Etymology Explorer › Irish

Where does “athair” come from?

athair (Irish) comes from Old Irish athair, from Proto-Celtic ɸatīr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.

athair (Irish): father; ancestor; sire

Definitions

  1. father; ancestor; sire

Ancestry of “athair”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Irishathairfather
2Proto-Celticɸatīrfather
3Proto-Indo-Europeanph₂tḗrfather
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂-to protect; to shepherd

Words derived from “athair”

  • garathair
  • ardathair
  • leasathair
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- →