Celtic cognates

This page contains words that are cognate in all or some of the six modern Celtic languages.

Click on the English versions that are links and you will be taken to the Celtiadur, where you can see what each word means, and how some of them are pronounced. There are also details of related words and expressions, and words in older versions of the Celtic languages, such as Middle Welsh and Old Irish. More Celtic Cognates


Other words

These words are cognate in all six Celtic languages.

Words marked † are archaic/obsolete.

Gaeilge
(Irish)
Gàidhlig
(Gaelic)
Gaelg
(Manx)
Cymraeg
(Welsh)
Kernewek
(Cornish)
Brezhoneg
(Breton)
English
aingeal aingeal aile angel eledh ael fire
angel
ainm ainm ennym enw hanow anv name
anáil anail ennal anadl anal anal breath
anam anam annym enaid enev ene soul
spirit
aois aois eash oes
oed
oos
ooj
oad age
ár àr haar aer ar*
hâr†
aer slaughter
battle
barr bàrr baare bar barr barr top
point
summit
beatha beatha beaghey bywyd bewnans buhez life
beannacht beannachd bannaght bendith bennath bennozh blessing
benediction
beo beò bio byw bew bev alive
living
bior bior birr
byr
bêr ber† ber point
thorn
spear
bith† bith beays byd bys bed world
being
existence
blaosc
plaosc
plaosg bleayst plisg(en) plisk(en) plusk(enn) shell(s)
husk(s)
bord bòrd boayrd bwrdd
bwrd
bord
bordh
bourzh table
board
brath brath brah brad bras barad betray(al)
treachery
conspiracy
deception
brí brìgh bree bri bri bri strength
essence
power
honour
dignity
brugh brugh brogh bro bro bro country
territory
broch
bua buaidh booie budd budh buz victory
profit
bun bun bun bôn ben ben base
foundation
caí caoidh coe cwyn kynvan keuziañ lament
mourning
weeping
Cáisg Càisg Caisht Pasg Pask Pask Easter
caileann cailindha caillyn calan kalan kala
kaland
calends
1st of month
carbad carbad carbyd cerbyd cerpit† karbed chariot
car
carr càr carr car karr karr car
chariot
wagon
cath cath cah cad kas kad battle
céim ceum keim cam kamm kamm step
Ceilteach
Seilt
Ceilteach Celtiagh Celt Kelt kelt Celt
ciorcal cearcall kiarkyl cylch kelgh
kylgh
klec'h circle
ring
clog clag clag cloch klogh kloc'h bell
clock
clú cliù goo clyw klew klev hearing
fame
clupaid crùbag
criopag
craplag cylched kolghes golc'hed fold
wrinkle
coverlet
duvet
cré criadh cray pridd pri pri clay
soil
ash
criathar criathar creear crwydr kroder krouer sieve
riddle
wandering
crith crith crie cryd kren kren fever
trembling
shaking
cúl cùl cooyl cil kil kil back
corner
cuid cuid cooid peth pyth
peth
pezh part
portion
thing
piece
cumaisc coimeasg covestey cymysg kemmysk kemmesk mix(ture)
tumult
blend(ed)
curach curach curragh corwg koroug korac'h coracle
currach
deoir deòr
deur
jeir deigryn
deigr
dagren daer tear
drop
diaidh dèidh jei diwedd diwedh diwezh end
after
dréacht dreachd draght
dreaght
darn darn darn part
piece
díoghail dìoghail jeeyl dial dial dial revenge
vengence
damage
driocht draoidheachd druaight derwyddiaeth drewydhieth drouizelezh magic
sorcery
druidism
feall feall foall gwall gwall gwall deceit
treachery
mistake
defect
féile fèil feaill
feailley
gŵyl gool gouel feast
festival
feis fèis feish gwest gwester guest† festival
entertainment
guest
ficheall fidhcheall feeal gwyddbwyll gwydhbol gwezboell chess
flaith flath flah gwlad gwlas
gulas
glad prince
lordship
country
nation
fleá fleadh fleah gwledd gwledh gloê feast
banquet
ga gath goull gwayw guw goaf spear
javelin
beam
gair
gáir
goir
gàir
gerr gair
gawr
ger ger call
shout
word
gairm gairm gerrym garm garm garm call
shout
yell
gal gal gaal
gall
gâl gal gal† ardour
vapour
enemy
galar galar gorley galar galar glacʼhar sickness
disease
grief
geil geil gyndyr gwellt gwels geot
gwelt
grass
graze
glóir glòir gloyr gloria glori gloar glory
gríos grìos gree gwres gwres gwrez warmth
heat
lathach lathach lathar
laagh
llaid leys lec'hid mud
mire
swamp
leabhar leabhar lioar llyfr lyver levr book
leath leth lieh lled les led half
breadth
width
leathar leathar l(h)iare lledr ledher lêr leather
hide
skin
luan luan lune llun lun lun Monday
moon
marbh marbh merriu
marroo
marw
marwolaeth
mernans marv dead
death
deceased
measc measg mastey
mestey
mysg mysk mesk jumble
mix(ture)
among(st)
midst
méid meud mooad maint myns ment size
amount
quantity
mogall mogal moggyl magl maglen maclou† mesh
husk
snare
trap
muileann muileann mwyllin melin melin
belin
milin
melin
mill
factory
Nollaig Nollaig Nollick Nadolig Nadelik Nedeleg Christmas
neart neart niart nerth nerth nerzh strength
might
power
force
olann olann ollan gwlân gwlan glaon wool
ord òrd oardyr
ordyr
urdd urdh urzh order
sequence
peaca peaca peccah pech pegh pec'h sin
guilt
póg pòg paag pocyn poccuil† pok kiss
rann
roinn
rann
roinn
rheynn rhan radn rann division
part
rath rath raah
rah
rhad ras rat grace
virtue
rún rùn roon rhin
cyfrin
rin
kevrin
rin secret
mystery
roth roth roar rhod ros rod wheel
bicycle
rúsc rùsg roost rhisgl rusken rusk bark
beehive
saighead saighead side saeth seth saezh arrow
samhail samhail
samhla
soyl hafal haval hañvalat likeness
model
similarity
scafa sgiof
sgoth
sgib
skiff (y)sgraff skath skof boat
skiff
scioból sgiobal skibbalt ysgubor skiber skiber barn
séan seun sheean swyn sona saouzan sign
charm
spell
stupor
seo seo shoh this
seol seòl shiaull hwyl gool gouel sail

