{"id":355,"date":"2021-05-27T08:10:56","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T08:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/old-north.co.uk\/wordpress\/?page_id=355"},"modified":"2022-04-18T08:13:29","modified_gmt":"2022-04-18T08:13:29","slug":"celtic-swadesh-list","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/old-north.co.uk\/wordpress\/?page_id=355","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Swadesh List"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Swadesh list, named for its creator Morris Swadesh, is a list of 100 words thought to have basic and universal meanings. The list is intended to show the relationships between cognate languages by highlighting the differences and similarities between words of the same meaning. The list below, for example, shows us that the WCB h<\/em> often corresponds to ISM s <\/em>(compare hir <\/em>with s\u00ecor<\/em> ‘long’) and that WCB p <\/em>corresponds to ISM c <\/em>(e.g. pwy <\/em>vs c\u00e9<\/em>). We can also see lexical similarities, for example the word for ‘big’ is from the same etymon in all six languages (PC *m\u0101ros<\/em>), but ‘bone’ is from different sources in Brythonic (PC *askornos<\/em>) and Goidelic (PC *kn\u0101mis<\/em>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/th>Welsh<\/th>Cornish<\/th>Breton<\/th>Irish<\/th>Scottish<\/th>Manx<\/th>Proto-Celtic<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
I<\/td>mi<\/td>my<\/td>me<\/td>m\u00e9<\/td>mi<\/td>mee<\/td>*m\u012b<\/td><\/tr>
thou<\/td>ti<\/td>ty<\/td>te<\/td>t\u00fa<\/td>thu<\/td>oo<\/td>*t\u016b<\/td><\/tr>
we<\/td>ni<\/td>ni<\/td>ni<\/td>sinn<\/td>sinn<\/td>shin<\/td>*sn\u012bs(-sn\u012bs)<\/td><\/tr>
this<\/td>hwnn<\/td>hemma<\/td>hema\u00f1<\/td>seo<\/td>seo<\/td>shoh<\/td>*sondo-
*so<\/td><\/tr>
that<\/td>hwnnw<\/td>henna<\/td>hennezh<\/td>sin<\/td>sin<\/td>shen<\/td>*sindo-<\/td><\/tr>
who<\/td>pwy<\/td>piw<\/td>piv<\/td>c\u00e9<\/td>c\u00f2<\/td>quoi<\/td>*k\u02b7ei<\/td><\/tr>
what<\/td>beth<\/td>pyth<\/td>petra<\/td>cad \u00e9<\/td>ciod<\/td>quoid<\/td>*k\u02b7ezdi-
*k\u02b7id<\/td><\/tr>
all<\/td>holl<\/td>oll<\/td>holl<\/td>uile<\/td>uile<\/td>ooilley<\/td>*olyo-<\/td><\/tr>
many<\/td>llawer<\/td>lower<\/td>kalz<\/td>go leor<\/td>iomadh<\/td>ymmodee<\/td>*lawero-
*imbeto-<\/td><\/tr>
one<\/td>un<\/td>onan<\/td>unan<\/td>aon<\/td>aon<\/td>nane<\/td>*oino-<\/td><\/tr>
two<\/td>dau<\/td>dew<\/td>daou<\/td>do<\/td>d\u00e0<\/td>daa<\/td>*dw\u0101w<\/td><\/tr>
big<\/td>mawr<\/td>meur<\/td>meur<\/td>m\u00f3r<\/td>m\u00f2r<\/td>mooar<\/td>*m\u0101ro-<\/td><\/tr>
small<\/td>bychan<\/td>byhan<\/td>bihan<\/td>beag<\/td>beag<\/td>beg<\/td>*bekko-<\/td><\/tr>
