Etymology Explorer › Irish

Where does “Gaoidhealg” come from?

Gaoidhealg (Irish) comes from Old Irish Goídelc, from Old Irish Goídel, from Old Welsh Guoidel, from Proto-Brythonic guɨðel, from Proto-Celtic wēdus, from Proto-Indo-European widʰu- — forest, wood; tree, beam.

Ancestry of “Gaoidhealg”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old IrishGoídelc—
2Old IrishGoídelGael
3Old WelshGuoidelwild man, warrior
4Proto-Brythonicguɨðelsavage, woodsman
5Proto-Celticwēduswild
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwidʰu-forest, wood; tree, beam

Words derived from “Gaoidhealg”

  • Gaedhilge
  • Gaeilge
  • Gaeilgeoir
  • Meán-Ghaeilge
  • Gaeilgeoireacht
  • Nua-Ghaeilge
Every word from Proto-Indo-European widʰu- →