We Learn Welsh

Sgwrs efo Meilir Rhys Williams, un o sêr y ddrama Rownd a Rownd

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Mae Meilir Rhys Williams yn chwarae Rhys yn y gyfres ddrama, Rownd a Rownd, sy’n cael ei darlledu ar S4C bob nos Fawrth a nos Iau am 6.30 p.m. Cawsom gyfle i gael sgwrs â fo am ei yrfa actio a bywyd tu ôl i lenni Rownd a Rownd!

Meilir Rhys Williams plays Rhys in the drama Rownd a Rownd, which is broadcast on S4C every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. We had a chance to talk to him about his acting career and life behind the scenes of Rownd a Rownd!

For learners: Below each paragraph is a list of useful vocabulary that should help you read the interview without having to look up words in your dictionary every two seconds! 😉

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5 Great Ways to Encourage People to Speak to You in Welsh

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One of the hardest things for Welsh learners is drumming up the confidence to persuade native speakers to speak to them in Welsh. Why? Because all people are naturally preconditioned to take the so-called “path of least resistance” in life. Just as it is easier to veg out in front of the television than to read a book, so it is easier to use English than to struggle through a stilted conversation in Welsh.

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How to say “hug” or “cuddle” in Welsh

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There is a popular saying in Wales: “Anyone can cuddle but only the Welsh can cwtsh!” 

‘Cwtsh’ – or cwtch / cwts / cwtsi as it is alternatively spelt – can be loosely translated as “hug” or “cuddle” in English and is pronounced like the word “butch”. It is so popular that the Welsh sometimes use it even when they are speaking in English!

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How to Say “Well done!” in Welsh

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Whether your child passes his exam with flying colours, or your best friend manages to get that long-desired promotion, there are many situations where it’s appropriate to praise someone for a job well done. In English, we have a range of encouraging phrases to choose between but what about in Welsh? Well, it turns out that there are plenty!

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My Interview with S4C Dysgu Cymraeg!

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Last week, I had the amazing experience of being interviewed by S4C Dysgu Cymraeg, S4C’s brand new service for language learners. (If you’ve never heard of S4C, it’s Britain’s only Welsh language television channel and it’s definitely worth watching if you want exposure to all varieties of Welsh!)

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15 Welsh Words That Resemble French (But Come From Latin!)

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If you speak or have ever studied French, you will surely have noticed the many lexical similarities it shares with Welsh. I can remember visiting Wales for the first time as an adult and being in disbelief at how much I could already pick out from the street signs, all thanks to my high school French.

Now, this isn’t because French had a direct influence on Welsh but because French descends primarily from Latin, which was the language of the Romans who conquered Britain in 43 AD.

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10 Fun Ways to Say Goodbye in Welsh

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If you stop and think about how many ways there are of saying “goodbye” in English – from the standard “bye” and “see you later” to the more niche expressions like “cheerio” to “toodle-loo” – it should come as no surprise that Welsh has a wide range of phrases too. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ones now! 🙂

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