long<\/td>hir<\/td>hir<\/td>hir<\/td>s\u00edor<\/td>s\u00ecor<\/td>liauyr<\/td>*s\u012bro-<\/td><\/tr>
short<\/td>byr<\/td>berr<\/td>berr<\/td>gearr<\/td>ge\u00e0rr<\/td>giare<\/td>*birro-
*gerro-<\/td><\/tr>
narrow<\/td>cul<\/td>kul<\/td>enk<\/td>c\u00fang<\/td>cumhang<\/td>coon<\/td>*koilo-
*(kom-)angu-<\/td><\/tr>
thin<\/td>tenau<\/td>tanow<\/td>tanav<\/td>tana\u00ed<\/td>tana<\/td>thanney<\/td>*tanawjo-<\/td><\/tr>
human<\/td>dyn<\/td>den<\/td>den<\/td>duine<\/td>duine<\/td>dooinney<\/td>*donjo-<\/td><\/tr>
wife<\/td>gwraig<\/td>gwreg<\/td>gwreg<\/td>bean<\/td>bean<\/td>ben<\/td>*wraki-
*bena<\/td><\/tr>
husband<\/td>g\u0175r<\/td>gour<\/td>gour<\/td>fear<\/td>fear (p\u00f2sda)<\/td>fer<\/td>*wiro-<\/td><\/tr>
fish<\/td>pysgodyn<\/td>pysk<\/td>pesk<\/td>iasc<\/td>iasg<\/td>eeast<\/td>*\u03d5eisko-<\/td><\/tr>
bird<\/td>aderyn<\/td>edhen<\/td>evn<\/td>\u00e9an<\/td>eun<\/td>eean<\/td>*\u03d5atar
*\u03d5etno-<\/td><\/tr>
dog<\/td>ci<\/td>ki<\/td>ki<\/td>c\u00fa<\/td>c\u00f9<\/td>coo<\/td>*k\u02b7\u016b<\/td><\/tr>
louse<\/td>lleuen<\/td>lowen<\/td>laouenn<\/td>miol cnis<\/td>mial<\/td>meeyl<\/td>*luw\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
tree<\/td>pren<\/td>gwedhen<\/td>gwezenn<\/td>crann<\/td>crann<\/td>billey<\/td>*k\u02b7renno-
*widu-
*belyo-<\/td><\/tr>
seed<\/td>had<\/td>hasen<\/td>had<\/td>s\u00edol<\/td>s\u00ecol<\/td>sheel<\/td>*sato-
*s\u012blo-<\/td><\/tr>
leaf<\/td>deilen<\/td>delen<\/td>delienn<\/td>duille<\/td>duilleag<\/td>duillag<\/td>*dolV-<\/td><\/tr>
root<\/td>gwreiddyn<\/td>gwreydhen<\/td>gwrizienn<\/td>fr\u00e9amh<\/td>freumh<\/td>fraue<\/td>*wradi-
*wrid(n)\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
tree bark<\/td>rhisgl<\/td>risk<\/td>rusk<\/td>r\u00fasc<\/td>r\u00f9sg<\/td>roost<\/td>*r\u016bsko-<\/td><\/tr>
skin<\/td>croen<\/td>krohen<\/td>kroc’hen<\/td>craiceann<\/td>craiceann<\/td>crackan<\/td>*krok(ke)no-<\/td><\/tr>
meat<\/td>cig<\/td>kig<\/td>kig<\/td>feoil<\/td>fe\u00f2il<\/td>feill<\/td>*k\u012bk\u0101
*we\u03d5oli-<\/td><\/tr>
blood<\/td>gwaed<\/td>goos<\/td>gwad<\/td>fuil<\/td>fuil<\/td>fuill<\/td>*waito-
*woli-<\/td><\/tr>
bone<\/td>asgwrn<\/td>askorn<\/td>askorn<\/td>cn\u00e1mh<\/td>cn\u00e0imh<\/td>craue<\/td>*askornu-
*cn\u0101mi-<\/td><\/tr>
fat<\/td>bloneg<\/td>blonak<\/td>druzoni<\/td>blonag<\/td>blonag<\/td>blennick<\/td>?*blonik\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
egg<\/td>\u0175y<\/td>oy<\/td>vi<\/td>ubh<\/td>ugh<\/td>ooh<\/td>*\u0101wjo-<\/td><\/tr>
horn<\/td>corn<\/td>korn<\/td>korn<\/td>corn<\/td>c\u00f2rn<\/td>eairk<\/td>*kornu-<\/td><\/tr>
tail<\/td>llost<\/td>lost<\/td>lost<\/td>eireaball<\/td>earball<\/td>arbyl<\/td>*lust\u0101
