Partical Celtic Cognates

These words are cognate (related) in two or more of the six modern Celtic languages. Click on the English translations to find out more about them on the Celtiadur blog

Gaeilge (Irish) Gàidhlig (Gaelic) Gaelg (Manx) Cymraeg (Welsh) Kernewek (Cornish) Brezhoneg (Breton) English
abair abair abbyr to say, to speak
ábhar adhbar oyr material, matter, reason
achadh achadh field, garden, enclosure, hedge, plain
adhal adhal aall fork, trident
agh agh eilon, eilion stag, deer, hart
aí, a(o)i ai hwyaden hos houad duck, swan
ainmhí ainmhidh anifail eneval aneval animal, beast
ainnir ainnir anner annor annoar heifer, girl, maiden
Alba Alba Nalbin Yr Alban Alban Scotland
Albain Nua Alba Nuadh (Yn) Albin Noa
Nalbin Noa
Alban Newydd Alban Nowydh Nova Scotia
allwedd alhwedh alc'hwez key
am àm am time
amh amh aw of raw, uncooked
amhas amhas amaeth ammeth ambaith* servant, ploughman, savage
aran aran arran bread
arc(án) orc(an) ark piglet, sow
arg* eira ergh erc'h snow
art* art* arth arth arzh bear
asgwrn askorn askorn bone
áth àth aah ford
athair athair ayr -atr* father
awel awel avel wind, breeze
baile baile balley beili home, town, bailey
bainne bainne bainney banna banne milk, drop
báisteach baisteach Bashtagh rain, Baptist
balla balla boalley gwal, wal gwal wall
bán bàn bane bân* white, fair
bás bàs basse death
básaigh bàsaich geddyn basse to die, dead
basc* basc* baich begh bec'h load, burden
bascead basgaid basca(i)d, baskad basgeg basket basket, pannier
beach beach bee
bearach biorach bustach (?) bullock, heifer
béarla, Béarla Beurla Baarle speech, English
bedd bedh bez grave, ditch
beir beir behr beru berañ to carry, to flow
beithíoch beathach baagh animal, beast
bile bile billey pill pil tree, mast, bush, trunk
biss bys bys biz finger
blawd bleus bleud flour
bleidmhíol* bleidh-mhial blaidd bleydh bleiz wolf, sea monster
blew blew blev hair, bristles
bòc boch bogh boc'h cheek, bloat
boda, bwncath bargos baou buzzard
bog bog bog boug soft, tender
bolaigh boladh to taste, to smell
bonn bonn boyn sole, base, foot
bòtann, bòtais, bùtais bootys bot(is), bwtias botas botez boot, shoe
bóthar bòthar bayr beidr bownder road, alley, lane
brac brac braich bregh brec'h arm, hand
bradán bradan braddan salmon
bran bran brân bran bran crow, raven
bras bras bras bras great, big, swift
brat brat brat brat, brethyn brozh cloak, mantle, skirt
brenin bryntin, brentin brientin king, aristocrat
brí bre* bre bre bre hill, mount, hillock, height
brecht* brith brith brizh speckled, variegated
briocht lled(f)rith brith* charm, spell, enchantment
bríste briogais breeçhyn brits(h) bragez, bragoù trousers, breeches
brithyll brithel brezel trout, mackerel
bróg bròg braag brog shoeboot
brón bròn bran brwyn sad
bruth bruth brooan brwd broud hot, heat, rash
brydio bryjyon broudañ to boil, to burn
buí buidhe bwee yellow
buinne ben cart, wagon, wattle
caer ker kaer fort, castle
caí* cae ke kae field, hedge
caib caibe kiebbey caib pickaxe, spade, dibble
cailleach cailleach caillagh old woman, hag, witch
cailleach oíche cailleach-oidhche caillagh oie owl
caint cainnt caaynt speech, to speak, talk
caladh caladh calloo, callee harbour, landing place
caladh caled kales kalet hard, stingy
cana cana cenau cub, puppy, kitten
caoin caoin keain cain ken tender, gentle, mild
caoch caoch kyagh coeg koog one-eyed, blind
caol caol keyl cul kul narrow
caomh caomh cu kuv kuñv dear, gentle, sweet
caora caora keyrrey caer* sheep, ewe, roebuck
casair casair cesair keser kazarc'h hail
caseg kasek kazeg mare
casúr casar casoor hammer
cathair cathair caayr fortress, monastery, city
ceannaigh ceannaich chionnaghey to buy, to purchase
cearc cearc kiark hen, chicken
cefn keyn kein back
cegin kegin kegin kitchen
cegin kegin kegin, kegin-derv jay, woodpecker
ceo ceò kay, kyeoh fog, mist
cerdded kerdhes kerzhet to walk
cét* gan gans gant with, by
chwech hweg c'hwek sweet, delicate
chwilio hwilas c'houilia to search, to seek
