List of English words of Welsh origin
Encyclopedia
This is a list of English language
words of Welsh language
origin. As with the Goidelic languages, the Brythonic tongues are close enough for possible derivations from Cumbric, Cornish
or Breton
in some cases.
Beyond the loan of common nouns, there are numerous English toponyms, surnames, personal names or nicknames derived from Welsh (see Celtic toponymy
, Celtic onomastics
).
crag
: from an Insular Celtic
source, perhaps from Welsh craig.
coracle
: from corwgl
cwm
: from cwm "coomb."
corgi
: from cor, "dwarf" + gi (soft mutation of ci), "dog".
cromlech
: from crom llech literally "crooked flat stone"
flannel
: the Oxford English Dictionary
says the etymology is "uncertain", but Welsh gwlanen = "flannel wool" is likely. (alternative source is Old French flaine = "blanket"). The word has been adopted in most European languages. An earlier English form was flannen, which supports the Welsh etymology. Shakspeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor
contains the term "the Welsh flannel".
flummery
: from llymru
kistvaen
: from cist
(chest) and maen (stone).
lech : from llech.
tref : meaning “hamlet, home, town.”
wrasse
: a kind of sea fish (derived via Cornish wrach from Welsh gurach).
: from Cornish brilli, "mackerel".
dolmen
: from Cornish and/or Breton taolvaen, taol, "table" and maen, "stone".
fogou
: from Cornish
underground structure which is found in many Iron Age
settlements in Cornwall
. The purpose of a fogou is no longer known, and there is little evidence to suggest what it might have been.
menhir
: from Cornish men stone and hir "long" / "tall", i.e. a "long stone"
penguin
: Possibly from pen gwyn, "white head". "The fact that the penguin has a black head is no serious objection." It may also be derived from the Breton language
, which is closely related. Some dictionaries suggest a derivation from Welsh
pen "head" and gwyn "white", including the Oxford English Dictionary
, the American Heritage Dictionary, the Century Dictionary
and Merriam-Webster
, on the basis that the name was originally applied to the great auk
, which had white spots in front of its eyes (although its head was black).
vug
, vugg, vugh : from Cornish vooga, "cave".
Many dialect words in the West-Cornish dialect of English
are from the Cornish language
itself, however these words are localised to West Cornwall and therefore it would not be accurate to describe them as having passed into English "proper".
English words lifted direct from Welsh, and used with original spelling (largely used either in Wales or with reference to Wales):
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
words of Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
origin. As with the Goidelic languages, the Brythonic tongues are close enough for possible derivations from Cumbric, Cornish
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
or Breton
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
in some cases.
Beyond the loan of common nouns, there are numerous English toponyms, surnames, personal names or nicknames derived from Welsh (see Celtic toponymy
Celtic toponymy
Celtic toponymy is the study of place names wholly or partially of Celtic origin. These names are found throughout continental Europe, the British Isles, Asia Minor and latterly through various other parts of the globe not originally occupied by Celts....
, Celtic onomastics
Celtic onomastics
Onomastics is an important source of information on the early Celts, as Greco-Roman historiography recorded Celtic names before substantial written information becomes available in any Celtic language.Like Germanic names, early Celtic names are often dithematic....
).
Words that derive from Welsh
crag
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
: from an Insular Celtic
Insular Celtic languages
Insular Celtic languages are those Celtic languages that originated in the British Isles, in contrast to the Continental Celtic languages of mainland Europe and Anatolia. All surviving Celtic languages are from the Insular Celtic group; the Continental Celtic languages are extinct...
source, perhaps from Welsh craig.
coracle
Coracle
The coracle is a small, lightweight boat of the sort traditionally used in Wales but also in parts of Western and South Western England, Ireland , and Scotland ; the word is also used of similar boats found in India, Vietnam, Iraq and Tibet...
: from corwgl
cwm
Cwm
cwm may refer to* the geographical term for a rounded, glaciated valley also known as a corrie or cirque* the Welsh word for a valley, sometimes anglicized to Coombe* cwm , a general-purpose data processor for the semantic web...
: from cwm "coomb."
corgi
Welsh Corgi
The Welsh corgi is a small type of herding dog that originated in Wales. Two distinct breeds are recognized: the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Cardigan Welsh corgi, with the Pembroke being the more common..-Description:...
: from cor, "dwarf" + gi (soft mutation of ci), "dog".
cromlech
Cromlech
Cromlech is a Brythonic word used to describe prehistoric megalithic structures, where crom means "bent" and llech means "flagstone". The term is now virtually obsolete in archaeology, but remains in use as a colloquial term for two different types of megalithic monument.In English it usually...
: from crom llech literally "crooked flat stone"
flannel
Flannel
Flannel is a soft woven fabric, of various fineness. Flannel was originally made from carded wool or worsted yarn, but is now often made from either wool, cotton, or synthetic fibre. Flannel may be brushed to create extra softness or remain unbrushed. The brushing process is a mechanical process...
