Celtic Ogham Translator

"withered foot with fine hair"

"greyest of skin"

"beauty of the eyebrow"

Morainn mac Moín: féochos foltchain "withered foot with fine hair"

Maic ind Óc: glaisem cnis "greyest of skin"

Con Culainn: maise malach "beauty of the eyebrow"

"lustre of the eye"

"friend of cattle"

"sustenance of cattle"

Morainn mac Moín: lí súla "lustre of the eye"

Maic ind Óc: carae cethrae "friend of cattle"

Con Culainn: lúth cethrae "sustenance of cattle"

Notes: Old Irish either related to luise "blaze" or lus "herb". Luis is the name of the rowan tree in old Irish.

"vanguard of warriors"

"milk container"

"protection of the heart"

Morainn mac Moín: airenach fían "vanguard of warriors"

Maic ind Óc: comét lachta "milk container"

Con Culainn: dín cridi "protection of the heart"

Notes: alder was used to make shields and vessels containing liquid

"pallor of a lifeless one"

"sustenance of bees"

"beginning of honey"

Morainn mac Moín: lí ambi "pallor of a lifeless one"

Maic ind Óc: lúth bech "sustenance of bees"

Con Culainn: tosach mela "beginning of honey"

"establishing of peace"

"boast of women"

"boast of beauty"

Morainn mac Moín: costud síde "establishing of peace"

Maic ind Óc: bág ban "boast of women"

Con Culainn: bág maise "boast of beauty"

Notes: Old Irish means either "fork" or "loft".

"assembly of packs of hounds"

"blanching of faces"

"most difficult at night"

Morainn mac Moín: condál cúan "assembly of packs of hounds"

Maic ind Óc: bánad gnúise "blanching of faces"

Con Culainn: ansam aidche "most difficult at night"

Notes: Old Irish means "horror, fear"

"highest tree"

"handicraft of a craftsman"

"most carved of craftsmanship"

Morainn mac Moín: ardam dosae "highest tree"

Maic ind Óc: grés soír "handicraft of a craftsman"

Con Culainn: slechtam soíre "most carved of craftsmanship"

"one of three parts of a wheel"

"marrow of (char)coal"

"one of three parts of a weapon"

Morainn mac Moín: trian roith "one of three parts of a wheel"

Maic ind Óc: smiur gúaile "marrow of (char)coal"

Con Culainn: trian n-airm "one of three parts of a weapon"

Notes: Old Irish means "bar of metal, ingot"

"fairest tree"

"friend of nutshells"

"sweetest tree"

Morainn mac Moín: caíniu fedaib "fairest tree"

Maic ind Óc: carae blóesc "friend of nutshells"

Con Culainn: milsem fedo "sweetest tree"

"shelter of a [lunatic?]"

"substance of an insignificant person"

"dregs of clothing"

Morainn mac Moín: clithar baiscill "shelter of a [lunatic?]"

Maic ind Óc: bríg anduini "substance of an insignificant person"

Con Culainn: dígu fethail "dregs of clothing"

Notes: Old Irish Cert is cognate with Welsh perth "bush", Latin quercus "oak" (PIE *perkwos). It was confused with Old Irish ceirt "rag", reflected in the kennings. Ceirt may possibly be an obsolete name for an apple tree (Graves, Limerick, 1846).

"strongest in exertion"

"proverb of slaughter"

"path of the voice"

Morainn mac Moín: tressam fedmae "strongest in exertion"

Maic ind Óc: árusc n-airlig "proverb of slaughter"

Con Culainn: conar gotha "path of the voice"

Notes: Old Irish Muin: the kennings connect this name to three different words, muin "neck, upper part of the back", muin "wile, ruse", and muin "love, esteem".

"sweetest grass"

"suitable place for cows"

"sating of multitudes"

Morainn mac Moín: milsiu féraib "sweetest grass"

Maic ind Óc: ined erc "suitable place for cows"

Con Culainn: sásad ile "sating of multitudes"

Notes: Old Irish Gort means "field" (cognate to garden)

"sustenance of a leech"

"raiment of physicians"

"beginning of slaying"

Morainn mac Moín: lúth lego "sustenance of a leech"

Maic ind Óc: étiud midach "raiment of physicians"

Con Culainn: tosach n-échto "beginning of slaying"

Notes: Old Irish Gétal from the kennings has a meaning of "killing", maybe cognate to gonid "slays", from PIE gwen-. The value of the letter in Primitive Irish, then, was a voiced labiovelar, [ɡʷ]. The arboreal tradition glosses cilcach, "broom" or "fern".

