Sailing

10th August 202210th August 2022 By Simon

Words for sail and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*siglom = sail, course, run
Old Irish (Goídelc)	séol [sʲeːu̯l] = sail
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	séol = sail séolaid = to sail
Irish (Gaeilge)	seol [ʃoːl̪ˠ/ʃɔːlˠ] = sail; covering, canopy; drift, tend, course, direction, flow, motion seoladh = to sail, sailing; course, direction, guidance, dispatch seoladóir = shipper seoladóireacht = shipping seolchrann = mast seoltóir = sailor, sender, remitter, drover, (electrical) conductor seoltóireacht = sailing long seol = sailing ship
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	seòl [ʃɔːl̪ˠ] = sail; navigate, direct, guide, govern, regulate seòlaid = shipping route, passage, sway(ing), nervous movement seòl-mara = tide seòladair = sailor seòladaireach = nautical
Manx (Gaelg)	shiauill = sail, navigate, shiauilley = to sail, navigate, sailing shiauilteyr = ferryman, sailor, seafarer, seaman shiaulteyragh = nautical
Proto-Brythonic	*hɨɣl = sail, course, run
Old Welsh	huil = sail
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	hwyl, hvyl, huyl = sail
Welsh (Cymraeg)	hwyl [huːɨ̯l/hʊi̯l] = sail, sheet, covering, pall; journey, progress, revolution, orbit, course, route, career, rush, assault; hilarity, jollity, mirth, amusement, fun, humour hwylbawl, hwylbolyn = boom, bowspirt hwylbren = mast, flagstaff hwyldroaf, hwyldroi = to tack, change course, veer hwylfa = way, narrow road or street, lane, path, alley, voyage hwylfwrdd = sailboard, windsurfer hwylfyrddio = to sailboard, windsurf hwylio = to sail, embark, set out on a voyage or journey, navigate hwyliwr = navigator, mariner, sailor, leader, organizer
Old Cornish	guio = sail
Middle Cornish (Cernewec / Kernuak)	gol, goyl, guil = sail (of a ship) gwelan gôl = sail yard
Cornish (Kernewek)	gool = sail golya = to sail skath-wolya = sailing boat gorhel golyow = sailing ship
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gouel = sail gouelier = to sail gouelierezh = sailmaker

Etymology: uncertain. Possibly from the Old English seġ(e)l (sail), from the Proto-Germanic *segl (sail), from *seglą (sheet, sail), the origins of which are uncertain. Possibly cognate with the Latin sagum (coarse woolen coat), from the Gaulish *sagos (wool cloak). Related words include sail in English, zeil (sail, tarpaulin) in Dutch, Segel (sail) in German, and sejl (sail) in Danish [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s Leis an Lurgainn, a song in Scottish Gaelic about sailing:

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, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Trembing

2nd August 202222nd September 2022 By Simon

Words for trembling, fever and related words in Celtic languages. I chose these words because I have a bit of a fever at the moment.

Proto-Celtic	*kritos = fever, trembling, shaking
Old Irish (Goídelc)	crith [ˈkʲr͈ʲiθ] = shaking, trembling crithnaigid = to shake, tremble
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	crith = shaking, trembling, a shake, tremble crothaid = shakes, causes to tremble, brandishes
Irish (Gaeilge)	crith [crʲɪ(h) / crʲɪç] = tremble, shiver, tremor, shudder, vibration, quiver; to tremble, shake critheagla = quaking fear, terror, timorousness crithloinnir = shimmer crithlonraigh = to shimmer creathán = to tremble, quiver creathánach = trembling, quivering, vibratory creathánaí = trembler
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	crith [krʲih] = quake, shudder, shock, shake, tremble, shiver, vibrate; quaking, shuddering, shocking, shaking, trembling, shivering critheanaich = trembling crith-cheòl = warbling, quavering, trills (in music) crith-thalmhainn = earthquake crithnich = quake, shudder, shake, tremble, shiver, vibrate
Manx (Gaelg)	crie = to shake craa = to shake
Old Welsh	crit = shivering, trembling, fever
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	crid, cryt, kryt = shivering, trembling, fever crynei, krynu, krennit = to tremble, quake, shiver, shake
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cryd [krɨːd / kriːd] = shivering, trembling, dread, fear, ague, fever, disease crydu, crydio = to shake, tremble, quake crynu = to tremble, quake, shiver, shake, brandish, vibrate, quaver, gnash, twinkle echryd = dread, terror, fright, fear, trembling, shivering, tremor; fearful, dreadful, frightful ysgryd = shiver, trembling, shudder, fright, horror, agony
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	crenne, cranna = to tremble, quake
Cornish (Kernewek)	kren = shake krena, kerna = to shake, shiver, tremble krenans = vibration Krener, Krenores = Quaker dorgrys = earthquake
Old Breton	crit = shivering, trembling
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	kren, crezn, creen, crein = trembling crenaff = to tremble crezn doüar, crein doüar = earthquake
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kren = trembling krenañ = to tremble kren-douar = earthquake krendourarel = seismic

