Tag Archives: Celtic languages

Vocabulary: ‘The weather’ in Celtic languages

Today’s blog post is continuing our series on the comparison of vocabulary of closely related languages and is taking us to the British Isles again, as well as to Brittany (Bretagne) in France, and to the various Celtic languages spoken there, namely Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic, as well as Cornish and Breton. Our topic today is the weather and the most important words related to it. Both Welsh (Cymraeg) and Cornish (Kernewek) belong to the Brittonic group of the Celtic languages (to which also Breton Brezhoneg belongs), and Irish (Gaeilge) and Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) belong to the Goidelic group (to which also Manx Gaelg  belongs).

weather celtic

The terms for these weather-related words in Cornish/Kernewek:

weather – kewer, sunshine – Howl, wind – gwyns, rainbow – kammneves, rain – glaw, clouds – kommol, thunder – taran, thunderstorm – hagarawel derednow, lightning – lughes, snow – ergh, hail – keser

and in Breton/Brezhoneg:

the weather – an amzer, sunshine – Heol, wind – avel, rainbow – kanevedenn, rain – glav, cloud – koumoul, thunder – taran, thunderstorm – arnev, lightning – luc’hed, snow – erc’h, hail – grizilh 

 

Welsh (Cymraeg): Some survival phrases and Welsh cakes

Author: Wikityke via Wikipedia Commons Caernarfon Castle

Author: Wikityke via Wikipedia Commons
Caernarfon Castle

Today’s blog post will take us to the United Kingdom and more precisely to Wales Cymru and the Welsh language, which is called Cymraeg in Welsh. The word Cymru is derived from the Brythonic word combrogi, meaning “fellow-countrymen”. Welsh is a language of the Brittonic branch of the Celtic languages. Apart from being spoken in Wales and by people in England near the Welsh border, there is a Welsh colony in Chubut Province in Argentina, called Y Wladfa.

Here are a few survival phrases in Welsh:

Sut mae = hello

Hwyl = goodbye

Beth ydy’ch enw chi? = What’s your name?

.… ydw i = I am ….

Diolch yn fawr = thank you very much

diolch = thank you

croeso = you are welcome

Os gwelwch yn dda = please

Esgusodwch fi = excuse me

Mae’n ddrwg gyda fi = sorry

Iawn = OK

Dych chi’n siarad Cymraeg? = Do you speak Welsh?

Dw i ddim yn deall = I don’t understand

Author: zingyyellow via Wikipedia Commons Welsh cakes picau ar y maen

Author: zingyyellow via Wikipedia Commons
Welsh cakes picau ar y maen

Welsh cakes picau ar y maen are a traditional dessert in Wales. They are baked on a bakestone (maen) or cast-iron griddle and are made from flour, fat, baking powder, sultanas, raisins, and/or currants, and may also contain spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. They are round and usually measure about 7–8 cm (3 inches) in diameter and are 1–1.5 cm (0.5 inch) thick. Welsh cakes are served hot or cold dusted with caster sugar and are sometimes split and spread with jam.

800px-Welsh_singe_in_Wrexham_1

An interesting article on the meaning of Welsh place names: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_toponymy

Author: Herbert Ortner via Wikipedia Commons Caernarfon Castle

Author: Herbert Ortner via Wikipedia Commons
Caernarfon Castle

Author: Blisco via Wikipedia Commons Llyn y Fan Fawr

Author: Blisco via Wikipedia Commons
Llyn y Fan Fawr