Monastic Monks

23rd April 2025 By Simon

Words for monk, nun, monastery and related things in Celtic languages.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	manach [ˈma.nəx] = monk, tenant of church lands mainches = nun mainister = monastery
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	manach, manaig = monk, a tenant of church lands, a kenning for a bee mainches = nun mainister, mainistear = monastery
Irish (Gaeilge)	manach [ˈmˠɑːʃtʲəɾʲ / ˈmˠaiʃtʲəɾʲ] = monk manachas = monasticism manachúil = monastic mainistir = monastery, abbey
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	manach [manəx] = monk manachalachd [manəxəl̪ˠəxg] = monasticism manach(d)ail [manəxal] = monastic manachainn [manəxɪn̪ʲ] = monastery, convent manaistear [manɪʃdʲər] = monastery, overseer mainistir [manɪʃdʲɪrʲ] = monastery
Manx (Gaelg)	maynagh, monnagh = monk maynaghoil = monastic, monkish, conventual mannishter = monastery, minster, abbey, friary, cloister, religious house
Proto-Brythonic	manax = monk möstuɨr = monastery
Middle Welsh (Kyrmraec)	manach, menach, mynach = monk mustuir = monastery manaches, mynaches = nun
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mynach, manach [ˈmənaχ. ˈmanaχ] = monk, friar mynachaeth = monasticism mynachaidd = monastic mynachdy, mynachlog = monastery mynaches, manaches = nun
Old Cornish	manach = monk manaes = nun
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	manach, manah = monk manaes, monacha = nun, a female recluse
Cornish (Kernewek)	managh = monk managhek = monastic managhes = nun managhti = monastery
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	manach = monk
Middle Breton	manach = monk manaches = nun manachty = monastry
Breton (Brezhoneg)	manac’h [ˈmãːnax] = monk, hot water bottle, grey periwinkle manac’hez = nun manac’hegezh = monasticism manac’hek = monastic manac’hiñ = to appoint a monk manati [mã.ˈna.tːi] = monastry, cloister, convent

Etymology: from Latin monachus (monk), from Ancient Greek μοναχός (monakhós – single, solitary), from μόνος (mónos – alone, forsaken, solitary, only, unique), from Proto-Hellenic *mónwos. The Goidelic words may have been borrowed from Proto-Brythonic. Words from the same roots include monk and monastery and minster (a monastic church) 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

Malt

3rd April 20258th April 2025 By Simon

Words for malt and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*mrakis = malt
Gaulish	bracis = malt (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	mraich = malt braichles = wort
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	braich = malt, malt liquor braichles = mash, wort
Irish (Gaeilge)	braich = malt braicheadh = malting braicheadóir = malster braichleann = malt liquor braichlis = wort
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	braich [braç] = malt, fermented grain brach [brax] = ferment!, malt!, fill with pus!, gather! mac na bracha/braiche = single malt whisky
Manx (Gaelg)	bry, braih = malt braghee = malted, malty braghey = to ferment, malt, malted, fermentation
Proto-Brythonic	*brag = malt (?)
Middle Welsh (Kyrmraec)	brac, brag = malt, barley grain bragio, bragv = to brew, malt, scheme, spoil, ruin, germinate, sprout, shoot
Welsh (Cymraeg)	brag [braːɡ] = malt, barley grain, alcoholic drink produced by fermentation of malt, ale; a brewing, fermentation; brewery brag(i)af, bragu, brag(i)o = to brew, malt, scheme, spoil, ruin, germinate, sprout, shoot braglyn = malt liquor bragodyn = germ, sprout bragwr, bragydd = brewer, maltster brecâf, brecáu = to mash (malt in brewing) bracty, bragdy = brewery, malthouse
Old Cornish	brag = malt
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	brag, brâg = malt
Cornish (Kernewek)	brag = malt
Middle Breton	braguez = (germ of) grain
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bragez [ˈbrɑːɡes] = (germ of) grain

Etymology: uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *mr̥ke/o / *morko, from *merk- (to be soaked, be weak). Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via Gaulish bracem and Old French bracier (to brew), include brasser (to brew, intermingle), brasserie (brewery, brasserie, beer parlour), and brasseur (brewer) in French, brasserie in English.

Words from the same PIE roots include marcire (to rot, fester, go bad) in Italian, marchito (wilted, faded) in Spanish, marcir (to wilt) in Catalan, and mer̃kti (to wet, moisten, soak) in Lithuanian [source].