*erro-ballo-<\/td><\/tr>
feather<\/td>pluen<\/td>pluven<\/td>plu\u00f1venn<\/td>cleite<\/td>cleiteag<\/td>clooie<\/td>(L. pl\u016bmen<\/em>)<\/td><\/tr>
hair<\/td>gwallt<\/td>gols<\/td>blev<\/td>folt<\/td>falt<\/td>folt<\/td>*wolto-
*blewo-<\/td><\/tr>
head<\/td>pen<\/td>penn<\/td>penn<\/td>ceann<\/td>ceann<\/td>kione<\/td>*k\u02b7enno-<\/td><\/tr>
ear<\/td>clust<\/td>skovarn<\/td>skouarn<\/td>cluas<\/td>cluas<\/td>cleaysh<\/td>*kloust\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
eye<\/td>llygad<\/td>lagas<\/td>lagad<\/td>s\u00fail<\/td>s\u00f9il<\/td>sooill<\/td>*lukato-<\/td><\/tr>
nose<\/td>trwyn<\/td>tron<\/td>fri<\/td>sr\u00f3n<\/td>sr\u00f2n<\/td>stroin<\/td>*trogn\u012b
*srego-
*srogn\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
tooth<\/td>dant<\/td>dans<\/td>dant<\/td>d\u00e9ad<\/td>fiacail<\/td>feeackle<\/td>*danto-
?*weikk\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
tongue<\/td>tafod<\/td>taves<\/td>teod<\/td>teanga<\/td>teanga<\/td>\u00e7hengey<\/td>*tang\u02b7at-<\/td><\/tr>
claw<\/td>crafanc<\/td>kraban<\/td>kraban<\/td>cr\u00fab<\/td>crubh<\/td>croob<\/td>*krab(-ank-)<\/td><\/tr>
foot<\/td>troed<\/td>troos<\/td>troad<\/td>cos<\/td>cas<\/td>cass<\/td>*traget-
*koxs\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
knee<\/td>glin<\/td>glin<\/td>glin<\/td>gl\u00fain<\/td>gl\u00f9n<\/td>glioon<\/td>*gl\u016bnos<\/td><\/tr>
hand<\/td>llaw<\/td>leuv<\/td>dorn<\/td>l\u00e1mh<\/td>l\u00e0mh<\/td>laue<\/td>*\u03d5l\u0101m\u0101
*durno-<\/td><\/tr>
belly<\/td>bol<\/td>tor<\/td>tor<\/td>bolg<\/td>balg<\/td>bolg<\/td>*bolgo-
*torrV-<\/td><\/tr>
neck<\/td>gwddf<\/td>konna<\/td>gouzoug<\/td>muine\u00e1l<\/td>muineal<\/td>mwannal<\/td>?*wudwV-
*moni-<\/td><\/tr>
breast<\/td>bron<\/td>bronn<\/td>bronn<\/td>c\u00edoch<\/td>c\u00ecoch<\/td>heeagh<\/td>*brusnj\u0101
*k\u012bk\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
heart<\/td>calon<\/td>kolon<\/td>kalon<\/td>croi<\/td>cridhe<\/td>cree<\/td>?*kalonV-
*kridjo-<\/td><\/tr>
liver<\/td>afu<\/td>avi<\/td>avu<\/td>ae<\/td>adha<\/td>aane<\/td>?*awV-<\/td><\/tr>
drink<\/td>yfed<\/td>eva<\/td>evet<\/td>\u00f3l<\/td>\u00f2l<\/td>iu<\/td>*\u03d5ib-o-
*\u03d5otlo-<\/td><\/tr>
eat<\/td>bwyta<\/td>dybri<\/td>debri\u00f1<\/td>ith<\/td>ith<\/td>ee<\/td>*beito-
*ed-o-<\/td><\/tr>
bite<\/td>brathu<\/td>bratha<\/td>krogi\u00f1<\/td>bain greim<\/td>thoir greim \u00e0s<\/td>greim<\/td>?*brasdo-
*gremmen-<\/td><\/tr>
see<\/td>gweld<\/td>gweles<\/td>gwelet<\/td>feic<\/td>faic<\/td>faik<\/td>*wel-o-
*ad-k\u02b7is-o-<\/td><\/tr>
hear<\/td>clywed<\/td>klewes<\/td>klevet<\/td>cluin<\/td>cluinn<\/td>cluin<\/td>*klus-\u012b-
