A Short Guide to Basic Welsh Phrases
Created | Updated Jan 19, 2007
Introduction
Like English, the Welsh language consists of many regional and class-related dialects. Most of the towns and cities have their own special words and phrases for certain things, but the language can be divided into two general dialects, each of which has a formal version and a colloquial version.
There is much debate as to which is the official dialect of Wales. That of the Northern half of the country is the older of the two, and contains fewer words adopted from the English Language. It is therefore considered by purists to be the 'true' Welsh language. However, the capital city of Cardiff is based in the southern half of the country, where the Welsh Assembly and wealthy media corporations are based; as a result, the dialect of South Wales is the one most commonly found in newspapers, television programmes, and documents relating to the government. All Welsh phrase books and teaching aids are therefore written in the dialect of South Wales. This guide seeks to redress the balance by including the Northern variations.
Pronunciation
Vowels
(& to bach)
a = 'a' as in 'tat'.
^a = 'a' as in 'barn'.
e = 'e' as in 'men'.
^e = 'a' as someone from Newcastle would pronounce it in 'lane'. :-/
i = North: ; South: .
o = 'o' as in 'pot'.
^o = 'o' as in 'or'.
u (position in word)
w = 'oo'.
y = usually 'u' as in 'mud'; in a word containing more than one 'y', the final 'y' = 'i' as in 'pit'.
Consonants
c = k.
ch = a phlegmy hawking sound, like the 'ch' in 'loch'.
dd = like the 'th' in 'the'.
f = v.
ff = f.
ll = put your tongue in the position for an 'L'. Blow past the sides of it, without using your voice or allowing your cheeks to expand. You should produce a wet hissing sound.
r = always rolled, like the purr of an expensive tractor engine.
si = sh.
th = like the 'th' in 'thud'.
Greetings and Blessings
Hello = helo.
Goodbye = hwyl.
Good morning = bore da.
Good afternoon = prynhawn da.
Good evening = noswaith dda.
Good night = nos da.
Happy Birthday (to you) = penblwydd hapus (i chi).
Merry Christmas = Nadolig hapus.
Happy New Year = Blwyddyn Newydd dda.
Happy St Dwynwen's Day, darling (Santes Dwynwen) = Dydd Santes Dwynwen hapus, cariad. [St Dwynwen is the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine.]
Happy St David's Day = Dydd Dewi Sant Hapus.
Please = os gwelwch yn dda.
Thank you (very much) = diolch (yn fawr).
(You're) welcome = croeso.
The Weather
Nice day today (said with doom-laden irony) = mae'n braf heddiw.
It's windy, isn't it? = mae'n wyntog, ond yw i?
God, look at that rain =
It snowed on St David's Day =
I like hail / I don't like hail =
Sunshine. I remember sunshine =
I hope you've got insurance =
Common Phrases
Cheers
Never mind
Fair play = chwarae teg.
Wales forever = Cymru am byth.
Yes and No
Curses - foiled again!
Like English, the Welsh language consists of many regional and class-related dialects. Most of the towns and cities have their own special words and phrases for certain things, but the language can be divided into two general dialects, each of which has a formal version and a colloquial version.
There is much debate as to which is the official dialect of Wales. That of the Northern half of the country is the older of the two, and contains fewer words adopted from the English Language. It is therefore considered by purists to be the 'true' Welsh language. However, the capital city of Cardiff is based in the southern half of the country, where the Welsh Assembly and wealthy media corporations are based; as a result, the dialect of South Wales is the one most commonly found in newspapers, television programmes, and documents relating to the government. All Welsh phrase books and teaching aids are therefore written in the dialect of South Wales. This guide seeks to redress the balance by including the Northern variations.
Pronunciation
Vowels
(& to bach)
a = 'a' as in 'tat'.
^a = 'a' as in 'barn'.
e = 'e' as in 'men'.
^e = 'a' as someone from Newcastle would pronounce it in 'lane'. :-/
i = North: ; South: .
o = 'o' as in 'pot'.
^o = 'o' as in 'or'.
u (position in word)
w = 'oo'.
y = usually 'u' as in 'mud'; in a word containing more than one 'y', the final 'y' = 'i' as in 'pit'.
Consonants
c = k.
ch = a phlegmy hawking sound, like the 'ch' in 'loch'.
dd = like the 'th' in 'the'.
f = v.
ff = f.
ll = put your tongue in the position for an 'L'. Blow past the sides of it, without using your voice or allowing your cheeks to expand. You should produce a wet hissing sound.
r = always rolled, like the purr of an expensive tractor engine.
si = sh.
th = like the 'th' in 'thud'.
Greetings and Blessings
Hello = helo.
Goodbye = hwyl.
Good morning = bore da.
Good afternoon = prynhawn da.
Good evening = noswaith dda.
Good night = nos da.
Happy Birthday (to you) = penblwydd hapus (i chi).
Merry Christmas = Nadolig hapus.
Happy New Year = Blwyddyn Newydd dda.
Happy St Dwynwen's Day, darling (Santes Dwynwen) = Dydd Santes Dwynwen hapus, cariad. [St Dwynwen is the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine.]
Happy St David's Day = Dydd Dewi Sant Hapus.
Please = os gwelwch yn dda.
Thank you (very much) = diolch (yn fawr).
(You're) welcome = croeso.
The Weather
Nice day today (said with doom-laden irony) = mae'n braf heddiw.
It's windy, isn't it? = mae'n wyntog, ond yw i?
God, look at that rain =
It snowed on St David's Day =
I like hail / I don't like hail =
Sunshine. I remember sunshine =
I hope you've got insurance =
Common Phrases
Cheers
Never mind
Fair play = chwarae teg.
Wales forever = Cymru am byth.
Yes and No
Curses - foiled again!