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *krit-, from *(s)kreyt-, from *(s)ker- (twist, turn, bend) [source].

The English word scree (loose stony debris on a slope), comes from the same PIE root, via the Old Norse skriða (landscape, landslip) and the Proto-Germanic *skrīþaną (to crawl, glide, walk) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sieving Riddles

15th July 202215th July 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for sieve and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*krētros = sieve
Old Irish (Gaoidhealg)	críathar = sieve
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	críathar = sieve, riddle críatharach = marsh, morass, boggy wasteland críathrad = act of winnowing, sifting, riddling críathraid = sifts, riddles, spreads
Irish (Gaeilge)	criathar [ˈcɾʲiəhəɾˠ / ˈcɾʲiːhəɾˠ] = sieve, riddle criathach = pitted, perforated, swampy criathrú = winnowing, sifting, honeycombing criathradóir = winnower, sifter, maker of sieves criathraigh = to sieve, winnow, riddle, sift, honeycomb criathróir = animal surefooted on boggy ground criathar meala = honeycomb criathar mín = fine sieve
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	criathar [krʲiə.ər] = riddle, sieve criathar-tomhais = bushel (measure and implement) criathar-garbh = riddle (implement) criatharair [krʲiəhərɛrʲ] = sieve-maker criathradh [krʲiarəɣ] = (act of) filtering
Manx (Gaelg)	creear = sieve, riddle creearey = sieve, pan, sift, riddle creear meein = fine sieve creear garroo = rough sieve jannoo creear = to honeycomb
Proto-Brythonic	*kruɨdr = wandering, sieve
Old Welsh	cruitr = winnowing shovel
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cruidir, crwydr = sieve
Welsh (Cymraeg)	crwydr [ˈkrʰʊɨ̯dr̩ / ˈkrʰʊi̯dr̩] = a wandering, a roaming; misfortune, trouble, confusion, rout, dispersion; a straying, aberration, error; winnowing-fan, winnowing-shovel, sieve crwydro = to wander, roam, stroll, gad about, stray, go astray, deviate, digress crwydredig = wandering, vagrant, roving, stray crwydro = barn, granary, farm building crwydrwr = wanderer, vagrant, vagabond, rover, nomad
Old Cornish	croider = sieve, riddle
Middle Cornish	croider, crodar = sieve, riddle
Cornish (Kernewek)	kroder = coarse sieve, strainer, riddle kroder kroghen = bodhrán, hold-all
Old Breton	croitir = sieve, riddle
Middle Breton	croezr = sieve, riddle
Breton (Brezhoneg)	krouer = sieve, riddle, screen krouerañ = to sift, riddle, sieve krouer liammoù = link generator rakkroueriañ = pre-screening

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *krey-trom (sieve) from *krey- (to sift, separate, divide) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include crime, crisis, riddle and secret in English, ceart (right, correct, true) in Irish, and crynu (to tremble, shake) and ergryn (horror, dread) in Welsh [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Waterfalls