Breaking the Wind

29th March 202529th March 2025 By Simon

A post about words for flatulence and related things in Celtic languages, and related words in other languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	bragyeti = to fart, flatulate braxsman = fart *brag-(y)o- = to fart
Gaulish	*bragiū = to fart (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	braigid [ˈdʲesʲkʲibul] = to fart broimm = fart
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	braigid = to fart broimm, broim = fart(ing)
Irish (Gaeilge)	broim [bˠɾˠiːmʲ] = fart, to fart broimneach = (act of) farting broimnéis = (of speech) windiness, fury broimnéiseach = loud-voiced, furious, bellicose broimseán = windiness, rudeness broimseánaí = windbag, rude person broimseánta = rude bromaire = farter, windbag, boaster bromaireacht = windiness, (act of) boasting
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bram [brãũm] = fart, breaking wind (with noise) braim [brɤim] = fart, breaking wind (with noise) bramag [bramag] = small fart
Manx (Gaelg)	breim = fart, raspberry breimeragh = to fart, farting breimmey = to fart
Proto-Brythonic	*bramm = fart (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	bram, bràm = fart, gentle puff bramu, bremain, brammu = to fart, break wind
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bram [bram] = fart, gentle puff bramu, bramio = to fart, break wind
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	bram = fart bramme = to fart
Cornish (Kernewek)	bramm, brabm = fart bramm an gath!, brabm an gath! = cat’s fart! fiddlesticks! bramma, brabma = to fart
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	bram = fart brammet = to fart
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bramm [brãmː] = fart brammadenn = fireball brammañ, brammat = to fart brammellat = to backfire brammer = farter

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *bʰr̥Hg-yé-ti, from *bʰreHg- (to stink, smell, have a strong odour) [source]. Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Gaulish *bragiū (fart) and Latin bragiō (to bray, cry, weep), include (to) bray in English, braire (to bray, shout, cry, weep) and brailler (to shout, yell, speak very loudly) in French, sbraitare (to shout, scream, yell, rant) in Italian, and breté in Gallo [source].

Words from the same PIE roots possibly include braña (mire, bog, fen, march, moorland) in Galician, flair, fragrant in English, flairer (to smell, sniff, scent, sense) in French, fragare (to smell) in Italian, cheirar (to smell) in Portuguese, and words for rotten, putrid, foetid, etc in Celtic languages, such as braen (rotten, putrid, corr) in Welsh – see the post Rotten Fragrance for more details [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	tútt = smell
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	tút(t), túth = smell, stench
Irish (Gaeilge)	tuth = odour, stench, funk tuthóg [ˈt̪ˠʊhoːɡ] = puff, fart tuthógach = puffing, farting, malodorous
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tùd [tuːd] = stink, stench, (silent) fart) tùdach [tuːdəx] = stinking, farty, abounding in (silent) farts

Etymology: unknown

Proto-Celtic	ɸrikkā, frikkā = fart
Proto-Brythonic	*rrex = fart
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	rech, rhêch = fart rhechain = to fart rechyaỽc = farting
Welsh (Cymraeg)	rhech [r̥eːχ] = fart rhechu = to fart rhechiog = farting rhechwr = farter dim gwerth rhech dafad = worthless (“not worth a sheep’s fart”)

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *perd- (to fart loudly, to pass gas, break wind) [source]. Words from the same roots include fart, partridge in English, pjerdh (to fart) in Albanian, пърдя (pǎrdjá – to fart) in Bulgarian, Furz (fart) in German and fjärta (to fart) in Swedish [source].

Nights

20th March 2025 By Simon

A post about words for night, evening and related things in Celtic languages, and related words in other languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	adaig [ˈaðəɣʲ] = night
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	adaig, aidche, oidche, adhaigh = night
Irish (Gaeilge)	oíche [ˈiːhɪ/ˈĩːçə/ˈɪhə] = night, period of darkness, night-time, nightfall, eve anoíche = late hour of night meánoíche = midnight oíchí = nocturnal, nightly Oíche Shamhna = Halloween Oíche Nollag = Christmas Eve oíche chinn bliana = New Year’s eve
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	oidhche [ɤ̃ĩçə] = night oidhcheach [ɤ̃ĩçəx] = nightly, nocturnal oidhcheil [ɤ̃ĩçal] = nightly Oidhche Shamhna = Halloween Oidhche Nollaige = Christmas Eve oidhche Challainn [ɤ̃çəˈxal̪ɪn̪ʲ] = New Year’s eve adhaigh†, adhuigh† = night
Manx (Gaelg)	oie [ɛi/iː] = night, eve, night time, nocturnal, evening oieagh = nocturnal oieoil = nightly Oie Houney = Halloween, Hop tu Naa Oie Nollick = Christmas Eve Oie Nollick Veg = New Year’s eve
Proto-Brythonic	*exuɨð = night (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	hecuuyt, echwyd, echwyt = the third hour of the day (9am), interval between 9am and 12 noon, noon, time of the day when cattle etc. shelter from the heat
Welsh (Cymraeg)	echwydd [ˈhɨ̞ðɨ̞ɡl / ˈhɪðɪɡl] = the third hour of the day (9am), interval between 9am and 12 noon, noon, time of the day when cattle etc. shelter from the heat, afternoon, evening, close of day, autumn
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ewhe = evening
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	ehoaz, ehoa = cattle rest at midday, resting place, shade for animals, rest ehoazaff = to day a midday rest
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ec’hoaz [ˈhyː(z)il] = midday rest, siesta ec’hoazañ = to take a midday rest ec’hoaziad = siesta ec’hoaziata = to take a siesta

Etymology: uncertain. The Goidelic words, and maybe the Brythonic words, are possibly related to āter (dull black, dark, gloomy, sad) in Latin [source], which comes from Proto-Italic *ātros (black), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₁ter- (fire) [source].

