Welsh word cariad comes from Proto-Indo-European *kenh₂-, Proto-Indo-European *kh₂róti, and later Proto-Celtic *kareti (To desire, to wish.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *kenh₂- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| *kh₂róti | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| *kareti | Proto-Celtic (cel-pro) | To desire, to wish. |
| *karɨd | Proto-Brythonic (cel-bry-pro) | To love. |
| karɨd | Proto-Brythonic (cel-bry-pro) | |
| caru | Welsh (cym) | (transitive) to love, like. |
| cariad | Welsh (cym) | Beloved (one); lover, sweetheart, darling, boyfriend, girlfriend}}. Love, charity, affection. |