*kli-nu-<\/td><\/tr>
know (fact)<\/td>gwybod<\/td>godhvos<\/td>gouzout<\/td>–<\/td>tuig<\/td>–<\/td>*weid-o-<\/td><\/tr>
sleep<\/td>cysgu<\/td>koska<\/td>kousket<\/td>codail<\/td>caidil<\/td>caddil<\/td>*ku\u03d5sko-
*kom-tol-\u012b-<\/td><\/tr>
die<\/td>marw<\/td>merwel<\/td>mervel<\/td>faigh b\u00e1s<\/td>faigh b\u00e0s<\/td>fow baase<\/td>*marwo-
*b\u0101sto-<\/td><\/tr>
kill<\/td>lladd<\/td>ladha<\/td>lazha\u00f1<\/td>maraigh<\/td>marbh<\/td>marroo<\/td>*slad-jo-
*marwo-<\/td><\/tr>
swim<\/td>nofio<\/td>neuvya<\/td>neu\u00f1vi\u00f1<\/td>sn\u00e1mh<\/td>sn\u00e0mh<\/td>snaue<\/td>*sn\u0101mo-<\/td><\/tr>
fly<\/td>ehedeg<\/td>neyja<\/td>nijal<\/td>eitil<\/td>itealaich<\/td>ettyl, etlagh<\/td>*exs-\u03d5et-o-
*sn\u0101tjo-<\/td><\/tr>
walk<\/td>cerdded<\/td>kerdhes<\/td>kerzhet<\/td>si\u00fal<\/td>siubhail<\/td>shooill<\/td>*kerd-o-
*xswib-\u012b-<\/td><\/tr>
come<\/td>dod<\/td>dos<\/td>dont<\/td>tar<\/td>tar<\/td>tar<\/td>*to-but\u0101
*to-ank-o-<\/td><\/tr>
lie down<\/td>gorwedd<\/td>gorwedha<\/td>gourvez<\/td>luigh<\/td>laigh<\/td>lhie<\/td>*wor-wed-o
*leg-o-<\/td><\/tr>
sit<\/td>eistedh<\/td>esedha<\/td>azeza\u00f1<\/td>suigh<\/td>suidh<\/td>soie<\/td>*exs-d\u012b-sed-o-
*sed-o-<\/td><\/tr>
stand<\/td>sefyll<\/td>sevel<\/td>sevel<\/td>seas<\/td>seas<\/td>shass<\/td>*sta-bo-
*si-sta-<\/td><\/tr>
give<\/td>rhoi<\/td>ri<\/td>rei\u00f1<\/td>tabhair<\/td>tabhair<\/td>cur<\/td>*ro-d\u0101-
*to-ber-o-
*kerd-o-<\/td><\/tr>
say<\/td>dweud<\/td>leverel<\/td>lavaret<\/td>abair<\/td>abair<\/td>abbyr<\/td>*to-wet-
*labaro-
*exs-ber-o-<\/td><\/tr>
sun<\/td>haul<\/td>howl<\/td>heol<\/td>grian<\/td>grian<\/td>grian<\/td>*s\u0101wol-
*gwrensn\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
moon<\/td>lloer<\/td>loor<\/td>loar<\/td>gealach<\/td>gealach<\/td>eayst<\/td>*lugr\u0101
*gel-\u0101ko-
*eiskjo-<\/td><\/tr>
star<\/td>seren<\/td>steren<\/td>sterenn<\/td>r\u00e9alta<\/td>reult<\/td>rollage<\/td>*ster\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
sand<\/td>tywod<\/td>tewes<\/td>traezh<\/td>gaineamh<\/td>gaineamh<\/td>geinnagh<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
earth (soil)<\/td>daear<\/td>dor<\/td>douar<\/td>talamh<\/td>talamh<\/td>thalloo<\/td>*dijaro-
*talamon-<\/td><\/tr>
cloud<\/td>cwmwl<\/td>komolen<\/td>koumoul<\/td>n\u00e9al<\/td>neul<\/td>niaul<\/td>(L. cumulus<\/em>)
?*nebulo-<\/td><\/tr>
smoke<\/td>mwg<\/td>mog<\/td>moged<\/td>deatach<\/td>deatach<\/td>jaagh<\/td>*mukV-
*dwit\u0101k\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
fire<\/td>t\u00e2n<\/td>tan<\/td>tan<\/td>tine<\/td>teine<\/td>\u00e7henney<\/td>*te\u03d5net-<\/td><\/tr>
