Water Snakes (Eels)

12th November 202012th November 2020 By Simon

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).

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.

Simon Ager · A Hen in My Hat / Iâr yn fy Het

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

5th November 202016th December 2022 By Simon

Words for trout and related fish in the Celtic languages.

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].

Salmon

30th October 202030th October 2020 By Simon

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)	eò [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).

Fish

25th October 202025th October 2020 By Simon

Words for fish in the Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ɸēskos = fish
Old Irish (Goídelc)	íasc = fish
Irish (Gaeilge)	iasc [iəsˠk] = fish, to fish iasc (uisce) abhann / locha [iəsˠk] = river / lake fish, freshwater fish iasc farraige / iasc mara [iəsˠk] = sea-fish, saltwater fish
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	iasg [iəsg] = fish, Pisces iasg fìor-uisge = freshwater fish iasg mara = saltwater fish
Manx (Gaelg)	eeast = fish eeast awin = freshwater fish eeast marrey = marine fish, sea fish
Proto-Brythonic	*uɨsk = fish
Welsh (Cymraeg)	Wysg [uːɨ̯sk / ʊi̯sk] = Usk (river)

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pisḱ-/peysḱ- (fish). The name of the river Exe comes from the same root, as does Exmoor, where the river rises, Exmouth, where it meets the sea, and Exeter, which stands on the river.

Welsh (Cymraeg)	pysgod [ˈpəsɡɔd] = fish(es), Pisces pysgod aweddwr / pysgod dŵr croyw / pysgod dŵr glân [iəsˠk] = freshwater fish pysgod (y) môr [iəsˠk] = sea fish, saltwater fish
Cornish (Kernewek)	pysk [pɪːsk] / pesk = fish
Breton (Brezhoneg)	pesked = fish

Etymology: from the Latin piscātus, past participle of piscor (to fish), from piscis (fish), from Proto-Indo-European *pisḱ-/peysḱ- (fish).

Interesting idioms related to fish:

Irish: Iasc as uisce i do bhéal! = Restrain your tongue! (“Fish out of water in your mouth”)
Irish: Ar iascadh libh? = Did you catch fish / succeed in your quest
Irish: Ar iascach ar dhuine = to fish information from sb
Welsh: pysgota mewn dŵr llwyd = to fish in troubled waters

Blackbirds

11th October 202015th October 2020 By Simon

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.

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

Simon Ager · The Blackbird’s Tail / Cynffon yr Aderyn Du

Owls

21st September 202022nd September 2020 By Simon

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.

Ducks

12th September 2020 By Simon

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.

Eagles

7th September 2020 By Simon

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].

Gulls

15th August 202011th May 2022 By Simon

Celtic words for (sea)gull, seabirds of the genus Larus or of the family Laridae.

Proto-Celtic	*wailannā = seagull
Old Irish (Goídelc)	faílenn, foílenn = seagull
Irish (Gaeilge)	faoileán, faoileog = gull, seagull faoileán bán = common gull (Larus canus) faoileán ceanndubh, faoileán an chaipín = black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) faoileán droma duibh = greater black-backed gull (Larus marinus) foillan scadán = (Larus argentatus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	faoileann [fɯːlən̪ˠ], faoileag [fɯːlag] = gull, seagull, common gull faoileann-bheag = common gull faoileann-dubh = black-headed gull faoileann a’ chinn dhuibh = greater black-backed gull faoileann-mhór = herring gull
Manx (Gaelg)	foillan, foilleig, fooilleig = gull, seagull foillan bane = common gull foillan kione doo = black-headed gull foillan saggyrt = greater black-backed gull foillan skeddan = herring gull
Proto-Brythonic	*gwuɨlann = seagull
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gwylan = seagull
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwylan [ˈɡʊɨ̯lan / ˈɡʊi̯lan] = sea-gull, sea-mew; fair maiden; glutton gwylan gyffredin = common gull gwylan goes goch / gwylan benddu = black-headed gull gwylan gefnddu = greater black-backed gull gwylan y penwaig = herring gull
Old Cornish	guilan = seagull
Cornish (Kernewek)	golan [ˈɡoːlan / ˈɡʊlɐn] = gull, seagull gwylan gemyn = common gull skraw / skrawik / scraw = black-headed gull gwylan keyn du = greater black-backed gull gwylan hern = herring gull
Old Breton	guilannou = seagull
Middle Breton	goelann = seagull
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gouelan = seagull gouelan loue = common gull gouelanig maskl du = black-headed gull gouelan bras = greater black-backed gull gouelan gris = herring gull

Etymology: thought to be from the Proto-Indo-European *wáy (oh! ah! woe! alas!), possibly related to *waylos (howler, wolf) [source].

The English word gull also comes from the same Proto-Celtic *wailannā, via the Middle English gulle [source].

The French word goéland (gull, herring gull) comes from the Breton gouelan [source].

Note: the types of gulls mentioned here are commonly seen in Celtic-speaking areas. Other gulls are available.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s a song I wrote in Manx and English about seagulls and their love of chips: Spollagyn son tey / Chips for tea

Simon Ager · Spollagyn son tey / Chips for tea

Swallows

9th August 202023rd August 2020 By Simon

Words for swallows, swifts and martins in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*wesnālā = swallow
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ainnel, fannall = swallow
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	áilleóc, fainleóc = swallow
Irish (Gaeilge)	fáinleog, áinleóg = swallow
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	(f)ainnleag [(f)ãĩn̪ʲl̪ʲag] = swallow, martin, storm(y) petrel
Proto-Brythonic	*gwennọl = swallow
Old Welsh	guennol = swallow
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	gwennawl = swallow
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gwennol [ˈɡwɛnɔl] = swallow, martin; weaver’s shuttle
Cornish (Kernewek)	gwennol = swallow
Old Breton	guennol = swallow
Middle Breton	guennel = swallow
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwennel = swallow

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *wós-r̥/*wés-n̥s (spring) [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	gabhlán = martin gabhlán-binne = house martin (delichon urbicum)) gabhlán gainimh = sand martin (riparia riparia) gabhlán gaoithe = swift (apus apus)
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	gòbhlan [gɔːl̪ˠan] = swallow, martin; prong, small fork gòbhlan-gaoithe [goːl̪ˠan’gɤjə] = barn swallow (hirundo rustica) gòbhlan-gainmhich [goːl̪ˠan gɛnɛvɪç] = sand martin, bank swallow gòbhlan-dubh [goːl̪ˠan du] = (common) swift gòbhlan-mara [goːl̪ˠan marə] = storm(y) petrel (hydrobatidae)
Manx (Gaelg)	gollan = swift, martin; fork gollan geayee = swallow gollan gheinnee = sand martin gollan mooar = swift gollan thie = house martin

Etymology: from the Old Irish gabul (fork, forked branch), from the Proto-Celtic *gablā (fork, branch, gallows), from the Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- (to grab, take) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Here’s a tune I wrote called The Swallow / Y Wennol:

Simon Ager · The Swallow / Y Wennol

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: Proto-Indo-European

Water Snakes (Eels)

Trout

Salmon

Fish

Blackbirds

Owls

Ducks

Eagles

Gulls

Swallows