: the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
says the etymology is "uncertain", but Welsh gwlanen = "flannel wool" is likely. (alternative source is Old French flaine = "blanket"). The word has been adopted in most European languages. An earlier English form was flannen, which supports the Welsh etymology. Shakspeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597. It features the fat knight Sir John Falstaff, and is Shakespeare's only play to deal exclusively with contemporary Elizabethan era English middle class life...
contains the term "the Welsh flannel".
flummery
Flummery
Flummery is a sweet soft pudding that is made from stewed fruit and thickened with cornstarch.Traditional British flummeries were, like porridge, often oatmeal-based and cooked to achieve a smooth and gelatinous texture; sugar and milk were typically added and occasionally orange flower water...
: from llymru
kistvaen
Kistvaen
A kistvaen or cistvaen is a tomb or burial chamber formed from flat stone slabs in a box-like shape. If set completely underground, it may be covered by a tumulus. The word is derived from the Welsh cist and maen...
: from cist
Cist
A cist from ) is a small stone-built coffin-like box or ossuary used to hold the bodies of the dead. Examples can be found across Europe and in the Middle East....
(chest) and maen (stone).
lech : from llech.
tref : meaning “hamlet, home, town.”
wrasse
Wrasse
The wrasses are a family, Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 82 genera, which are divided into nine subgroups or tribes....
: a kind of sea fish (derived via Cornish wrach from Welsh gurach).
Words that derive from Cornish
brillBrill (fish)
The brill, Scophthalmus rhombus, is a species of flatfish in the turbot family of the order Pleuronectiformes. Brill can be found in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean, primarily in deeper offshore waters....
: from Cornish brilli, "mackerel".
dolmen
Dolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
: from Cornish and/or Breton taolvaen, taol, "table" and maen, "stone".
fogou
Fogou
A fogou or fougou is an underground, dry-stone structure found on Iron Age or Romano-British defended settlement sites in Cornwall. Fogous have similarities with souterrains or earth-houses of northern Europe and particularly Scotland including the Orkney Islands...
: from Cornish
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
underground structure which is found in many Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
settlements in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. The purpose of a fogou is no longer known, and there is little evidence to suggest what it might have been.
menhir
Menhir
A menhir is a large upright standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Their size can vary considerably; but their shape is generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top...
: from Cornish men stone and hir "long" / "tall", i.e. a "long stone"
- quoitQuoitQuoit may refer to:* Quoit, a single-chambered megalithic tomb, also called a Dolmen* Quoit , a pre-medieval type of brooch* A ring used in the game of Quoits* Chakram, a weapon resembling a gaming quoit* Quoit, Cornwall, a location in England...
, from Cornish, another name for dolmenDolmenA dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
penguin
Penguin
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
: Possibly from pen gwyn, "white head". "The fact that the penguin has a black head is no serious objection." It may also be derived from the Breton language
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
, which is closely related. Some dictionaries suggest a derivation from Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
pen "head" and gwyn "white", including the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
, the American Heritage Dictionary, the Century Dictionary
Century Dictionary
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia was one of the largest encyclopedic dictionaries of the English language. The first edition was published from 1889 to 1891 by The Century Company of New York, in six, eight, or ten volume versions in 7,046 pages with some 10,000 wood-engraved illustrations...
and Merriam-Webster
Merriam-Webster
Merriam–Webster, which was originally the G. & C. Merriam Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, is an American company that publishes reference books, especially dictionaries that are descendants of Noah Webster’s An American Dictionary of the English Language .Merriam-Webster Inc. has been a...
, on the basis that the name was originally applied to the great auk
Great Auk
The Great Auk, Pinguinus impennis, formerly of the genus Alca, was a large, flightless alcid that became extinct in the mid-19th century. It was the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus, a group of birds that formerly included one other species of flightless giant auk from the Atlantic Ocean...
, which had white spots in front of its eyes (although its head was black).
vug
Vug
Vugs are small to medium-sized cavities inside rock that may be formed through a variety of processes. Most commonly cracks and fissures opened by tectonic activity are partially filled by quartz, calcite, and other secondary minerals. Open spaces within ancient collapse breccias are another...
, vugg, vugh : from Cornish vooga, "cave".
Many dialect words in the West-Cornish dialect of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
are from the Cornish language
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
itself, however these words are localised to West Cornwall and therefore it would not be accurate to describe them as having passed into English "proper".
Words with indirect or possible links
- Coombe, meaning "valley", is usually linked with the Welsh cwm, also meaning "valley". However, the OED traces both words back to an earlier Celtic word, *kumbos. It suggests a direct Old English derivation for "coombe".
- Iron, or at least the modern form of the word "iron" (c/f Old English ísern, proto-Germanic *isarno, itself borrowed from proto-Celtic), appears to have been influenced by pre-existing Celtic forms in the British Isles: Old Welsh hearn, Cornish hoern, Old Gaelic íarn (Irish iaran, iarun, Scottish iarunn)
- Old WelshOld Welsh languageOld Welsh is the label attached to the Welsh language from about 800 AD until the early 12th century when it developed into Middle Welsh. The preceding period, from the time Welsh became distinct from the British language around 550, has been called "Primitive Welsh".Many poems and some prose...
origins for the topographical terms TorTor (geography)A tor is a large, free-standing residual mass that rises abruptly from the surrounding smooth and gentle slopes of a rounded hill summit or ridge crest...
