Where does “can” come from?

can (Scottish Gaelic) comes from Old Irish canaid, from Proto-Celtic kaneti, from Proto-Indo-European keh₂n- — to sing.

can (Scottish Gaelic): to say

Definitions

  1. to say

Ancestry of “can”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Irishcanaidto sing
2Proto-Celtickanetito sing
3Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂n-to sing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂n- →Every word from Proto-Celtic kaneti →Every word from Old Irish canaid →