"strongest reddening (dye)"

"increase of secrets"

"seeking of clouds"

Morainn mac Moín: tressam rúamnai "strongest reddening (dye)"

Maic ind Óc: mórad rún "increase of secrets"

Con Culainn: saigid nél "seeking of clouds"

Notes: Old Irish Straiph means "sulphur". The Primitive Irish letter value is uncertain, it may have been a sibilant different from s, which is taken by sail, maybe a reflex of /st/ or /sw/. The arboreal tradition glosses draighin "blackthorn".

"most intense blushing"

"reddening of faces"

"glow of anger"

Morainn mac Moín: tindem rucci "most intense blushing"

Maic ind Óc: rúamnae drech "reddening of faces"

Con Culainn: bruth fergae "glow of anger"

Notes: Old Irish Ruis means "red" or "redness", glossed as trom "elder". If "rhys" is the Welsh word for "privet", might be this.

"loudest groan"

"beginning of an answer"

"beginning of calling"

Morainn mac Moín: ardam íachta "loudest groan"

Maic ind Óc: tosach frecrai "beginning of an answer"

Con Culainn: tosach garmae "beginning of calling"

Notes: Old Irish is of uncertain meaning, possibly "pine-tree". Limerick (1846) points to the possibility of "palm", though it is not an Irish tree.

"wounder of horses"

"smoothest of craftsmanship"

"[equipment] of warrior bands"

Morainn mac Moín: congnaid ech "wounder of horses"

Maic ind Óc: féthem soíre "smoothest of craftsmanship"

Con Culainn: lúth fían "[equipment] of warrior bands"

Notes: "onn" was the name for "ash" in Welsh & Breton

"in cold dwellings"

"propagation of plants"

"shroud of a lifeless one"

Morainn mac Moín: úaraib adbaib "in cold dwellings"

Maic ind Óc: sílad cland "propagation of plants"

Con Culainn: forbbaid ambí "shroud of a lifeless one"

Notes: Old Irish Úr, based on the kennings, means "earth, clay, soil"

"discerning tree"

"exchange of friends"

"brother of birch"

Morainn mac Moín: érgnaid fid "discerning tree"

Maic ind Óc: commaín carat "exchange of friends"

Con Culainn: bráthair bethi "brother of birch"

Notes: Old Irish Edad of unknown meaning.

"oldest tree"

"fairest of the ancients"

"energy of an infirm person"

Morainn mac Moín: sinem fedo "oldest tree"

Maic ind Óc: caínem sen "fairest of the ancients"

Con Culainn: lúth lobair "energy of an infirm person"

Notes: Old Irish Idad is of uncertain meaning.

Celtic Ogham

The Ogham (pronounced "oh-am") is an ancient alphabet used by the Celts, primarily in Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, between the 4th and 6th centuries CE. Comprised of 20 distinct characters, known as "feda," the Ogham was carved onto stones, wood, or other natural materials. Each character corresponds to a tree or plant, reflecting the profound connection between the Celts and their natural environment.

While the exact origins of the Ogham remain debated, it is widely believed to have been used for ceremonial and commemorative purposes. Inscriptions on standing stones often mark territory or memorialize the deceased. However, Ogham was more than a practical script; it was deeply symbolic. Each letter represents a tree or shrub, imbuing the system with spiritual and ecological significance.

Known as the "Celtic Tree Alphabet," the Ogham links each character to a specific plant, such as Birch (Beith), Oak (Duir), or Hazel (Coll). These associations are steeped in mythology and folklore. For example, Birch represents new beginnings, while Oak signifies strength and endurance. This alignment with nature made Ogham a tool for divination, spiritual guidance, and ritual practices.

In modern paganism and Druidry, Ogham is often used as a divination tool, similar to runes or tarot. Practitioners draw or select Ogham symbols to interpret messages, seeking guidance from the wisdom of the trees. The meanings of the symbols provide insights into life’s challenges and opportunities, helping individuals navigate their spiritual paths.

Though the Ogham ceased to be a practical writing system centuries ago, it endures as a symbol of Celtic heritage and spirituality. Today, it inspires artists, writers, and mystics, connecting them to the ancient wisdom of the natural world. Whether carved into stone, inked on paper, or woven into rituals, the Ogham remains a testament to the enduring bond between humanity and nature.

By associating these items with their designated verbs during handling or observation, a connection to their intended purpose is reinforced.