Welsh Language Phrases & Pronunciation

It has not been an easy journey or an accepted language until now. Norman invasions, English monarchs – particularly Edward I, Henry VIII, and his daughter Queen Elizabeth I – and subsequently, the English Parliament have fought against the Welsh language. Following Henry VIII’s Act of Union in 1536, the Welsh language was banned in many settings, such as legal proceedings.

Religion v. Welsh

Medieval Wales was a Catholic country, so in 1563, Parliament passed an act to translate the Scriptures into Welsh, hoping to spread Protestantism from England. In the 1570s, a Welsh translation of the Old Testament joined the earlier translations of the New Testament and Book of Common Prayer. At a time when the use of the Welsh language was prohibited everywhere except religion, the use of the language in the Church ensured its survival. But the battle for Welsh did not end there.

“Welsh Not”

Determined to continue to quash the language, the English Parliament tried to stop the language young by introducing the ‘Welsh Not’ program in 1847. Children speaking Welsh at school were forced to wear a wooden plaque around their necks etched with the letters WN (Welsh Not). The teacher distributed the plaque throughout the day as they heard Welsh spoken. The last person wearing the plaque at the end of the school day was severely punished.

Welsh Language in the Twentieth Century

In 1922, Ifan ab Owen Edwards created the Urdd Gobaith Cymru, an establishment to protect the Welsh language. They encouraged the young people of Wales to produce stories, songs, and poems in their native tongue. Today, the group continues as a National Voluntary Youth Organisation. Tragically, Welsh was almost lost entirely during the Second World War when over 20,000 Welsh speakers lost their lives.

Geiriau Cymraeg

Pronunciation: gear-ee-ay come-rye
Meaning: Welsh Words

Cwtch

Pronunciation: Coo-ch(as in cheese)
Meaning: Cuddle. There is a famous saying – “anyone can cuddle but only the Welsh can Cwtch”.

Bore Da

Pronunciation: boh-ray-daah
Meaning: Good morning

Prynhawn Da

Pronunciation: prin-ha-oon-daah
Meaning: Good afternoon

Hwyl

Pronunciation: hoo-ale
Meaning: Goodbye

Iechyd Da

Pronunciation: yeah-chid-daah
Meaning: Cheers – Literally, good health

Bwrw hen wragedd â ffyn

Pronunciation: boo-roo hen rag-eth aa-fin
Meaning: It’s raining old ladies and sticks – to describe a really heavy rainstorm

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgog-
erychwyrndrobwllllanty-
siliogogogoch

Pronunciation: lan-fer-pwl-gin-gil-go-ger-ick-gin-drob-wil-lan-ti-sileeo-go-go-gok
Meaning: St Mary’s Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel Near to the Rapid Whirlpool of Llantysilio of the Red Cave

Esgusodwch fi

Pronunciation: es-geeh-sod-wch-vee
Meaning: Excuse me

Cenedl heb iaith yw cenedl heb galon

Pronunciation: ken-head-el hib-yay-th eww ken-head-el hib gallon
Meaning: A nation without a language is a nation without a heart

Os gwelwch yn dda

Pronunciation: oss-gwil-wk-een-daah
Meaning: Please

Croeso

Pronunciation: crow-saw
Meaning: Welcome

Y Ddraig Goch

Pronunciation: ugh thr-eye-g gok
Meaning: The red dragon

Diolch yn fawr

Pronunciation: dee-olk in va-oor
Meaning: Thank you very much

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant Hapus

Pronunciation: dith gool day-wee sant hap-is
Meaning: Happy St David’s Day

Cenin pedr

Pronunciation: ken-een-ped-rr
Meaning: Daffodil – The national flower of Wales

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

Pronunciation: hen oolad vy had-eye
Meaning: Land of My Fathers

Cenhinen

Pronunciation: ken-hin-hen
Meaning: Leek, the national plant of Wales

Yr Wyddfa

Pronunciation: err with-va
Meaning: Grave. Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales and legend has it that it is the Grave of Rhita Gawr, Rita the Giant, who was buried under a cairn on the summit by King Arthur

Twm Sion Cati

Pronunciation: tomb seeon kat-ee
Meaning: Wales’ very own Robin Hood