6th July 20226th July 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for waterfall and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*riyatros = waterfall
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ríathor = torrent
Irish (Gaeilge)	riathar = torrent (literary)
Old Welsh	réátir = torrent
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	raeadyr, raiader, rhaiadr = cataract, waterfall
Welsh (Cymraeg)	rhaeadr [ˈr̥ʰeɨ̯.adr̩ / ˈr̥ʰei̯.adr̩] = waterfall, cataract, cascade, torrent rhaeadru = to fall or pour in a cascade or waterfall, fall steeply, gush, flow, stream rhaeadraidd = like a waterfall rhaeadriad = the act of falling or flowing like a waterfall

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃reiH- (to flow) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	ess = rapids, waterfall
Irish (Gaeilge)	eas = waterfall, cascade, cataract; swift current, rapid easach = having, abounding in waterfalls, cascading
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	eas [es] = waterfall, cataract, cascade easach [esəx] = abounding in waterfalls easachan [esəxan] = small waterfall easan [esan] = small waterfall; thin gruel easgraich [esgrɪç] = torrent easraich [esrɪç] = plunge pool, waterfall lake; bustle, commotion eas muilinn = mill-race con-eas = multiple waterfalls poll-easa = plunge pool
Manx (Gaelg)	eas = cascade, cataract, chute, shoot, waterfall easan = small waterfall, small cataract mwyllin roie’n eas = water mill

Etymology: unknown [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ysgwt, ysgwd, ysgŵd = waterfall, cataract, cascade
Welsh (Cymraeg)	sgwd [skuːd] = waterfall, cataract, cascade, chute, millstream, mill-race, sluice, floodgate (South Wales)

Etymology: unknown [source].

Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	pistill = waterfall, cataract, cascade
Welsh (Cymraeg)	pistyll = waterfall, cataract, cascade, chute, millstream, mill-race, sluice, floodgate (South Wales) pistyll yr ysgyfaint = trachea
Cornish (Kernewek)	pistyl = little waterfall pistylla = to spout

Etymology: possibly from the Latin pistillum (pestle), which is also the root of the English word pestle [source].

Cornish (Kernewek)	dowrlam = waterfall
Breton (Brezhoneg)	lamm-dour = waterfall

Etymology: from dowr / dour (water) and lam / lamm (leap).

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Emptiness

1st July 20221st July 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for empty, soft and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*wāstos = empty
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fás = empty, vacant, deserted fásaogod to empty, despoil
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	fás = empty, vain, futile, vacant
Irish (Gaeilge)	fás [fˠɑːsˠ / fˠaːsˠ] = waste, vacant, empty, void; wild, luxuriant fásach = waste, desert; uncultivated, uninhabited region; empty, deserted place fásaigh = to lay waste, leave uncultivated
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fàs [faːs] = empty; barren, waste, uncultivated, fallow, desolate fàsach = desert, wilderness, empty place fàsaich = to depopulate, lay waste to a place, desolate fàslach = hollow, void, cavity fàslail = desolate, lonely, solitary
Manx (Gaelg)	faase = feeble, weak; desolate, void, barren, infirm faasagh = desert, desolate, waste place, wilderness faaselagh = weakest part, poor part of lawn faasoil = desert

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (to leave, abandon) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	folam = empty
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	folam, falam = empty, uninhabited, shallow, barren, destitute, vain, worthless folma = emptiness
Irish (Gaeilge)	folamh [ˈfˠɔl̪ˠəvˠ / ˈfˠaːl̪ˠə / ˈfˠɔlˠuː] = empty folmhaigh = to empty, discharge, exhaust; purge, evacuate folmhach empty, vacant, sapce, gap (between teeth)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	falamh [fal̪ˠəv] = empty, hollow, void falamhachd = emptiness, voidness, vacancy, vacuum, void falamhaich = to empty, void, evacuate falamhaichte = emptied
Manx (Gaelg)	follym = void, flat, shallow, barren, vacuous, waste, blank, empty, hollow, blank folmaghey = to empty, void, hollow, vacate, deflate

Etymology: possibly from the Old Irish lomm (bare, naked, smooth) [source].