Words from the same roots may include atrocious and atrocity in English, âtre (hearth, matte black) in French, atro (dark, black, bleak, brooding) in Italian, and atro (jet-black, bad, evil, sinister) in Portuguese [source].

Proto-Celtic	noxt-stu- = night (?) sindai noxtē = tonight
Gaulish	nox = night (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	nocht = night innocht = tonight
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	nocht = night innocht = tonight
Irish (Gaeilge)	anocht [əˈn̪ˠɔxt̪ˠ] = tonight
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	a-nochd [əˈn̪ˠɔ̃xg] = tonight
Manx (Gaelg)	noght = tonight
Proto-Brythonic	*hanoɨθ = tonight
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	nos = night henoid = tonight
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	nos = night nosa, nossi, nosi = to become night, fall (of night) nossavl, nossol, nosawl = nightlike, nocturnal, nightly nos hon, noshon, nosson = evening, night nosweith, nossweith, noswaith = evening, night heno = tonight
Welsh (Cymraeg)	nos [noːs] = night, evening, darkness (of night), vigil nosi, nosáu = to become night, fall (of night) nosaidd = nightlike nosol = nightlike, nocturnal, nightly noson = evening, night noswaith = evening, night heno = tonight
Old Cornish	nos = night
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	nos, nôs = night haneth = tonight
Cornish (Kernewek)	nos = night nosweyth = night-time, at night noswiker = smuggler haneth = tonight
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	nos = night
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	nos = night fenozh, fennos, fenoz, fin-noz = tonight antronoz all = the day after tomorrow
Breton (Brezhoneg)	noz [ˈnoːs] = night noziñ [ˈnoːzĩ] = to get dark nozvezh [ˈnoz.vɛs] = overnight stay, duration of one night nozik = a little dark henoazh = tonight eil tronoz = the day after tomorrow

Etymology: either from Latin nox, from Proto-Italic *nokts (night), from Proto-Indo-European *nókʷts (night). Or via Proto-Celtic *noxs (night), from the same PIE root [source].

Words from the same roots include night in English, Nacht (night) in German, ochtend (morning) in Dutch, otta (dawn, early morning) in Swedish, ακτίνα (aktína – light ray, sunbeam) in Greek [source]

Satisfying Pleasure

3rd March 2025 By Simon

Words for satisfaction, pleasure, gratitude and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*bodyā = satisfaction, pleasure
Old Irish (Goídelc)	buide [buːa̯ðʲ] = benefit, gift, profit, quality, triumph, victory, virtue búadach = gifted, triumphant, victorious
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	buide, buidhe = good-will, favour, gratification, gratitude, thanks, grateful, gratified, glad buidech, buidheach = well-disposed, pleased, satisfied, sated, grateful, thankful, pleasing, gratifying, pleasant buidechus, buidheachas = ripeness, thanks
Irish (Gaeilge)	buí [bˠiː/bˠiə] = victory, truimph; gift, talent; virtue merit; special quality buíoch = thankful, pleased, satisfied buíochas = thanks, gratitude buíochasaigh = to thank
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	buidhe [bujə] = gratitude, gratification, thanks, glad, grateful, fortunate, lucky buaidheach [bujəx] = grateful, thankful, satisfied, content, sated, fed up buaidheachas [bujəxəs] = gratitude, thanks, thanksgiving, acknowledgement (of an achievement) buaidheach = victorious, effective
Manx (Gaelg)	booise = gratitude, thanks, to content, please bwooisagh = thankful bwooisal = gratitude, pleasing, thankful booisal = acceptable, obliged, pleasing, thankful cur bwooise da = to thank
Proto-Brythonic	*boð = (?)
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	bódláún = contented, satisfied, pleased
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	bod, bot, bodd = liking, contentment, satisfaction, favour, pleasure bodhgar = satisfying, pleasing, agreeable, pleasant boddhan = to satisfy, make contented, please, gratify, be contented botlaỽn, bodlavn, bodlawn = contented, satisfied, pleased
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bodd [boːð] = liking, contentment, satisfaction, favour, pleasure, wish, desire, will, goodwill, approval, consent, permission boddgar = satisfying, pleasing, agreeable, pleasant, enticing, easily satisfied or pleased, contented boddgarwch = pleasure, agreeableness, delight, easiness to satisfy or please, contentment boddhad = satisfaction, contentment, pleasure, enjoyment, agreeableness, delight, atonement, willingness, complacency boddhadau = to satisfy, make contented, please, gratify, be contented boddio = to satisfy, please, make contented, be satisfied bodlon [ˈbɔdlɔn] = contented, satisfied, pleased
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	bodh, bôdh = will, good pleasure
Cornish (Kernewek)	bodh = consent, will, wish bodhegi = to volunteer bodhek, bodheges = volunteer, voluntary, willing bodhel = consensual
Old Breton	bod = satisfaction, contentment
Breton (Brezhoneg)	boz = satisfaction, contentment (rare) bozek = satisfied bozleun = satisfied, full of satisfaction

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰed- (to improve, make better), or from PIE *bʰewdʰ- (to be awake, to be aware) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include bet, better and boot in English, besser (better) in German, betur (better) in Icelandic, and baat (profit, advantage) in Dutch [source].

