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Which Celtic words appear to have been borrowed into Germanic languages?
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Celtic languages
Britannica editor Jeff Wallenfeldt provides an overview of the Irish language.
Historical evidence suggests that the Germanic peoples borrowed certain terms from the Celtic languages during periods of ancient contact. These borrowings reflect the higher level of social organization attained by the Celts at that time.1
Notable examples of these loanwords include:
- Reich: Derived from the Celtic *rīgion, meaning "kingdom" (seen in Gothic reiki).1
- Amt: Derived from the Celtic *ambactos, meaning "officer" (seen in Gothic andbahts).1
These linguistic exchanges occurred as Germanic tribes interacted with their Celtic neighbors, particularly in central Europe, where the two groups were often in close proximity.1