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cúacca = empty
Proto-Brythonic	*gwag = empty, vacant
Old Welsh	guac = empty, desolate, vacant
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gwac, gwag = empty, desolate, vacant
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwag [ɡwaːɡ] = empty, desolate, vacant, void, barren; meaningless, senseless, unsubstantial, frivolous, null and void, invalid gwagedd = vanity, vainglory, conceit, empitness, unreality gwagio = to empty, make empty, become empty gwagle = empty place or space, vacuum, void, gap, chasm, space
Middle Cornish	gwag = hungry, vain, void, vacant, at leisure; void, vacuum, hunger
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwag = blank, empty, hollow, hungry, unfurnished, unoccupied, vacant gwaga = to break into a cavity gwagen = blank gwagla = vacancy gwagva = vacuum gwakhe = to empty, vacate
Middle Breton	goac = soft, tender goacat = to soften
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwak = soft, tender gwakaat = to soften gwakadur = softening

Etymology: from the Vulgar Latin *vacus, from the Latin *vacuus (empty), from vacō (I am empty, void), from the Proto-Italic *wakos (empty), from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (to lack, empty) [source].

A Breton word for empty is goullo or gollo, the origins of which are not known.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Copper

7th June 20227th June 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for copper and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*omiyom = copper, bronze
Old Irish (Goídelc)	umae, humae [ˈu.ṽe] = copper, bronze, brass
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	uma = copper, bronze, brass
Irish (Gaeilge)	umha = copper, copper alloy, bronze umhadhaite = bronze-coloured, bronzed umhaí = worker in copper or bronze cré-umha = bronze cré-umhaigh = to bronze salachar-umha = verdigris
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	umha [ũ.ə] = bronze, copper, brass umhach = coppery, brassy umha-dhathte = copper-coloured, bronze-coloured ceàrd-umha = coppersmith Linn an Umha = the Bronze Age meirg-umha = verdigris
Manx (Gaelg)	ooha = bronze cur ooha er = to bronze, bronzing Yn Eash Ooha = the Bronze Age
Proto-Brythonic	*öβ̃ɨð = bronze, copper
Old Welsh	emid, emed = bronze, copper
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	euyð, euyd = bronze, copper
Welsh (Cymraeg)	efydd [ˈɛvɨ̞ð / ˈeːvɪð] = bronze, brass, copper; made of bronze brass or copper; brazen; bronze colour, coppery efyddaf, efyddu = to cover or adorn with brass or copper, to braze efyddaid = made of bronze or brass; brazen, brazed efyddog = brassy, coppery efyddwr = brass-smith, copper-smith medal efydd = bronze medal mwyn efydd = copper ore, copper mine Oes yr Efydd = Bronze Age

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Celtic *omos (raw), from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₃mós (raw, uncooked, bitter, sour) [source].

Some words from the same PIE root, via the Latin amārus (bitter, harsh, sour, dire), include amaro (bitter) in Italian, amer (bitter, sour) in French, amarillo (yellow, golden coloured) in Spanish [source], and marulă (lettuce) in Romanian [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	copar [ˈkopˠəɾˠ] = copper gabha copair = coppersmith coparás = copperas, copper sulphate
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	copar [kɔhbər] = copper coparach = cuperous, like copper, coppery copar-dubhaidh = copperas, green vitriol (iron(II) sylphate)
Manx (Gaelg)	cobbyr, copuir = copper cobbyragh = copperish, cupric gaaue cobbyr = coppersmith plait cobbyr = copperplate
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	copyr, copr, kopyr = copper
Welsh (Cymraeg)	copr, copor, coper = copper; something of little value; red hair gof copr = copper-smith gwaith copr = copper-works, vessels made of copper mwyn copr = copper ore, copper mine
Cornish (Kernewek)	kober [stɛːn / steːn] = copper kobrek = copper (colour)
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kouevr = copper kouevrek = cupric (relating to or containing copper) kouevrus = cuprous (relating to or containing copper)

Etymology: from the Middle English coper (copper, bronze), from the Old English copor (copper), from the Proto-Germanic *kuprą (copper), from the Latin Latin cuprum (copper) from the Ancient Greek Κύπρος (Cyprus – where large reserves of copper can be found). The Breton word kouevr was borrowed from the French cuivre (copper, brass), from the same Latin root [source].

