Most of the Portuguese vocabulary comes from Latin because Portuguese is a Romance language.
However, other languages that came into contact with it have also left their mark. In the thirteenth century, the lexicon of Portuguese had about 80% words of Latin origin and 20% of pre-Roman Gallaecian and Celtiberian, Germanic, Greek and Arabic origin.
Pre-Roman languages of Portugal
Traces of the languages from native peoples of western Iberia (Gallaeci, Lusitanians, Celtici or Conii) persist in Portuguese, as shown below. Even though the Portuguese often call themselves Lusitanians, the linguistic classification of Lusitanian is controversial, and the Lusitanian linguistic contribution to the Portuguese-Galician language remains unconfirmed. In fact, most of the pre-Roman placenames or rivers in Portugal originate from the Hispano-Celtic Gallaecian and Celtiberian languages. There are few Iberian, Basque, and Tartessian components in Portuguese.
A project by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, led by Professor Leonard A. Curchin of Classical Studies at the University of Waterloo (ON), concluded that the place-names of the Lusitanian province of the Roman Empire found to date, are classified as follows: Celtic (30%), other Indo-European (33.5%) [possibly Ligurian, Etruscan, Old-European, Illyrian], Pre-Indo-European (2%), Iberian (2%), Latin (18%), and 15.5% of place names of undefined origin.
List of Portuguese words of Iberian and Basque origin
Iberian-Basque
manteiga "butter" ***Uncertain origin, possibly Lat. mantica
Projections on Iberian vocabulary, toponyms and derivations in Portuguese, indicate just a few dozen words in total.
Basque
The Basque influence in Portuguese is believed to have entered mainly through Spanish, because many of those who took part in the Reconquista and later repopulation campaigns in Portugal, were of Basque lineage.
carrasco "executioner" or "Portuguese oak", from Basque karraska "thunder, crash of falling tree" sarna "scabies" from Medieval Latin (7th century, Isidore of Seville, Origines, 4.8.68), but as serna attested in Theodorus Priscianus (Constantinople, 4th century). however, after studying the variants of the word in the Latin medical treatises, proposes a Hispano-Celtic origin; cf. Middle Welsh sarn "mess" and sarnaf "to wreck".
Names of Basque origin
Forenames Inácio variant of Ignatius. ***Of uncertain origin. Often claimed an Etruscan-Latinised derivation but probably Pre-Roman Iberian, Celtiberian or Basque see* Íñigo, ÍñakiVariants: Egnatius (Ancient Roman), Iñaki (Basque), Ignasi (Catalan), Ignác (Czech), Ignaas (Dutch), Iggy (English), Ignace (French), Ignatz (German), Ignác (Hungarian), Ignazio (Italian), Ignas (Lithuanian), Ignacy (Polish), Ignatiy (Russian), Ignac, Ignacij, Nace (Slovene), Ignacio, Nacho, Nacio (Spanish) Vasco derived from Basque "belasko", 'small raven' Xavier, from Basque Xabier, from etxe berri, meaning 'new house' or 'new home' Ximeno, a variant of the medieval Basque given name Semen, root seme < senbe 'son' as found in the ancient Aquitanian name Sembetten, attested form "sehi" as 'child', hypothetical ancient root *seni (cf. Koldo Mitxelena and modern form "senide" = 'brother or sister', 'relative')
Surnames
Velasco derived from Basque "belasko", 'small raven'
Celtic
Although there is not a comprehensive study or wordcount on how much Celtic, (particularly Gallaecian and words from the Hispano-Celtic group) survived in Portuguese (and Galician); it is fair to say that after Latin, this is the second largest component in the Portuguese culture and language. Projections on Celtic vocabulary (some words may have come via French borrowings starting in the 12th century), toponyms and derivations in Portuguese, indicate over 3,000 words. The Celtic substratum is often overlooked, due to the strong Latinisation of Celtic-derived words in Portuguese and the ancient linguistic threads of pre-Roman origin.