Cressy

7th February 2025 By Simon

Words for cress, watercress, and related things in Celtic languages.

Watercress is a perennial European herb, Nasturtium officinale, that grows in freshwater streams; used in salads and as a garnish, or a similar plant, Nasturtium microphyllum [source].

Cress is a plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and antiscorbutic. [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*beruros = watercress
Gaulish	berula = cress
Old Irish (Goídelc)	birar = watercress
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	birar, biror, bilar, bilur = watercress biolar Mhuire = brooklime biolar tragha = scurvy-grass birarán = clean-topped cress
Irish (Gaeilge)	biolar [ˈbʲul̪ˠəɾˠ/ˈbʲɨlˠəɾˠ] = cress, watercress biolrach = cressy
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	biolair [bjul̪ʲɪrʲ] = cress, especially watercress biolaireach = pertaining to or abouding in watercress
Manx (Gaelg)	burley = cress, watercress
Proto-Brythonic	*berur = cress (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	berwr, berỽr, berw = cress, watercress
Welsh (Cymraeg)	berwr, berw = cress, watercress
Old Cornish	beler = watercress
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	beler = watercress
Cornish (Kerneweg)	beleren = cress beleren dhowr = watercress
Old Breton (Brethonog)	beror = cress, watercress
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	beler = cress, watercress
Breton (Brezhoneg)	beler [ˈbeː.lɛr] = cress, watercress belereg / belerid = watercress bed belerek = abounding in watercress

Etymology: from Proto-Celtic berus (spring, well), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrewh₁- (to boil, brew), or from PIE *bʰréh₁wr̥ (spring, source). Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via Gaulish *berulā and Latin berula (a herb: bittercress or waterparsnip) include berle (water parsnip) in French, Berle (water parsnip) in German, and berro (cress, watercress) in Spanish and Galician [source].

Ropes & Strings

28th January 2025 By Simon

Words for rope, cord, string and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	tantus, tantā = cord, string
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tét [tʲeːd] = cord, rope, string
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	tét, téd, tet [tʲeːd] = rope, cord, string, a spider’s thread tétaire = harper, lute-player tétán = rope, cord téitimnech = the crack, creaking of the ropes
Irish (Gaeilge)	téad [tʲiad̪ˠ/tʲeːd̪ˠ] = rope, cable, string, chord, tether téadach = stringed téadaire = roper, corder, player of stringed instrument téadaireacht = (act of) playing on stringed instrument téadán = short rope, string, cord, line téadchleasaí = rope-walker, rope-dancer téadleimneach = (act of) skipping téadra = cordage
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	teud [tʲiad] = cord, string teudach [tʲiadəx] = stringed teudachadh [tʲiədəxəɣ] = (act of) stringing, tethering teudag [tʲiədag] = little string/cord, fibre teudagach [tʲiədagəx] = fibrous, fibery, abounding in fibres teudaichte [tʲiadɪçdʲə] = stringed, tethered
Manx (Gaelg)	tead, tedd, teidd = rope, string, line, guy teaddey = rope teaddaght = cordage
Proto-Brythonic	*tant = string (?)
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	tantou = string
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tant = string, line, cord, tendril tennyn = tether, leash, lead, halter, string, cord, rope, noose, snare
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tant [tant] = string (of a musical instrument), line, cord, tendril, bowstring, nerve, sinew, tendon tantio = to string (a musical instrument) tantiwr = fisherman who stands on the shore holding one end of a salmon net, while two others throw the net into the water from a boat tantor = player of stringed instruments, harpist tennyn = tether, leash, lead, halter, string, cord, rope, noose, snare
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	tantou = strings
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	tant = string
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tant [tãnt] = string

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *tén-tu-s/ *tn̥-téw-s, from *ten- (to stretch, extend) [source]. Words from the same PIE roots include: ndej (to stretch) in Albanian, tenet (an opinion, belief, principle) in English, dehnen (to stretch) in German, tenere (to hold, keep, sustain) in Italian, tit (to wind, reel, coil, wrap) in Latvian, tener (to have, possess, hold, grasp) in Spanish, and tänja (to stretch, bend) in Swedish [source].