Doors

17th May 202217th May 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for door and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*dwār = door
Gaulish	durom = door – was borrowed into Latin and appeared in placenames such as Augustodurum (now Bayeux), and Nemetodurum (now Nanterre)*
Proto-Brythonic	*dor = door
Old Welsh	dor = door
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	dor = door
Welsh (Cymraeg)	dôr [druːs] = door; defence, refuge, shield; opportunity; protector, defender, chief, leader dôr blyg(edig) = folding door dôr ddyrchafad = portcullis
Middle Breton	dor = door
Breton (Brezhoneg)	dor = door dor a-dreñv = rear door dor a-raok = front door dor emgefre = automatic door dor greñvaet = fortified gate dor harz tan = fire door dor-borzh = gate (of a courtyard) dor brenestr = French window dor dal = front door, portal gwir treuz-dor = doorstep

Etymology from the Proto-Indo-European *dʰwṓr (door), from *dʰwer- (doorway, door, gate) [source].

Words from the sane Proto-Indo-European root include: door and forum in English, deur (door) in Dutch, Tür (door, doorway) in German, dehors (outside) in French, fuori (outside) in Italian, and fuera (outside) in Spanish [source].

Proto-Celtic	*dworestus = door
Old Irish (Goídelc)	dorus [ˈdorus] = door
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	dorus [ˈdorus] = door
Irish (Gaeilge)	doras [ˈd̪ˠɔɾˠəsˠ] = door, doorway doras isteach = entrance doras amach = exit doras tosaigh / béil = front door doras cúil / thiar = backdoor doirseach = having doors, open, accessible, gaping (wound) doirseoir = door-keeper, (hall) porter doirseoireacht = occupation of door-keeper
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	dorus [dɔrəs] = door, valve dorus-beag = back door, inner door dorus-mór = front door, main entrance doras a-mach = exit àrd-doras = lintel ath-dhoras = next door deoch an dorais = stirrup cup, one for the door/road, Jock and Doris
Manx (Gaelg)	dorrys = door, doorway, gate, portal; back (of cart), fly (of tent) dorrys doont = back door dorrys toshee = front door dorrys egin = emergency exit, exit jough yn dorrys = parting drink, stirrup cup sole y dorrys = doorstep, threshold
Proto-Brythonic	*drus = doorway, entrance, door
Old Welsh	drus = doorway, entrance, door
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	drus, drvs, drws = doorway, entrance, door
Welsh (Cymraeg)	drws [druːs] = doorway, entrance, door, pass, estuary, opening, opportunity, facility drws codi/cudd = trap-door drws nesaf = next door (to), very near (to), bordering (on) wrth y drws = at hand, close, near o ddrws = from before drysaf, drwsaf, dryo, drwso = to mind a door (in a coal-mine) dryswr, drwswr = door-boy (in a coal-mine) drysor = doorkeepr, janitor, porter
Middle Cornish	daras, darat = door darador = doorkeeper
Cornish (Kernewek)	daras = door darasik = wicket penn/pedn daras = lintel

Etymology from the Proto-Celtic *dwār (door) – see above [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Nephews

29th April 202229th April 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for nephew and related people in Celtic languages.

My nephew. Mo nia. Mac my shayrey. Fy nai. Ma noy. Ma niz.