(OW tŵr) and cragCliffIn geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
(OW carreg or craig) are among a number of available Celtic derivations for the Old English antecedents to the modern terms. However, the existence of similar cognates in both the GoidelicGoidelic languagesThe Goidelic languages or Gaelic languages are one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other consisting of the Brythonic languages. Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from the south of Ireland through the Isle of Man to the north of Scotland...
and the remainder of the BrythonicBrythonic languagesThe Brythonic or Brittonic languages form one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic language family, the other being Goidelic. The name Brythonic was derived by Welsh Celticist John Rhys from the Welsh word Brython, meaning an indigenous Briton as opposed to an Anglo-Saxon or Gael...
families makes isolation of a precise origin difficult. - It has been suggested that crockery might derive from the Welsh crochan, as well as the Manx crocan and Gaelic crogan, meaning "pot". The OED states that this view is "undetermined". It suggests that the word derives from Old English croc, via the IcelandicIcelandic languageIcelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
krukka, meaning "an earthenware pot or pitcher". - LawnLawnA lawn is an area of aesthetic and recreational land planted with grasses or other durable plants, which usually are maintained at a low and consistent height. Low ornamental meadows in natural landscaping styles are a contemporary option of a lawn...
, enclosed area of land about a ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
site of worship from Cornish Lan (e.g. LanteglosLanteglosLanteglos may refer to:*Lanteglos-by-Camelford, a hamlet and ecclesiastical parish in north Cornwall in the UK*Lanteglos-by-Fowey, a civil parish in south-east Cornwall in the UK...
, occasionally Laun as in LauncestonLauncestonLaunceston may refer to:* Launceston, Tasmania, Australia** Launceston Airport, in Launceston, Tasmania* Launceston, Cornwall, United Kingdom**Launceston , a former parliamentary constituency based around Launceston in Cornwall...
) or Welsh Llan (e.g. Llandewi) - GullGullGulls are birds in the family Laridae. They are most closely related to the terns and only distantly related to auks, skimmers, and more distantly to the waders...
from either Welsh or Cornish - PenguinPenguinPenguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
White-head from either Welsh, Cornish or Breton - Tor meaning hill or mountain, possibly via Latin turris (tower) such as Glastonbury TorGlastonbury TorGlastonbury Tor is a hill at Glastonbury, Somerset, England, which features the roofless St. Michael's Tower. The site is managed by the National Trust. It has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument ....
, is particularly prevalent in DevonDevonDevon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
Welsh words used in English
- awdlAwdlAn awdl is a long poem written in Welsh in one of the twenty-four strict metres, using cynghanedd. Such poems are considered among the finest work that a poet can aim to produce, and prizes are given at eisteddfodau for the best awdl....
- bach (literally "small", a term of affection)
- cromlechCromlechCromlech is a Brythonic word used to describe prehistoric megalithic structures, where crom means "bent" and llech means "flagstone". The term is now virtually obsolete in archaeology, but remains in use as a colloquial term for two different types of megalithic monument.In English it usually...
- cwmCirqueCirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
(geologyGeologyGeology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, a corrie) - crwthCrwthThe crwth is an archaic stringed musical instrument, associated particularly with Welsh music, once widely-played in Europe.-Origin of the name:...
, originally meaning "swelling" or "pregnant" - cynghaneddCynghaneddIn Welsh language poetry, Cynghanedd is the basic concept of sound-arrangement within one line, using stress, alliteration and rhyme. The various forms of cynghanedd show up in the definitions of all formal Welsh verse forms, such as the awdl. Though of ancient origin, cynghanedd and variations of...
(a poetic form) - Eisteddfod
- Urdd Eisteddfod (in Welsh "Eisteddfod Yr Urdd"), the youth equivalent
- englynEnglynEnglyn is a traditional Welsh and Cornish short poem form. It uses quantitative metres, involving the counting of syllables, and rigid patterns of rhyme and half rhyme. Each line contains a repeating pattern of consonants and accent known as cynghanedd.- The Eight Types :There are eight types of...
- gorseddGorseddA gorsedd plural gorseddau, is a community or coming together of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is occasionally spelled gorsedh , or goursez in Brittany....
- hiraeth (distant longing, homesick)
- hwyl
- iechyd da (cheers, or literally "good health")
- cwtch (hug, cuddle) (also small cupboard or dog's kennel/bed)
- sglod, sglods (Welsh plural - sglodion) - chips ("French fries"), in fish-and-chip takeaways (Flintshire)
- twp/dwp - an idiot
- ych a fi - expression of distaste
- Mochyn - pig
See also
- List of English words of Celtic origin
- Brittonicisms in EnglishBrittonicisms in EnglishBrittonicisms in English are the linguistic effects in English attributed to the historical influence of Brittonic speakers.The Romano-British inhabitants of England after the Anglo-Saxon influx and political dominance together with the continual contact over the 1500 year period between ...