Proto-Celtic	*lomanā = rope, thong
Old Irish (Gaídelc)	loman = cord, rope
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	loman, lomna = cord, rope, thong, string, leash, bridle, halter
Irish (Gaeilge)	lomhain = rope, halter, leash
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lomhainn [l̪ˠõ.ɪn̪ʲ] = leash, lead, pack, band, gang
Manx (Gaelg)	louyn = rope er louyn = along, by hand, on a rope
Proto-Brythonic	*lloβ̃an [be̝ˈrɨːd] = rope, string
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llyfan = string, cord, thin rope
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llyfan = string, cord, thin rope
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	lovan = rope, cord, string lovannan = a small rope, cord
Cornish (Kernewek)	lovan = rope, lasso lovan dynn/dydn = tightrope lovan lemmel = skipping rope
Middle Breton	louffan = strap, belt
Breton (Brezhoneg)	louan [ˈluːãn] = strap, belt louaneg = slender (long-legged), clumsy louangen = skinny, without energy

Etymology: unknown, possibly from a non-Indo-European substrate language [source].

Proto-Celtic	*souggo = (?)
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	súagán, súgán = (straw) rope
Irish (Gaeilge)	súgán = (straw) rope, strawmat, lifeless, inert, spinless person súgánach = confused
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sùgan [suːgan] = straw rope, horse’s collar (filled with straw)
Manx (Gaelg)	suggane = twisted straw rope

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *sew- (to bend, cut). The Scots word suggan (light saddle, bedroll), and the Hiberno-English word sugan (a wooden chair with a seat made from woven straw or twine stretched over the frame) both come from the same roots via Irish, as does the word soogan (a bedroll) in American English [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	súainem = cord, rope, string, thong
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	súainem, súaineamh, súainimh = cord, rope, string, thong, course (of river)
Irish (Gaeilge)	suaineamh = (javelin) cord, amentum (catkin) (literary)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sìoman [ʃiəman] = simmen, rope made from plant fibres (esp. straw, but also coir, heather, grass, twigs or rushes)
Manx (Gaelg)	saineen = cord, thong

Etymology: from Old Norse síma (cord, rope) [source], from Proto-Germanic *sīmô (rope, cord), from Proto-Indo-European *sh₂éy-mn̥/*sh₂i-mén-s, from *sh₂ey- (to bind, fetter) [source].

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	róp = rope
Irish (Gaeilge)	rópa [ˈɾˠoːpˠə]= rope rópa = rope rópadóir = rope-maker rópadóireacht = rope-making, rope-walking, rope-climbing, working with ropes
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	ròp, ròpa [r̪ˠɔːhbə] = rope, bundle of seaweed ròpach [r̪ˠɔːhbəx] = abounding in ropes, tangled up, jumbled, untidy, messed up, abounding in tall tales/yarns ròpadh [r̪ˠɔːhbəɣ] = (act of)roping, fastening with a rope, entangling ròpair [r̪ˠɔːhbɛrʲ] = auctioneer ròpaireachd [̪rˠɔːbɛrʲəxg] = exaggerated tale, exaggerating, adorning the truth
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	raff, raf = rope, cord, string, line, cable, noose, halter reffyn, rheffyn = (small) rope, cord, string, (fishing) line, cable, noose, halter
Welsh (Cymraeg)	rhaff = rope, cord, string, line, cable, noose, halter rhaffu, rhaff(i)o = to tie with a rope or cord, to rope, fix a rop on, make a rope, to string or join (words, etc), connect together, link, crumple, spoil, waste, eat eagerly, gobble, snatch rhaff(i)aid = rope(ful), that which is held by a rope rhaffol = roped, made of rope(s), funicular rhaffwr, rhaffydd = rope-maker rheffyn = (small) rope, cord, string, (fishing) line, cable, noose, halter

Etymology: from Middle English rop(e) (rope), from Old English rāp (rope, cord, cable), from Proto-West-Germanic *raip (string, band), from Proto-Germanic *raipaz (rope, cord, band, ringlet), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *h₁royp-nó-s (band, strip, strap) [source]. The Welsh words are probably cognate, but their origins are not certain.

Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	corda = cord, rope
Irish (Gaeilge)	corda = cord, string, chord cordach = chordate, corded cordaigh = to cord
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	còrd = cord, chord
Manx (Gaelg)	coard, coyrd, coyrdey = cord
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	kord = cord, string, small rope, halter cort = cord, string, twine, rope
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cord = cord, string, small rope, halter cort = cord, string, twine, rope cortio = to cord, fasten with cords or strings, twist
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	cord = cord corden = string
Cornish (Kernewek)	korden = cord, string korden an keyn = spinal cord
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	corden, cordenn, querdenn, querdeynn = rope cordenner = tailpiece
Breton (Brezhoneg)	kordenn [ˈkɔr.dɛn] = rope kordennan = to rope, fish with longlines kordenner = tailpiece kordennerezh = ropework kordennig = cord, string

Etymology (Breton): from Middle French corde (rope), from Old French corde (rope), from Latin chorda (tripe, intestine, catgut, string, rope, cord), from Ancient Greek χορδή (khordḗ, string of gut, chord, sausage, black pudding), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰerH- (bowel) [source].