síth
sìth
sìoth
shee hedd hedh hez peace
mound
fairy
sin sin shen hwn
hon
hyn
henn henn† that
this
siabhainn† siabhann sheeabin sebon sebon soavon soap
slat slat slat llath lath lazh stick
rod
staff
solas solas sollys golau golow gouloù light
flame
son sòn† sonn sŵn
sôn
son son sound
noise
suan suain saveen hun hun hun sleep
slumber
spiorad spiorad spyrryd ysbryd sperys
spyrys
spered soul
life
spirit
tábla tàbla taabyl tabl tabel taol table
board
táille tàille tailley tâl
talaith
tal tailh fare
fee
tally
teanga teanga çhengey tafod taves
tavas
teod language
tongue
tribe
people
teas teas çhiass tes tes tes heat
warmth
tine teine çhenney tân tan tan fire
lightning
toll toll towl twll toll toull hollow
empty
hole
tonn tonn tonn ton ton tonn wave
billow
tréan
treise
trèine
treise
treun
trean trych trygh trec'h strong(er)
might
brave
conquest
superior
trócaire tròcair trocair trugar
trugaredd
tregeredh trugar*
trugarez
merciful
pity
thanks
uamhan uabhann owan ofn own ovn fear
dread
uamhanach uabhannach owanagh ofnog ownek aonik fearful
dreadful
timid
uath
fuath
uabhas
fuath
feoh uthr euth euz horror
dread
fright

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These words are cognate in some of the Celtic languages.