cinio kinnyow koanier dinner, lunch, breakfast
ciotach ciotach kyttagh chwith left
cis, ciséan cis, cisean, ciosan kishan basket, creel
cladh cladh clawdd kleudh kleuz ditch, trench, rampart
cláirseach clàrsach claasagh harp
clais clais clash clais ditch, groove, trench
clamhán clamhan clowan buzzard
clár clàr claare clawr kleur board, table, cover
cló clò clou clo klaou bolt, lock, nail
cloichshneachta clach-shneachd claghyn sniaghtee hail, hailstones
cluain cluain clun meadow, pasture, moor
cluas cluas cleaysh clust ear
cnámh cnàimh craue cnaw bone, skull
coch coch, cough red
codail caidil caddil to sleep
coed, coeden koos koad forest, wood, tree
cogadh cogadh caggey war, fighting
coir coire caredd cara* karez mistake, sin
cóir còir cair cywair just, rightful
comhachag cuan kowann, cowan kaouenn owl
collach cullachcollach collagh muc ceilliog kalloc'h boar, hog, stallion
colum* cwlwm kolm, kolmen skoulmoù, skoulm knot
comio kows, kewsel komz, kaozeal to speak, to say, to talk
cónaígh còmhnaidh cummal to live, to grip
cora caradh cored kored weir, dam
corcra corcar porffor purpur pourpré purple
cos cas, cos cass coes leg, foot
cosán casan cassan path
céide cèide pant pans pant hill(ock), hollow, slope
craobh craobh crouw branch, tree, bush
crean crean prynu prena prenañ to buy, to purchase, to obtain
crëyr *querhair heron
cri kriv kriz raw, crude
cró crò crau krow blood, gore
cruach cruaidh creoighey steel
cruit cruit cruitçh crwth krowd - harp, crwth, fiddle
cúacca* gwag gwag gwak empty, soft, delicate
cuarán cuaran carrane cu(a)ran, cwaran bootsandal
cuas cuas cau kew kev hollow, cavity, cave
cudd kudh kuzh secret, hidden
cusan kussyn kiss
cwch kok kouc'h boat, beehive
cwmwl kommol koumoul fog, mist, cloud
cwsg kosk kousked sleep, slumber
cyllell kollell kontell knife
cysgu koska kousket to sleep
damhna damhna defnydd devnydh danvez matter, material, substance
danas demm (fallow) deer
daor daor deyr servile, unfree, expensive
dara dala derrey second
déan dèan jean geni to do, to make
dearg dearg jiarg red
díog dìg jeeg ditch, dike, trench
díon dìon jeen protection, waterproof, roof
dochtúir dotair doghtoor doctor
dod, dyfod dos donet to come
donn donn dhone dwn brown, dun
dôr dor door
doras doras dorrys drws daras door
dowrlam lamm-dour waterfall
draenog draeneg hedgehog
droichead drochaid droghad bridge
droim druim dreeym back, ridge
drúth drùth drud drudh fool, dear, cherished
dul dol goll to go
dybri debriñ to eat
éadan aodann eddin browforehead
éag eug angau ankow ankow dead, death, deceased
eagla eagal aggle fear, horror
eallach eallaidh ollagh cattle, cow
earc earc erch mottled, speckled
eas eas assag stoat, weasel
eas eas eas waterfall
eascann easgann astan eel
ehedydd, hedydd evidit*, ahwesydh ehuedez*, alc'hweder (sky)lark
eidion ojyon ejon bullock, heifer
eire eire errey arau load, burden
eo eòeog eog eghek eog salmon
esgid eskis shoeboot
esna asna asney ais asownn rib
ewig euhic* deer, hart, stag
fabhcún faolchon ffawcwn, ffawlcwn falghun falc'hun falcon, hawk
fadhb fadhb uddan oddf knot, lump, problem
fáigh fàidh fadeyr gwawd seer, prophet, poem
fáinleog, áinleog fainnleag, ainnleag gwennol gwennol gwennel swallow, martin
fáinne fàinne fainey ring, circle, coil
fairged* gwneud gul ober to do, to make
faol*, faolchú faol, faol-chù filliu wolf
fás fàs faase empty
féan feun fainagh wagon, cart, chariot
feannóg feannag fannag crow, rook
feic faic faik to see, to be
fia fiadh feeaih deer
fiach fitheach feeagh gwyach raven, grebe, crake
fial fial feoilt gŵyl modest, seemly
fiar fiar gŵyr gwarr gwar crooked, bent, curve
file filidh feelee seer, poet
fine fine gouenn family, tribe, race
fios fios fys gwŷs knowledge, information
fliuchadh fliuchadh fliaghey rain, wetting
flúr plùr flooyr flour, flower
folamh falamh follym empty
folc(tha) golchi golhi gwalc'hiñ to wash
forc forca fforc forgh forc'h fork
ffordd fordh street, alley, highway
fos fos ffos fos foz wall, butress, ditch
