Badgers

22nd March 202022nd December 2023 By Simon

Words for badger in Celtic languages.

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

Simon Ager · 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

Bears

18th March 2020 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

Eating

14th March 2020 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.

Going, Going, Gone

13th March 202014th March 2020 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.

Deafness

7th March 2020 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

22nd February 202015th August 2024 By Simon

Words for round and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*krundis = round
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cruinn = round, globular, circular
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cruinn, cruind = round, globular, circular, compact, precise cruinne, cruindae = roundness, rotundity, round mass, universe, world, thrift, hoarding cruinniucc, cruindiucc = dew-drop
Irish (Gaeilge)	cruinn [kɾˠiːnʲ / kɾˠɪn̠ʲ] = round; gathered; exact, accurate; clear, coherent; concentrated; frugal, sparing, miserly cruinne = roundness cruinneachán = dome cruinneog = round object, (small) orb, globe cruinneogach = globular cruinnteach = rotunda
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cruinn [krɯin̪ʲ] = round, circular, spherical; rotund; neat, succinct, well-formed; assembled, gathered together cruinne [krɯn̪ʲə] = roundness, globe, sphere, orb cruinneachail [krɯn̪ʲəxal] = (ac)cumulative cruinneachan [krɯn̪ʲəxan] = round heap/pile cruinneachd [krɯn̪ʲəxg] = roundness cruinnte [krɯn̪ʲdʲə] = curved, rounded
Manx (Gaelg)	cruinn = accurate, detailed, unambigous, round, spherical, circular, circumstantial, compact, consummate, exact, scrupulous, strict cruinnid = circularity, closeness, roundness, strictness, compactness cruinnaghey = assemblage, congregation, enclose, focus, gather, huddle, round
Proto-Brythonic	*krunn = round
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	crunn = round, circular, rotund
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cronn, crwn, cron = round, circular, rotund
Welsh (Cymraeg)	crwn [krʊn] = round, circular, rotund, spherical, globular; cylindrical; fat, plump, fleshy; complete, entire; young, small crynder = roundness cân gron = round (in music); continual harping upon the same string hirgrwn = oval
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	cren = round, circular
Cornish (Kernewek)	krenn = round
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	cren, cron = round
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	crenn = round crennaat = to round off crenaff, crenna [ˈkrɛnːã] = to round up
Breton (Brezhoneg)	krenn [ˈkrɛnː] = medium, round, rounded, full krennañ [ˈkrɛnːã] = to trim, shorten, slice krennaat = to round off krennadur = rounding, trimmings krennder = roundness

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

Wickedly Bad

22nd February 202022nd February 2020 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.

Clean & Pure

22nd February 2020 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.

Gentle treasure

16th February 202017th February 2020 By Simon

Words for gift, treasure, benefit in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*moinis = treasure, precious object
Old Irish (Goídelc)	moín = gift, benefit
Irish (Gaeilge)	maoin [mˠiːnʲ] = gift, benefit, property, wealth, treasure (term of endearment)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	maoin [mɯːn̪ʲ] = asset, wealth, fund, gear, goods
Manx (Gaelg)	mayn = property, good order
Proto-Brythonic	*muɨn = beautiful
Old Welsh	muin = worth, value
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	mwyn = worth, value
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mwyn [muːɨ̯n / mʊi̯n] = tender, mild, gentle, meek, amiable, loving, kind, obliging, courteous, noble, fair, pleasant, sweet-sounding, melodious, soft, soothing
Old Cornish	muin = gracile
Old Breton	moin = delicate
Middle Breton	moen = thin
Breton (Brezhoneg)	moan [ˈmwãːn] = thin, slender

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

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Animals

9th February 202014th August 2025 By Simon

Words for animal and related beasts in Celtic languages.

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].

Proto-Celtic	*luwā = louse
Proto-Brythonic	llow, lou̯ā, *luu̯ā = lice
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	lleu, llav [ˈɬei̯] = lice llay ena = to louse, to hunt for lice lleuedic = full of lice, lousy lleulyt = full of lice, lousy lleuog, lleuawc, lleuoc = full of lice, lousy, dirty, vile
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llau [ɬaɨ̯ / ɬai̯] = lice lleuen = louse lleuedig = full of lice, lousy, stinking lleuenna = to louse, to hunt for lice lleulyd = full of lice, lousy lleuog = full of lice, lousy, dirty, vile
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	loow, lou = lice louen, lewen, luan = louse
Cornish (Kernewek)	low = lice lowen = louse
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	lewen = louse
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	laou = lice louenn = louse louhec [ˈlɔ.wːek] = lousy
Breton (Brezhoneg)	laou [ˈlɔw] = lice laouenn = louse laoueg [ˈlɔ.wːek] = lousy laouek [ˈlɔ.wːek] = lousy

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *lewH- (louse). Words from the same root include louse in English, Laus (louse) in German, lus (louse) in Swedish, veš (louse) in Czech, and вошь (vošʹ – louse) in Russian [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, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Teanglann.ie, Am Faclair Beag, An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Gaelg Corpus, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, TermOfis

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Language

Badgers

Bears

Eating

Going, Going, Gone

Deafness

Roundness

Wickedly Bad

Clean & Pure

Gentle treasure

Animals