Proto-Celtic	*neɸūss = nephew
Primitive Irish	ᚅᚔᚑᚈᚈᚐ (niotta) = nephew (sister’s son)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	nia [ˈn͈ʲi.a] = nephew, sister’s son
Irish (Gaeilge)	nia [n̪ʲiə] = nephew garneacht = great-nephew
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	nia [n̪ʲiə] = nephew (sister’s son)
Manx (Gaelg)	neear = nephew
Proto-Brythonic	*nei = nephew
Old Welsh	nei = nephew
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ney, nei = nephew
Welsh (Cymraeg)	nai [nai̯] = nephew, first cousin’s son nai fab brawd = nephew (brother’s son) nai fab chwaer = nephew (sister’s son) mab nai = great-nephew naigarwch = nepotism
Middle Cornish	noi = nephew
Cornish (Kernwek)	noy = nephew
Old Breton	ny = nephew
Middle Breton	ni = nephew
Breton (Brezhoneg)	niz = nephew gourniz = great-nephew

Etymology from the Proto-Indo-European *népōts (grandson, descendent, nephew), possibly from *ne (not) and *pótis (master, lord, husband) [source].

Other words for nephew:

Irish: mac deirféar (sister’s son), mac dearthár (brother’s son)
Scottish Gaelic: mac-peathar (sister’s son), mac-bràthar (brother’s son)
Manx: mac shayrey (sister’s son), mac braarey (brother’s son)

Fathers

17th April 202217th April 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for father and related people in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	ɸatīr [ˈɸa.tiːr] = father ɸatriyos = paternal
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ath(a)ir [ˈaθɨrʲ] = father athramail = fatherly, paternal, fatherlike
Irish (Gaeilge)	athair [ˈɑhəɾʲ/ˈahæɾʲ] = father, ancestor, sire aithriúil = fatherly ardathair = patriarch athair mór = maternity, fatherhood leasathair = stepfather seanathair = grandfather
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	athair [ahɪrʲ] = father, progenitor, sire athair-baistidh = godfather athair-cèile = father-in-law bràthair-athar = parternal uncle leas-athair = stepfather piuthar-athar = parternal aunt prìomh-athair = forefather, patriarch taobh athar = paternal
Manx (Gaelg)	ayr [ˈeːar] = father, matron, mater, queen, dam; focus, fountainhead, generator ayroil = fatherly, parternal ayrvarroo = patricide shennayr = grandfather
Old Welsh	-atr = ?

Etymology from the Proto-Indo-European *ph₂tḗr (father) [source].

Proto-Celtic	attyo-, attiyos = father, foster-father
Old Irish (Goídelc)	aite [ˈadʲe] = foster-father; tutor, teacher
Irish (Gaeilge)	oide [ˈɛdʲə] = foster-father; tutor, teacher oideachas = education oideachasóir = educationalist oideachasúil = educational oideas = instruction, teaching, prescription, recipe oideoir = educator oideolaíoch = pedagogic(al)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	oide [ɤdʲə] = tutor, foster-father, stepfather, godfather oide-altraim = foster-father oide-baistidh = godfather oide-foghlaim = instructor oide-ionnsachaidh = tutor oide-sgoile = schoolmaster oidich = instruction
Manx (Gaelg)	gedjey = foster-father, godfather, guardian, sponsor

Etymology from the Proto-Indo-European *átta (father) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*tatos = dad, daddy
Proto-Brythonic	*tad = father
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tad = father
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tad [taːd] = father tadaidd = fatherly, paternal tadeiddiad = fatherhood tadenw = patronymic tadol = paternal, fatherly, inherited from the father tadu = to father (a child), become a father; ascribe, attribute (to) tadwlad = fatherland, native land tadwys = family, lineage, fatherhood tadwysaeth = paternity
Old Cornish	tat = father
Cornish (Kernwek)	tas [taːz/tæːz] = father tasek = patron tasrewl = patriarchy tasveth = foster-father tas bejydh = godfather tas gwynn = grandfather Tas Nadelik = Father Christmas tas sans = patron saint ugheldas = patriarch
Middle Breton	tat = father
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tad [ˈtɑːt] = father tadeg = father-in-law tadig = dad, daddy tad-kaer = father-in-law tad-kozh = grandfather tad-kuñv = great-grandfather tata = dad