foss* gwas gwas gwaz servant, boy, husband
frac* gwrach gwragh gwrac'h old woman, hag, witch
fuath fuath feoh fearful, horror, terror
fuirigh fuirich fariagh to stay, to abide
fuiseog uiseag ushag (sky)lark, bird
gabhlán, gabhlán gaoithe gòbhlan, gobhlan-gaoithe gollan, gollan geayee swallow, swift, martin
gadhar gadhar beagle, hunting dog
galba galba gylfin gelvin golv beak, nose
gallu gallos gallout to be able to
galw gelwel galven, galviñ to call
gamhain gamhainn gauin calf
gan gun gyn ken without
otherwise
gaoth geodha giau inlet, estuary, cove
gaoth gaoth geay wind
geir geir geirr gwêr fat, tallow, grease
giorria geàrr, gearrach, gearra(i)dh hare
glaw glaw glav rain
gob gob gob beak, bill, point
gogledd gogledh goueled left, north
golau golow gouloù light, bright, fair
gort gort garth orth garth field, garden, enclosure, hedge, plain
gráinneog gràineag graynoge hedgehog
grian grian grian sun
gruaig gruag gruag hair
gwaed goos gwad blood
gwddf, gwddw, gwddwg gouzoug, goûg throat, neck
gwenynen gwenenen gwenanenn (honey) bee
gwiber, colwiber wiber, naerwiber snake, adder, viper
gwyrdd gwyrdh, gwer gwer green
hanner hanter hanter half
huan huon sun, eye
hud hud hud magic
hwrdd hordh (h)ourz ram
iasc iasg eeast wysg fish
icht* iaith yeth yezh language, people
inbhear inbhir inver river mouth, estuary, confluence
inchinn eanchainn ymennydd ympynnyon empenn mind, brain
iníon nighean inneen, 'neen daughter, girl
intinn inntinn inçhyn brain
ith ith ee ysu esat* to eat
iwrch yorgh yourc'h roe-deer
latha laa day
labhar labhar llafar lavar lavar talkative
lacha lach laagh duck
láir làir laair mare
lámhainn làmhainn lauean glove
lavrek lavreg trousers
le le lesh with
by
leastar leastar llestr lester lestr vessel
ship
cup
vase
leann llen len lenn cloak, mantle, curtain
leiceann lethcheann lieckan cheek
leitir leitir hillside, slope
léine lèine lheiney shirt, tunic, girdle
lia lèigh, lighiche lhee doctor, healer, physician
lios lios llys lis lez ringfort, court, fairy mound
líth lid festival, prosperity, ceremony
llanerch lannergh lanneg glade, clearing, pasture
llawen lowen, lowenek laouen happy, merry
llygad lagas lagad eye
llysywen, 'slywen sylli silienn eel
loarn* llewyrn lowarn louarn fox
lom lom lhome llwm lomm bare, naked
lon, lon dubh lon, lòn-dubh lhondoo, lhonnag blackbird, thrush, ouzel
lón lòn food, repast, lunch
long long lhong llong ship, vessel
longach longadh lhongey meal, consuming, sustenance
lonn lonn llon merry, fierce, bold
lorg lorg lorgey to search
luaidhe luaidhe leoaie lead
luas lùthas laueys speed, earliness
luath luath leah lleygys, lleiges quick, fast, early, soon
machaire machair magher magwyr moger plain, field, wall
madain madainn maddin, madjin morning
madra rua madadh-ruadh fox
madra uisce madadh-uisge moddey ushtey otter, beaver
madra, madadh madadh moddey madyn, madog dog, fox
maigheach mwaagh hare
maighean maen men maen stone, place
mair mair to live
mall mall moal slow, late
mathúin mathan maghouin bear
mear mear merre miri meri quick, fast, lively
méar meur mair finger, toe
mechdeyrn, mychdeyrn, machdeyrn metern, myghtern machtiern* king
meddyg medhek mezeg doctor
melyn melyn melen yellow, blonde
milis milis millish melys melys sweet
min min min lip, mouth, pout
minseach minnseag, minnseach minjagh nanny goat
miotóg, mitín miotag miten, mitin miton mitten, glove
moch moch mogh moch meuch* early, soon
moirb* morgrugyn, mor, mŷr, myrr moryon merion ant
mol mol moyl moli meuliñ to praise
morthwyl morthol morzhol hammer
muineál muineal mwannal mwnwgl, mwnwg, mynwgl neck
muinithir* mynd mos monet to go
muintir muinntir mooinjer household, folk, family
mullach mullach mullagh top, roof
múr mùr mur mur wall
nant nans ant stream
nasc naisg naisht naskañ to bind, to fasten
neacht nigh nith nith, noyth nizh niece, daughter
nigh nigh niee to wash
nocht nochd noeth noth noazh naked, bare
nod nòd nod nos not note
mark
symbol
oide oide gegjey foster-father, teacher, tutor