ash(es)<\/td>lludu<\/td>lidgow<\/td>ludu<\/td>luaith<\/td>luath<\/td>leoie<\/td>*loutu-<\/td><\/tr>
burn<\/td>llosgi<\/td>leski<\/td>leski\u00f1<\/td>d\u00f3igh<\/td>loisg<\/td>loshtey<\/td>?*losk-
*deg\u02b7i-<\/td><\/tr>
path<\/td>llwybr<\/td>hyns<\/td>hent<\/td>cos\u00e1n<\/td>casan<\/td>cassan<\/td>*sleik\u02b7ro-
*sentu-
*koxs\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
mountain<\/td>mynydd<\/td>menydh<\/td>menez<\/td>sliabh<\/td>sliabh<\/td>slieau<\/td>*monijo-
*sleibo-<\/td><\/tr>
red<\/td>rhudd<\/td>rudh<\/td>ruz<\/td>rua<\/td>ruadh<\/td>ruy<\/td>*roudo-<\/td><\/tr>
yellow<\/td>melyn<\/td>melyn<\/td>melen<\/td>bui<\/td>buidhe<\/td>bwee<\/td>*melino-
*bodjo-<\/td><\/tr>
white<\/td>gwyn<\/td>gwynn<\/td>gwenn<\/td>fionn<\/td>fionn<\/td>fynn<\/td>*windo-<\/td><\/tr>
black<\/td>du<\/td>du<\/td>du<\/td>dubh<\/td>dubh<\/td>doo<\/td>*dubu-<\/td><\/tr>
night<\/td>nos<\/td>nos<\/td>noz<\/td>o\u00edche<\/td>oidhche<\/td>oie<\/td>(L. nox<\/em>)
*adek(\u02b7)\u012b<\/td><\/tr>
hot<\/td>twym<\/td>tomm<\/td>tomm<\/td>te<\/td>te<\/td>\u00e7heh<\/td>*te\u03d5esmi-
*te\u03d5ent-<\/td><\/tr>
cold<\/td>oer<\/td>or<\/td>yeyn<\/td>fuar<\/td>fuar<\/td>feayr<\/td>*ougro-<\/td><\/tr>
full<\/td>llawn<\/td>leun<\/td>leun<\/td>l\u00e1n<\/td>l\u00e0n<\/td>lane<\/td>*\u03d5l\u0101no-<\/td><\/tr>
new<\/td>newydd<\/td>nowyth<\/td>nevez<\/td>nua<\/td>nuadh<\/td>noa<\/td>*nowjo-<\/td><\/tr>
good<\/td>da<\/td>da<\/td>da<\/td>maith<\/td>math<\/td>mie<\/td>*dago-
*mati-<\/td><\/tr>
round<\/td>crwn<\/td>krenn<\/td>krenn<\/td>cruinn<\/td>cruinn<\/td>cruinn<\/td>*krundi-<\/td><\/tr>
dry<\/td>sych<\/td>sygh<\/td>sec’h<\/td>tirim<\/td>tioram<\/td>\u00e7hirrym<\/td>*sikko-
*t\u012brsesmi-<\/td><\/tr>
name<\/td>enw<\/td>hanow<\/td>anv<\/td>ainm<\/td>ainm<\/td>ennym<\/td>*anman-<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Swadesh list, named for its creator Morris Swadesh, is a list of 100 words thought to have basic and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/old-north.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/355"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/old-north.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/old-north.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/old-north.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/old-north.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=355"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/old-north.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":433,"href":"http:\/\/old-north.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/355\/revisions\/433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/old-north.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}