Etymology (other languages): from Middle English corde (cord, string, sinew), from Old French corde (rope), from Latin chorda (tripe, intestine, catgut, string, rope, cord), from Ancient Greek χορδή (khordḗ, string of gut, chord, sausage, black pudding), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰerH- (bowel)[source].

Words from the same roots include cord, chord, hernia and yarn in English, corda (rope, chord, string) in Italian, and koord (rope, cord) in Dutch [source].

Birth

24th January 2025 By Simon

Words for to be born, birth and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*ganyetor = to be born
Old Irish (Goídelc)	gein = birth genemain = birth, generation gainithir = to be born, arise, beget, originate ad·gainethar = to be reborn, to restitute
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	gein, gene = birth, genemain, geinemain = coming into existence, birth, generative power, growth, production, race, progeny, source, fountain-head gainithir, gentair, gēntar = to come to life, be born, produce, arise, originate, beget, procreate, conceive ad-gainethar, adgainethar = to be reborn, to restitute, make good
Irish (Gaeilge)	gin [ˈɟɪnʲ] = to give birth to, beget, procreate, generate, produce; begetting, birth, foetus, chid, offspring, person giniúint = procreation, conception, birth, reproduction, generation, embryo, progeny, breed giniúnach = generative gineadóir = begetter, sower, generator gineadóireacht = (act of) generating ginealach = genealogy, pedigree gineog = little offspring, baby (girl), little sprout, bud, germling
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	gin [gʲin] = beget, father, create, engender, procreate, reproduce, breed, generate gineach [gʲinəx] = genetic gineachas [gʲinəxəs] = genesis gineadach [gʲinədəx] = creative gineadachadh = generating, generation gineadair [gʲinədɪrʲ] = progenitor, procreator, generator ginealach [gʲinəl̪ˠəx] = generation
Manx (Gaelg)	gientyn = to beget, conceive, evolve, generate, procreate, produce; begetting, conceiving, conception, gender, generation, production giennaghtyn = to beget, develop, generate, procreate; generation, developing, producing
Proto-Brythonic	*gėnjed = to be born
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ganed, geny, geni = to be born, give birth to, bring forth, beget, produce; birth ganedic, ganedig = born, begotten, native, natural, innate, native ganedigaeth = birth, offspring, procreation, origin, beginning, spiritual regeneration, the act of bringing forth genedigawl = native, innate, hereditary, natural, born, indigenous, natal
Welsh (Cymraeg)	geni [ˈɡɛnɪ/ˈɡeːni] = to be born, give birth to, bring forth, beget, produce; birth ganedig, genedig = born, begotten, native, natural, innate, native genedigaeth, ganedigaeth = birth, offspring, procreation, origin, beginning, spiritual regeneration, the act of bringing forth genedigaethol, ganedigaethol = native (language, etc), pertaining to (a person’s) birth genedigol, ganedigol = native, innate, hereditary, natural, born, indigenous, natal
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	geny, genys, gynys = to be born
Cornish (Kernewek)	genys = born
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	ganet, guenell, guenel = to give birth (to), to bring/come into the world, to be born
Breton (Brezhoneg)	genel, ganañ, general [ˈɡẽː.nɛl] = to give birth (to), to bring/come into the world, to be born geneliezh = genesis genidigezh = natural gendik = native adcʼhenel [ad.ˈɣẽː.nɛl] = to be reborn

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥h₁yétor, from *ǵenh₁- (to produce, beget, give birth) [source]. Words from the same PIE roots include: kind (child) and koning (king, monarch) (gender, sex) in Dutch, cognate, engine(er), gender, gene, general, genesis, genetic, genial, genius, gentle, kin, king, nature, oxygen and progeny in English, Kind (child, kid, offspring) and König (king) in German, nascere (to be born, bud, sprout) in Italian, and gentis (tribe, genus, family, kin) in Lithuanian [source].

Proto-Celtic	bereti = to carry ɸarebereti = to use
Old Irish (Gaídelc)	beirid [ˈbʲerʲiðʲ] = to carry, bear, bring forth, judge ar·beir [arˈbʲerʲ] = to live, use, employ, eat, reproach, subdue, express
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	beirid, berid = to carry, infer, bear, bring forth, be born, yield, produce, judge, pass judgement ar-beir, airbir = to live, eat, use, employ, plead, subdue, express
Irish (Gaeilge)	beir [bʲɛɾʲ] = to bear, give birth to; lay (eggs); bear away, win; bring, take; catch, overtake; proceed, advance
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	beir [berʲ] = to take hold; bring forth, bear, produce; carry beirachd [berʲəxg] = bearing (children), giving birth, birthing, bringing forth, birth, nativity, taking hold, holding, catching up with
Manx (Gaelg)	behr = to bear (give birth to) ruggyr = birth, nativity laa ruggyr, laa ruggyree = birthday
Proto-Brythonic	bėrɨd [be̝ˈrɨːd] = to flow, carry ėrβėrɨd [be̝ˈrɨːd] = to make use of, employ, take
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	beru = to flow
Welsh (Cymraeg)	beru = to flow, drip; drizzle arfer [ˈarvɛr] = to use, be used to, be accustomed to; custom, practice, procedure, habit
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	berthy, perthy = to bear, carry, sustain, entertain, take porthy = to bear (with), carry, endure, sustain, suffer
Cornish (Kernewek)	perthi = to bear, endure, put up with, stand, suffer, tolerate perthyans = endurance, patience, tolerance
Middle Breton	beraff = to flow
Breton (Brezhoneg)	berañ [ˈbeːrã] = to drip, flow