Gaeilge
(Irish)
Gàidhlig
(Gaelic)
Gaelg
(Manx)
Cymraeg
(Welsh)
Kernewek
(Cornish)
Brezhoneg
(Breton)
English
ábhar adhbar oyr material
matter
reason
anseo an-seo ayns shoh yma omma amañ here
ansin an-sin ayns shen yna ena aze there
ansiúd an-siud ayns shid yno yn tre ahont yonder
araile arall aral arall (an)other
annwyd anwos anoued cold
chill
arbeir† arfer use
usage
practice
awen awen awen muse
inspiration
imagination
bád bàta baatey bad bag boat
basc† basc† baich begh bec'h load
burden
bás bàs basse death
béas beus beaoil moes boaz habit
virtue
moral(ity)
bedd bedh bez grave
ditch
bel bell war
tummult
béarla
Béarla
Beurla Baarle speech
English
braon braon brey (?) drop
drizzle
bréag breug breag lie
falsehood
briathar briathar breear brwydr word
verb
battle
Brigit brain(t) bryntin
brentin
brient privilege(d)
honour
briocht lled(f)rith brith† charm
spell
enchantment
bruth bruth brwd bredion† broud heat
hot(ness)
ardent
buinne ben cart
wagon
wattle
bunadh bunadh bonedd origin
nobility
lineage
byson bysow bizou ring
jewel
cáin càin fine
tax
duty
caint cainnt caaynt speech
to speak
talk
caoin caoin keayn cwyn can† lament
weep
complaint
anguish
clár clàr claare clawr kleur board
table
cover
cleacht cleachd claightey custom
use
habit
cloth clòth† clod clos† klod fame
praise
renown
cogadh cogadh caggey war
fighting
cogar cogar cyngor whisper
advice
counsel
coir coire caredd cara† karez mistake
sin
colg colg caulg col
coly
cola
kolgh husk
prickle
bristle
colum† cwlwm kolm
kolmen
skoulmoù
skoulm
knot
comhdháil còmhdhàil coardail cynhadledd meeting
accord
conference
cosúil cosail cosoylagh cyhafal kehaval resembling
similar
alike
cragen
crogen
krogen krogenn shell(s)
cruinniú cruinneachadh cruinnaght crynhofa gathering
assembly
cruth cruth croo pryd shape
form
cuire cordd kordh tribe
clan
troop
cuas cuas cau kew kev cavity
hollow
crypt
cudd kudh kuzh secret
hidden
cusan kussyn kiss
cwsg kosk kousked sleep
slumber
cynnull kuntel kuntuilh collection
gathering
picking
daigh daigh goddeith flame
fire
pain
dáil dàil dadl dadhel dael meeting
assembly
argument
damhna damhna defnydd devnydh danvez matter
material
substance
dealg dealg jialg dala delc† needle
pin
sting
deatach deatach jaagh smoke
vapour
dán dàn daan dawn donezon poem
gift
faculty
díon dìon jeen protection
waterproof
roof
dlí dlighe dyled dlead law
debt
duty
dùth dooie place
natural
domhan domhan dowan dwfn
dyfn
world
earth
universe
dóthain daothain saie enough
sufficiency
duais duais gift
prize
reward
éad eud ead eiddig (?) jealousy
envy
zeal
eagla eagal aggle fear
horror
éasca èasga eayst moon
eire eire errey arau load
burden
éag eug angau ankow ankow dead
death
deceased
fad fad foddid length
distance
duration
fadhb fadhb uddan oddf knot
lump
problem
fáilte fàilte failt welcome
fáinne fàinne fainey ring
circle
coil
fé† gwialen gwelen gwial
gwalenn
rod(s)
cane
pole
feadhain feadhain fwirran gwedd band
team
yoke
harness
féan feun fainagh wagon
cart
chariot
ffenestr fenester prenestr
fenestr
window
fiabhras fiabhras fever
ficheall fiodhcheall feeal gwyddbwyll gwydhbol gwezboell chess
fios fios fys gwŷs knowledge
information
focal facal fockle gwaethl word
debate
fochraig gwobr gober gopr prize
reward
fee
fos fois gwas rest
relaxation
abode
fraigh fraigh achwre wall
palisade
fence
fuath fuath feoh fearful
horror
terror
gealach gealach giallagh moon
glór glòr glare voice
speech
gor gor gôr gor pus
light
to warm
gnáth gnàth gnawd gnas gnot† custom
habit
quality
guth guth goo voice
word
reputation
hanner hanter hanter half