oighear eigh yey yen* frost, ice
oileán eilean ellan island
ól òl oyl to drink
ord òrd oard gordd horzh hammer
os os ych oghen oc'hen ox, deer
píce pìc pig pig pig pickaxe, pike
pigell pigell pigell goad, hoe, mattock
poeth pooth poazh hot, cooked
pont pons pont bridge
porchell porghel porc'helleg piglet, sow
príosún prìosan pryssoon prison prizon prison
pysgod pysk, pesk pesked fish
ráth ràth raah rampart, ring-fort
raon rheam run field, garden, enclosure, hedge, plain
re ri rish with
to
against
as
réilig réilig, réileag ruillick, rhullick graveyard, ossuary
reithe reithe rea ram
rhyd rys red ford
rhydd rydh rid* free, cheap
ruighe roih forearm, arm
rian rian rane course, path, method, river
rian rian rane course, path, method, river
riathar rhaeadr waterfall, torrent
ród rathad raad rhawd roud road, course, route
sámh sàimh peace, tranquility, rest
sámhach sàmhach silent, quiet, calm
Samhain Samhain Sauin, Souney Halloween, November
samonsamwn sowman somon salmon
sanas sanas sannish hanes hanas whisper, history, secret
saol saoghal seihll world, existence, lifetime
saor saor seyr free, cheap
saor saor seyr saer ser craftsman, carpenter, mason
sarff serpont, sarf sarpant snake, serpent
saveeney huno to sleep, slumber
scamall sgòth cloud
scian sgian skyeen ysgïen, sgien skejañ knife, to sever
sgiarnag ysgyfarnog, sgyfarnog skovarnek scouarnec hare, long-eared
scornach sgòrnan scoarnagh throat, mouth
scréachóg, scréachóg choille sgreuchag, sgreuchag-choille screeaghag, screeaghag cheylley sgrechog, (y)sgrech y coed jay
séad séad hynt hens, hyns hent path, way, course, road
seangán seangan sniengan ant
searrach searrach sharragh foal
séd* hydd heizes stag, hart, deer
seileán seillean shellan bee
seill seill sahll fat, blubber, suet
ser* sêr ster ster river, star
sionnach sionnach, seannach shynnagh fox
siúil siubhail shooill to walk
sith-* hyd hes hed until
long
slí slighe sleayd path, track, offspring
sliabh sliabh slieau mountain, moorland, hillside
sliocht sliochd sluight llwybr path, track, section, offspring
smarach, (lad) merch myrgh merc'h daughter, girl
smólach smeòrach, smèarach, smaolach mwyalch molgh, molgh dhu moualc'h, moualc'h zu blackbird, thrush, ouzel
snaidhm snaidhm sniem nadd nascañ knot, carving, hinder
sneachta sneachd sniaghtey nyf snow
soc hwch hogh ho(u)c'h sow, pig, swine
sona sona sonney happy, merry
spéir speur speyr sffêr sfer, sphère sky, sphere
spúnóg spàin spein spoon
stàilinn staillin steel
stuth stoo stwff stoff material, stuff, substance
sych sygh, segh sec'h dry
sychu segha sec'hañ to dry
tad tas tad father
talamh talamh thalloo ground, earth, land
tar, tig thig tar, çheet to come
te teth çheh heat
téigh tèid ardwy* to go
teillén telyn telyn telenn harp
thuaidh tuath twoaie left, north
tirim tioram çhirrym dry
tom tom tom tom hillock, knoll, mound
tonn tonn ton ton* tonn surface, land, skin
tonóg tunnag thunnag duck
torc torc twrch torgh tourc'h wild boar, hog
trácht traeth treth traezh beach, shore, sand
tráth tràth traa time, hour
treibh treabh, treubh tre(f) trev trev town, house, farmstead
trigio, godrig(af) triga guotric* to live, to remain
tríocha trichead treead tregont thirty
triomaigh tiormaich chyrmaghey to dry
trist trist trist sad
triús triubhas troosyn trywsus, trowsus, trywser trousers
trom trom trome trwm trom* heavy
truis druid treshlen tresglen dresk blackbird, thrush, ouzel
truth dluzh trout
trwyn tron nose
twym tomm
tobm
tomm warm, hot
tylluan toud owl
tywydd tewedha weather
uafásach uabhasach horrible, terrible
uaigh uaigh oaie, oaye grave, tomb
uaimh uaimh oghe, ooig (g)ogof gogow cave
uath uabhas uthr euth euz horror, dread, fright
ualach uallach burden, load
uisce uisge ushtey water
ulchabhán ullaid hullad oula owl
umha umha ooha efydd copper, bronze, brass
úr ùr oor ir yr new, fresh, verdant
ursa ors ourz bear
wybr ebron oabl sky, air
yfory a-vorow (w)arc'hoazh tomorrow
ysgyfarn* skovarn skouarn ear, handle