List of Portuguese words of Celtic origin Placenames
Celtic name Modern location/town name Anobra Anobra *Likely derived from ānniyobris "hill,"ring" (Cf. old Irish ainne "ring"),Prósper (2002) p. 376. Aritium oppidum vetus Casal da Várzea Aritium Vetus Alvega Ardila Ardila Armona Ilha de Armona Arauca Arouca Equabonna/Aquabona Coina Axabrica/Axabrix Xabregas Boidobr(ig)a Boidobra, a combination of two elements: 1. *boudi or *boudo- 'victory' (Welsh budd 'gain, benefit') and 2. "briga". Bracara Braga Brigantia Bragança Budens Budens Caetobriga/Caetobrix/Kaitobrix Setúbal Calabria > Caliabriga Castelo Calabre Cambra<Calambriga Vale de Cambra (Aveiro), Casal de Cambra (Sintra) Cale Vila Nova de Gaia; Portucale; Portugal Castralbo(a) Penalva do Castelo Caxarias from the Celtic root *cax, oak-tree Colobre Alcolobre *(Colobre, 935 C.E.): the first element derives from *kʷolu- 'wheel' Conímbriga Conímbriga *Coimbra, Corucho* Coruche,* Civitas Aravorum <Aravi> Marialva Collippo LeiriaEbora ÉvoraEburobrittium Óbidos Jurumegna Juromenha Lacobriga Lagos Lamecum Lamego Lemos Lemos, Lemenar, Lemenhe Londobris Berlengas Longobriga Longroiva Civitas Aravorum <Aravi> Marialva (Mêda) Malaceca/Malateca Marateca Mirobriga Miróbriga Moron Castelo de Almorol Pendraganum Pedrógão Grande Terena Terena
Names Forenames Portuguese name Origin and meaning Artur Arthur * The meaning of this name is unknown. It could be derived from the Celtic elements artos "bear" combined with viros "man" or rigos "king". Alternatively it could be related to an obscure Roman family name Artorius. Brandão Brendanus * Latinized form of the Irish name Bréanainn, which was derived from a Welsh word meaning "prince". Saint Brendan was a 6th-century Irish abbot who, according to legend, crossed the Atlantic and reached North America with 17 other monks. Breno Brennus * Latinized form of a Celtic name (or title) that possibly meant either "king, prince" or "raven". Brennus was a Gallic leader of the 4th century BC who attacked and sacked Rome. Brígida Brighid * Irish, meaning "exalted one". In Irish mythology this was the name of the goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom, the daughter of the god Dagda. Tristão Drust * Pictish name probably derived from Celtic drest meaning "riot" or "tumult". This name was borne by several kings of the Picts, including their last king Drust X, who ruled in the 9th century. Viriato Viriathus * From the Latinised name Viriathus or Viriatus, derived from Celtic viriae ("bracelets"). Viriathus was a leader of the Lusitani (a tribe of Portugal) who rebelled against Roman rule in the 2nd century BC.
Surnames A considerable number of the Portuguese surnames (spread in all Portuguese-speaking countries and ex-colonies today) is Celtic or of Latinised, Celtic-borrowings. This is not a comprehensive list of those.
A – L
Abrunheiro, Abrunho, Abrunhosa, from Protoceltic *agrīnio,cf. Meyer-Lübke 294. Arouca, Aroucas, Arouquela Latinised from Celtic *arauca Bacelar, Bacelo, from *baccos- 'young man, lad' akin to Gaulish and Breton bach Bico, Bicudo, also Bica, Bicalho, from Proto-Celtic *bekko 'beak, kiss', cognate of Italian becco, French bec. Carqueijo, Carquejo, Carqueja 'gorse', from Celtic *carcasia, *querquesia, or similar.