hiraeth hireth hiraezh longing
homesick(ness)
melancholy
hud hud hud magic
icht† iaith yeth yezh language
people
ionadh iongnadh angnawd
annawd
unknown
obscure
unusual
surprise
iontas iongantas yindys wonder
surprise
admiration
láib làb loub mud
mire
slime
láidir làidir lajer strong
powerful
lasair lasair lossyr llachar bright
shining
flame
leas leus lossey light
ray
blister
léibheann llwyfan stage
terrace
líon lìon llin lin lin flax
lint
léann léigheann llên lien lenn to read
reading
literature
learning
leastar leastar llestr lester lestr vessel
ship
cup
vase
léigh leugh lhaih lleaf
lleu
to read
literature
liathróid liathroid† ball
sphere
líth lid festival
prosperity
ceremony
llef lev leñv† shout
cry
voice
luí† llyw lew levier rudder
pilot
lloer loor loar moon
ma my mar mar if
macasamhail mac-samhail macsoyley like(ness)
similar
instance
maide maide maidjey stick
wood
pole
mòd mod assembly
gathering
meeting
múch mwg mog mog smoke
fume(s)
fire
nath nath nâd song
poem
knowledge
nimh nimh nieu poison
venom
nod nòd nod nos not note
mark
symbol
ocras acras acc(y)rys hunger
desire
óir oir oyr for
because
reason
oráid òraid oraid arawt areth speech
lecture
oration
prayer
ortha ortha incantation
spell
charm
paidir paidir padjer prayer
devotion
paternoster
peall peall pall pall pelt
skin
blanket
cloak
piosa pìos peesh pis piece
bit
piseog pisreag pishag pystri charm
spell
magic
sorcery
pís† pwys poos pouez weight
heavy
important
rian rian rane course
path
method
river
sáith sàth saie sufficency
fill
satiety
Samhain Samhain Sauin
Souney
Halloween
November
sanas sanas sannish hanes hanas whisper
history
secret
saol saoghal seihll world
existence
lifetime
séad
seoid
seud chwant hwans c'hoant desire
jewel
sealbh sealbh shelloo (h)elw luck
fortune
profit
(y)sglodion asklosen askleud chip(s)
splinter(s)
scealp sgealb
sgolb
spealg
speilt
spollag
(y)sgolp skolp splinter
chip
sliver
sith-† hyd hes hed length
long
extent
slaod slaod sleayd layer
raft
trudge
slaodach slaodach sleaydagh flowing
slow
trailing
slige slige shlig shell
hull
scale
smúit smùid smooid smoke
fume
steam
snaidhm snaidhm sniem nadd nascañ knot
carving
hinder
snas snas finish
polish
elegance
snáth snàth snaie neud thread
fibre
sonn sonn ffon stake
post
stick
stuth stoo stwff stoff material
stuff
substance
tart tart taart tarth thirst
dryness
mist
te teth çheh heat
tearmann tèarmann terfyn santuary
refuge
boundary
toit toit toghan smoke
vapour
steam
tonn tonn ton ton† tonn surface
land
skin
tro tro tro rotation
cycle
surround
troid trod troddan fight
quarrel
tús tùs tywys beginning
front
lead(er)
ualach uallach burden
load
uath uath uthr euth euzh fearful
horror
dread
urnaí ùrnaigh yeearree prayer

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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 | Buildings | Languages | Metals | Musical terms | Numbers | Parts of the body | People | Pronouns | Prepositions | Sea creatures | Time expressions | Trees and Plants | Verbs | Weather | Tools | Other words | Names

Celtiadur

Celtiadur

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

Celtic Pathways

Celtic Pathways

On the Celtic Pathways podcast I discuss connections between the Celtic languages, and look for words with Celtic roots in non-Celtic languages, such as English, French, Spanish, Galician and Portuguese.

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Information about Celtic languages

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

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