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Celtic cognates

Complete Cognates, Partial Cognates . Cognates arranged thematically: Adjectives | Animals | Birds | Clothes | Colours | Conjunctions | Countries | Directions | Food and Drink | Landscape | Languages | Metals | Musical terms | Numbers | Parts of the body | People | Pronouns | Prepositions | Sea creatures | Time expressions | Trees and Plants | Verbs | Weather | Other words

Celtiadur

A collection of Celtic cognates, with definitions, pronunciation, etymologies - includes the modern Celtic languages, older versions of these languages, such as Middle Welsh, Old Irish, and their extinct and reconstructed relatives and ancestors, including Gaulish, Celtiberian, Proto-Brythonic and Proto-Celtic.

Celtiadur

On the Celtiadur site you can find out more about the meanings of these words, their pronunciation and etymologies, and related words in older, extinct and reconstructed Celtic languages, such as Middle Welsh, Old Irish, Gaulish and Proto-Celtic.

On the Celtic Pathways podcast I discuss connections between the Celtic languages, and words in other languages with Celtic roots.

Celtic cognates

Complete Cognates, Partial Cognates . Cognates arranged thematically: Adjectives | Animals | Birds | Clothes | Colours | Conjunctions | Countries | Directions | Food and Drink | Landscape | Languages | Metals | Musical terms | Numbers | Parts of the body | People | Pronouns | Prepositions | Sea creatures | Time expressions | Trees and Plants | Verbs | Weather | Other words

Celtiadur

A collection of Celtic cognates, with definitions, pronunciation, etymologies - includes the modern Celtic languages, older versions of these languages, such as Middle Welsh, Old Irish, and their extinct and reconstructed relatives and ancestors, including Gaulish, Celtiberian, Proto-Brythonic and Proto-Celtic.

Information about Celtic languages

Breton, Celtiberian, Cornish, Cumbric, Gaulish, Irish, Lepontic, Lusitanian, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Tartessian, Welsh

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