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti (to be carrying), from *bʰer- (to bear, carry) [source]. Words from the same roots include: barn, barrow, (to) bear, birth, broad and (to) thole (to endure) in English, bie (to bring, deliver) Albanian, բերել (berel – to bring, fetch) Armenian, and berti (to throw, strew, scatter, shed) Lithuanian [source].

Spindly Axles

16th January 2025 By Simon

Words for axle, axis and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	akslā, aksilā, *axsilā = axis
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ais = back, hinder part
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	ais = back, hinder part
Irish (Gaeilge)	ais [aʃ/æʃ/ɛʃ] = back
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	aiseal [aʃəl̪ˠ] = axle(-tree), axis
Manx (Gaelg)	essyl = axle, axis
Proto-Brythonic	axl, ėxɨl = axle, axis (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	echel, achel = axle-tree, axle, axis, pivot
Welsh (Cymraeg)	echel [ˈɛχɛl/ˈeːχɛl] = axle-tree, axle, axis, pivot echelu = to furnish with an axle, place on an axle echelbin = linch-pin echelin = axis, axial, axile
Cornish (Kernewek)	aghel = axle
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	ahel, aël = axle
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ahel [ˈɑ(h)ː.ɛl] = axle ahelan = to centre sth on, to pin (together) ahelek = axial

Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *axsi- (back), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs- (axis), possibly from *h₂eǵ- (to drive) [source]. Words from the same PIE roots include: axis and axle in English, as (axis) in Dutch, Achse (axis, axle) in German, ais (board, plank) in French, and eje (axis, axle, shaft, spindle, core, heart, hub) in Spanish [source].

Proto-Celtic	u̯ert-iti-, u̯er-t- = to turn
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fertas = axle, spindle, shaft, rung, ridge, bank
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	fertas, fersat = shaft, spoke, axle, shaft, axletree, swingletree
Irish (Gaeilge)	fearsaid [ˈfʲaɾˠsˠədʲ] = spindle, shaft, axle(-tree), passage, piece of poetry, verse, ditty fearsaideach = shafted, spindly
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fearsad, feairisid [fjar̪ˠsəd, fɛr̪ʃɪdʲ] = spindle, shaft, axle, rung, spoke, track, rut, sandbar, ripple mark (in sand at low tide)
Manx (Gaelg)	fess = spindle
Proto-Brythonic	axl, ėxɨl = axle, axis (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	guerthyt, gwerthyt = spindle, axle, shaft
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwerthyd = spindle, axle, shaft, rung, stave gwerthydu = to furnish with a spindle or axle, to fashion like a spindle gwerthydaid = spindleful of yarn gwerthydwr = spindle-maker
Old Cornish	gurhthit = spindle
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	gurthid, gurhthit, gurthyd = spindle
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwerthys = bobbin, cage, spindle
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	guirtit, guirtitou = spindle, axis
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	guerzit = spindle, axis
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwerzhid [ˈɡwɛrzit] = spindle, axis

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Indo-European *wértti (to be turning around), from *wert- (to turn, rotate) [source]. Words from the same PIE roots include: verse, version, versus, vertebra, vertical, vortex, wierd and worth in English, worden (to become, get, grow, turn) in Dutch, and werden (will, be going to) in German [source].

Proto-Celtic	*molos = grinder
Old Irish (Goídelc)	mol = axle (for a mill-wheel), shaft
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	mol, moil, muil = axle, shaft (of a mill-wheel)
Irish (Gaeilge)	mol [mˠɔl̪ˠ / mˠʌlˠ] = hub, shaft, pivot, nave, Pole, top, crown Mol Thuaid = North Pole Mol Theas = South Pole
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	mul [mul̪ˠ] = axis, axle-tree
Manx (Gaelg)	moll = nave

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *molh₂ós, from *melh₂- (to grind, crush) [source]. Words from the same PIE roots include: Mjollnir (Thor’s hammer), mallet, meal, mill, millet, molar, and mull in English, Mühle (mill, grinder) in German, milho (maize, corncob) in Portuguese, and mijo (millet) in Spanish [source].

