Firstly, let me just say that I am not an expert,
(or for that matter completely fluent!) in speaking Welsh. What I am, however,
is a veteran of Welsh language courses. Some are better than others, but
if I had to say which I thought best, I go for anything by Gareth King.
Also I'm not saying read this and you'll be
able to read and write in Welsh. This is intended as a bit of help, a start.
The rest is up to you.
Probably the most important thing to remember
in learning anything is to keep up with the practice. This is true with
learning a language, an instument or driving a car. The more you do it
the faster you'll learn. Practice writing letters, or annoy your friends
emailing them in Welsh, just keep it up. Practice and practice and.........
For Correspondance, Greetings and Farewells
Annwyl
- Dear
so 'Annwyl John' is Dear John
S'mae?
- How's things?
Sut dach chi? -
How are you?
nghyfaill
- My Friend
you can say S'mae, nghyfaill? - How's things, my friend?
Diolch yn fawr - Thanks
Diolch yn fawr am dy lythur - Thanks for your letter.
Diolch yn fawr am dy e-bost - Thanks for your e-mail
Eiddoch,
- Yours,
Eiddoch yn gywir - Yours truely.
Wir?
- Really?
Nage, wir? - No, really!
Dw i'n gweld -
I see
Iawn, diolch - Fine,
thankyou
Helo
- Hello
Bore da
- Good morning
Noswaith dda
- Good evening
Nos da
- Good night
Nos da iwch - Good night to you.
Craig ydy fy enw fi
- My name is Craig
***** dw i
- I am *****
Craig dw i - I am Craig
Dyma ngwraig, Patricia
- This is my wife, Patricia.
Dyma fy merch, Rhiannon -
This is my daughter, Rhiannon.
Dyma fy mab, Patrick
- This is my son, Patrick.
Dyma nhad
- This is my father
Dyma fy mam
- This is my mother
Dyma ngwr
- This is my husband
Dyma mrawd
- This is my brother
Dyma 'n chwaer
- This is my sister
Beth ydy dy enw di?
- What is your name?
Ble dach chi'n byw?
- Where do you live?
Hwyl
- Bye (Blessings)
Hwyl fawr
- Goodbye (Big Blessings!)
Nos da iwch -
Good night to you!
Da boch chi -
Goodbye
Welsh Colours, Animals & Trees
Welsh Lliw English Colour
gwyn
White
du
Black
gwrm
Dark Blue
coch/rhudd
Red
glas
Green
melyn
Yellow
brith
Grey
brown
Brown
glas
Blue
gwyrdd
Green
porffor/glasgoch Purple
melyn.goch
Orange
melynwyn
Cream
pinc
Pink
aur
Gold
ariannaid
Silver
claer
Transparent
tywyll
Dark
goleuni
Light
Welsh Anifail English Animal
ci
dog
cath
cat
ceffyl
horse
llygoden
mouse
cwningen
rabbit
draenog
hedgehog
llew
lion
blaid
wolf
carw
stag
danas
deer
baedd
boar
mochyn
pig
buwch
cow
tarw
bull
bytheiad
hound
aderyn
bird
eryr
eagle
hebog
falcon
hwyad
duck
bran
raven
alarch
swan
pysgodyn
fish
eog
salmon
Bedwen
birch
Cerdinen
rowan
Gwernen
alder
Helygen
willow
Onnen
ash
Draenen wen hawthorn
Derwen
oak
celynnen
holly
afal
apple
Gwinwydden vine
Eiddew
ivy
Cawnen
broom
Draennen ddu blackthorn
Ysgawen
elder
Ffynidwydden fir
Eithin
furze
Grug
heather
Aethen
poplar
Ywen
yew
In Welsh, the person (I, you, they, etc) comes after the verb. This is how the verb `to be`, goes in the present tense:
I am
dw i
you are
wyt ti
Singular
he is / she is
mae o / mae hi
we are
dym ni
you are
dych chi
Plural and formal
they are
maen nhw
My
fy
Your dy
His
ei
Her
ei (h before a vowel)
Our
ein (h before a vowel)
Your eich
Their eu
(h before a vowel)
Welsh follows the general rule of Verb - Subject - Object, as opposed to the English Subject - Verb - Object:
Gaeth Craig Gwobr - Craig got a prize (literally 'Got Craig a Prize')
This is a general rule, except when the 'focus' is one a particular individual or object:
Pwy derrodd y ffenest? CRAIG dorrodd y ffenest.
Who broke the window? CRAIG broke the window.
And promises never to do it again! :)
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