source], which is also the root of such English words as avian, aviary, aviation and aviator, via the Latin avis (bird).

The species of ducks included here are found in Celtic-speaking lands. Other types of ducks are available.

Ducks!

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

Eagles

Words for eagles in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic *eriros = eagle
Old Irish (Goídelc) *irar [ˈirar] = eagle
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) ilar = eagle
Irish (Gaeilge) iolar [ɟəˈlˠuːn̪ˠ] = eagle
iolar fíréan = golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
iolar mara / coirneach = white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) iolair [jul̪ˠɪrʲ] = eagle
iolair dhubh / iolair bhuidhe = golden eagle
earn / iolair mhara’ / iolair bhàn = white-tailed eagle
Manx (Gaelg) urley = eagle
urley buigh = golden eagle
urley marrey = white-tailed eagle
Welsh (Cymraeg) eryr [ˈɛrɨ̞r / ˈeːrɪr] = eagle; hero, chief, prince, leader; the constellation of Aquila
eryr aur = golden eagle
eryr y Môr = white-tailed eagle
Cornish (Kernewek) er [eːɹ] = eagle
er / er melyn / ourer = golden eagle
morer / er an mor = white-tailed eagle
Breton (Brezhoneg) erer [ˈeːʁɛʁ] = eagle
erer meur = golden eagle
morer lost gwenn = white-tailed eagle

The species of eagles included here are found in Celtic-speaking lands. Other types of eagles are available.

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃érō (eagle, large bird) [source].

Golden eagle (2)

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

Sparrows

Words for sparrows in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc) gelbann = sparrow
Irish (Gaeilge) gealbhan [ɟəˈlˠuːn̪ˠ] = sparrow
gealbhan binne = house sparrow (Passer domesticus)
gealbhan crainn = Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) gealbhonn [gʲal̪ˠavən̪ˠ] = sparrow
gealbhonn-taighe = house sparrow
gealbhonn nan craobh = tree sparrow
Manx (Gaelg) gialloon / giallun / giallyn / jallyn = sparrow
fallyn = house sparrow
jallyn ny miljyn / sperriu ny miljyn = tree sparrow
Welsh (Cymraeg) golfan [ˈɡɔlvan] = (house) sparrow
golfant / aderyn y to = house sparrow
golfan y mynydd = tree sparrow
Cornish (Kernewek) golvan = sparrow
golvan chy = house sparrow
golvan gwyth = tree sparrow
Breton (Brezhoneg) golvan = sparrow
golvan-tiez = house sparrow
golvan ar maezioù = tree sparrow

Etymology: unknown

Sparrow

Here’s a tune I wrote about sparrows: A Hedge Full of Sparrows / Gwyrch Llawn Adar y To

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