Pursuing Followers

11th January 2025 By Simon

Words for to follow, pursue and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*sekʷetor = to follow
Old Irish (Goídelc)	seichithir = to follow, persue sechem = following, imitating
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	seichithir sechethar, sechtir = to follow, persue sechem, sechim = following, imitating sechimthid, seichteóir, seichthid = follower
Irish (Gaeilge)	seicheamh = following, taking after, imitating, sequence, progression fosheicheamh = subsequence

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *sékʷetor (to be following), from *sekʷ- (to follow) [source]. Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Gaulish (?) and Latin segusius (a hunting dog) include: sabuxo (hound) in Galician, segugio (hound, bloodhound, private eye, sleuth) in Spanish, and sabujo (hound, submissive person) in Portuguese [source].

Words from the same PIE roots include: associate, sector, sequence, society, (to) sue, suit, suite and subsequent in English, suivre (to follow) in French, sèkti (to observe, track down, follow, spy on) in Lithuanian, and seguir (to follow, continue, keep (on)) in Spanish [source].

Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	sewye, sewé, sywé = to follow, persue
Cornish (Kernewek)	sewya = to follow, result holyans = consequence, outcome, result, sequel

Etymology: from English (to) sue [source], which used to mean to follow or court, and comes from Middle English seuen (to follow, walk behind, be guided), from Anglo-Norman suer, siwer (to follow), from Old French sivre (to follow after), from Vulgar Latin *sequere (to follow), from Latin sequī, from sequor (to follow, pursue, succeed), from Proto-Italic *sekʷōr (to follow, come/go after), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (to follow) [source].

Proto-Celtic	linati = to stick, cling ati-linati = to adhere, stick to, cling
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lenaid [ˈl͈ʲenɨðʲ] = to stick, cling, follow, remain, continue, survive lenamain = adhering, clinging, following ad·len = to follow, adhere
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	lena(i)d = to remain, continue, survive, pursue, persist, cleave to, cling to, adhere to, stay with, follow len(a)main = adhering, clinging to, stuck in, following, pursuing ad·len = to follow, adhere
Irish (Gaeilge)	lean [lʲan̪ˠ] = to follow, continue, remain, endure leantach = consecutive, continuing leantóir = follower, trailer leanúint = following, persuit, adherence, continuation leanúnach = follower, pursuer, successor, continuant, continuous, successive leanúnachas = continuity, attachment, faithfulness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lean [l̪ʲɛn] = follow, pursue, ensue, succeed, follow, continue, go on, stick to leanachd [l̪ʲɛnəxg] = following, pursuing, pursuit, followers, ensuing, succeeding, continuing leanadail [l̪ʲɛnədal] = attendant leanailteach [l̪ʲɛnnaldʲəx] = adhesive, sticking, sticky, dogged, persistent, tenacious leanailteachd [l̪ʲɛnaldʲəxg] = continuity, perseverance, tenacity, adhesiveness, adhesion leanaltas = perseverance
Manx (Gaelg)	lhian(t) = to follow lhiantag = attachment lhiantyn = following lhiantyn da/gys = to cleave (to) lhiantyn hug = to attach, obsess lhiantyn huggey = to take after lhiantyn rish = to cleave, persevere, pursue, stick to, cling lhiantys = adherence, attachment lhiantynys = adhesion, attachment
Proto-Brythonic	*llɨnad = to stick, cling
Old Welsh (Kembraec)	linisant = to infect, defile, corrupt, be infectious, smear
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	llynu = to infect, defile, corrupt, be infectious, smear edlynv, eddlynu, edlynu = to smear, besmear, daub, slabber, befoul
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llynaf, llynu = to infect, defile, corrupt, be infectious, smear edlynaf, edlynu = to smear, besmear, daub, slabber, befoul

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *h₂leyH- (to smear) [source]. Words from the same PIE root include lime, liniment, loam and delete in English, lijm (glue) in Dutch, limon (silt) in French, Leim (glue) in German, limo (mud, slime, silt) in Italian, and lim (glue) in Swedish [source].

Proto-Celtic	*solgos = ?
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	olhau = to follow, trace
Welsh (Cymraeg)	olhaf, olhau = to follow, trace
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	holye = to come after, to follow
Cornish (Kernewek)	holya = to follow holyans = sequence holyer, holyores = follower
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	hol = (act of) following
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	heul = following heultaff = to follow
Breton (Brezhoneg)	heul [høːl] = continuation, cortege, parade, escort, procession heuli(a)ñ [ˈhøljã] = to follow heul(iad) [ˈhø.ljat] = procession, line, sequence, continuation, series, train heuliadur = extension heuliata = to continue heuliataer = follower heulier = follower, adept, minion heulius = conformist

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *selgʰ- (to follow) [source].

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Proto-Celtic

Monastic Monks

Malt

Breaking the Wind

Nights

Satisfying Pleasure

Cressy

Ropes & Strings

Birth

Spindly Axles

Pursuing Followers