Etymology from the Proto-Celtic *attyo-, *attiyos (father, foster-father), the Proto-Indo-European *átta (father) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Mothers

13th April 202217th April 2022 By Simon

Today we’re looking at the words for mother and related people in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	mātīr [ˈmaː.tiːr] = mother mātrikʷā, *mātrokʷī = maternal aunt, mother-like
Gaulish	mātīr [ˈmaːtiːr] = mother
Celtiberian	matrubos = mothers
Old Irish (Goídelc)	máthir [ˈmaːθirʲ] = mother máthrathatu = motherhood máthramail = resembling one’s mother
Irish (Gaeilge)	máthair [ˈmˠɑːhəɾʲ/ˈmˠɑːɾʲ/ˈmˠahærʲ] = mother, source (of a river) máthairab = abbess máthairthír = mother country máthreachas = maternity, motherhood máthrigh = to mother, bear, foster máthriúil = motherly, tender, kind, mother-like máthriúlacht = motherliness leasmháthair = stepmother seanmháthair = grandmother
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	màthair [maːhɪrʲ] = mother, origin, source màthair-uisge = water source (of a river, etc) màthair-chéile = mother-in-law màthaireachd [maːhɪrʲəxg] = maternity, motherhood màthaireil = mother-like, motherly, maternal màthair athar = paternal grandmother màthair màthar = maternal grandmother màthair-sinnsireach = matrilinear leas-mhàthair = stepmother
Manx (Gaelg)	moir = mother, matron, mater, queen, dam; focus, fountainhead, generator moiragh, moiroil = motherly moiraght = motherhood moiraghys, moirys = maternity, motherhood moir-reilleyder/strong> = matriach lhiass voir = stepmother shenn voir = grandmother
Proto-Brythonic	*mọdreb = aunt
Old Welsh	modreped = aunts
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	modryb = aunt
Welsh (Cymraeg)	modryb = aunt, uncle’s wife, matron modrybaidd = aunt-like, matronly, motherly, respected modrydaf = queen bee, parent bee-colony, (old) beehive
Old Cornish	modereb = aunt
Cornish (Kernewek)	modrep = aunt modrebik = aunty
Old Breton	motrep = aunt
Middle Breton	mozreb = aunt
Breton (Brezhoneg)	moereb [ˈmweːrep] = aunt moereb-kozh = great aunt

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr. (mother) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*mamm(y)ā = mother, nanny, mum
Old Irish (Goídelc)	muimme [ˈmaːθirʲ] = wet nurse, foster mother, instructress, patroness
Irish (Gaeilge)	buime = foster-mother, nurse
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	muime [muimə] = stepmother, (wet) nurse, godmother muime-chìche = wet nurse muime-shìthe = fairy godmother
Manx (Gaelg)	mimmey = foster mother, god mother, godparent, guardian, sponsor
Proto-Brythonic	*mamm = mother
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	mam = mother
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mam [mam] = mother, ancestress, dam, queen bee; source, origin, cause, root; womb, matrix, uterus, hysteria, pregnancy mamaeth = (wet) nurse, foster-mother, mother mamaetha = to nurse (a child), suckle, foster, nourish, cherish mamedd = motherhood mamiaith = mother tongue, vernacular mamwlad = mother country, motherland, native land
Old Cornish	mam = mother
Middle Cornish	mam = mother
Cornish (Kernewek)	mamm [mæm], mabm = mother mammeth = foster-mother, wet nurse mammik = mum mammrewl, mammrowl = matriarchy mamm-wynn = grandmother mamm vesydh = godmother
Middle Breton	mamm = mother
Breton (Brezhoneg)	mamm [ˈmãmː] = mother, female (animal), womb mammanv = matron, matriarch mammelezh = motherhood, maternity mammvro = motherland, homeland mamm-gozh = grandmother

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *mammā (mummy, mum) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Old Welsh (Kembraec)

Sailing

Trembing

Sieving Riddles

Waterfalls

Emptiness

Copper

Doors

Nephews

Fathers

Mothers