< Indo-European *pérkus|*pérkus ~ *pr̥kʷéu-|t=oak. Compare pre-Roman tribal name Carvalho, Carvalhal, Carvalheiro, Carvalha, Carvalhedo, Carvalhinho, from Celtic (s)kerb(h)/karb (hard, twisted). Caxaria, Caxarias, Caxigo, from the Celtic root *cax < CASSĪCOS ‘oak-tree’ Cerveja also Cervejaria from Vulgar Latin *cerevisia derived from Gaulish Cognates: Old French cervoise, Provençal, Spanish cerveza; akin to Old Irish coirm, Welsh cwrw, Breton korev. Coelho, Coelhos, Coelhoso also Coelha, Coelhas, from Irish coinân, Cornish conyn, Manx coneeyn, Gaelic coineanach, Welsh cwningen, alternatively from Celtiberian *cun-icos 'little dog' Colmeia, from a Celtic form *kolmēnā 'made of straw',cf. from *kolmos 'straw', which gave Leonese cuelmo; cf. Welsh calaf "reed, stalk", Cornish kalav "straw", Breton kolo "stalk"). Colmeiro, Colmeiro, Colmo, Colme, from Celtic *kolmos 'straw', which gave Leonese cuelmo; cf. Welsh calaf "reed, stalk", Cornish kalav "straw", Breton kolo "stalk"). Lage, Lages, Laginha also Laginhas from the medieval form lagena, from proto-Celtic *ɸlāgenā, cognate of Old Irish lágan, láigean, Welsh llain 'broad spearhead, blade'; akin to Irish láighe 'mattock, spade'. Lemos, from Celtic lemo, elm-tree. Lotsa, Louza, Lousão, Lousã, Lousado, Louzado, Loisa, Lousano, also Lousan, Lousada from Proto-Celtic *laws
M – Z Magalhães, also Magalhaes and Magalhã from Celtic magal 'great, grandiose'. Toponymic of towns with the same name. Menino, from medieval mennino, from proto-Celtic *menno-, akin to Old Irish menn 'kid (goat)', Irish meannán, Welsh myn, Breton menn. Minhoca, from medieval form *milocca, from Proto-Celtic *mîlo-, akin to Asturian milu, merucu 'earthworm', Irish míol 'worm, maggot', Welsh, Breton mil 'animal' Queirós, also Queiroz, from Proto-Celtic *wroikos-, referring to the specific heather variety 'Erica umbellata'. Rego, also Rêgo from proto-Celtic *ɸrikā 'furrow, ditch', akin to Welsh rhych, Breton reg, Scottish/Irish riach 'trace left from something'; cognate of French raie, Occitan, Catalan rega, Basque erreka, Italian riga 'wrinkle'. Seara, also Seareiro, Senra, from medieval senara, a Celtic compound of *seni- 'apart, separated' (cf. Old Irish sain 'alone', Welsh han 'other') and *aro- 'ploughed field'. (cf. Welsh âr, Irish ár 'ploughed field'). Truta, from Celtic *tructa- freshwater fish of the salmon family. Cognate of French truite, English trout, Catalan truita, Spanish trucha, Italian trota. Vassalo Latinised 'vassalum' from proto-Celtic *wasto-, cognate of French vassal, Spanish vasallo, Middle Irish foss 'servant', Welsh gwas 'servant; lad', Breton gwaz
General vocabulary
abanqueiroPrósper (2002) p. 90. [m] 'waterfall' < *'(beaver) dam', formally a derivative in -arium of *abanco, from Proto-Celtic *abankos 'beaver, water demon'Ward A. (1996), s.v. cognate of Old Irish abacc 'dwarf', Welsh afanc 'beaver, dwarf', Breton avank 'dwarf, sea monster'. Akin also to Arpitan avans 'wicker'.Grzega 2001: 50. alvo [m] 'white', from Celtic albo* 'white'. alvura 'whiteness', alvorada 'dawn', alvor 'light, whiteness', alvorecer [v] 'daybreak'. amieiro [m] 'common alder', *likely a derivative in -arium of *abona 'river', related to Breton avon, Welsh afon, Irish abha/abhainn 'river'. amieiral 'alder woods', amieira 'young alder tree or hand-basket made of alder or chestnut shoots'. A Galician suggestion points to another Celtic voice ameia arpente also arpento 'arpent acre' Latin borrowing (old measurement) likely from Gaulish *arpen or arepennis, cognate of French arpent, Spanish arapende akin to Old Irish airchenn 'short mete, bound (abuttal); end, extremity', Welsh arbenn 'chief' abrolho 'sprout, thorn, thicket, rocky surfaces just under water, keys', from Celtic *brogilos 'copse',. abrolhar [v] 'to cover with thorns, to sprout (botanics), to get covered in spots, blisters, to sprout', abrolhamento 'to fence smthg with thorns, cover with sprouts, to cause hardship', desabrolhar [v] 'to sprout, to bloom, to blossom'. abrunho/abrunheiro [m] 'sloe', from Vulgar Latin *aprūneu, from Latin prūnum, under the influence of Celtic *agrīnio;cf. akin to Irish áirne, Welsh eirin 'plum'; cognate of Occitan agranhon, Provençal agreno, Catalan aranyó, Aragonese arañon.