Today let’s talk about the word cefnogi, which means to support. A great way to remember this word is to look at the first part of it, cefn. You may know that this is the word for back in Welsh, so you can think of it as being like backing someone, just as is often said in English.
cefnogi
to support
In fact, the thought process behind how this word has developed in Welsh is similar. The cefn is the part of the body that supports us and keeps us upright and this is reflected in language – it is common in Welsh to say things like mae hi’n gefn i mi (she supports me, she is a support to me, literally she is a back to me).
From there, we get the word cefnog, which is an alternative way of saying cyfoethog (rich, wealthy). In parts of the country it is also used to mean that someone is powerful and physically able. Either way, it connotes that someone has the strength and ability to support themselves, literally or otherwise.
Cefnog has also produced words like cefnogwr (a supporter), cefnogaeth (support) as a noun, and of course cefnogi.
Soft mutation
gefnogi
Nasal mutation
nghefnogi
Aspirate mutation
chefnogi
All three mutations of cefnogi, as provided above, are possible and common. Off the top of my head, you might parhau i gefnogi (continue to support) your favourite tîm pêl-droed (football team), tell a family member “Diolch am fy nghefnogi” (“Thank you for supporting me“), or swear to helpu a chefnogi (help and support) someone or something in any way possible.
So how do you use cefnogi in a conversation? Luckily, it’s pretty much as you would use the verb to support in English!
- to help someone, to encourage them, and to be on their side, as in cefnogi ffrind (to support a friend)
- to be in favour of something, as in cefnogi polisi (to support a policy)
- like the above but more specifically, to second, as in cefnogi cynnig (to support a motion / to second a motion)
- to be a fan of something, as in cefnogi tîm (to support a team)
- to fund something, or to provide it with resources, as in cefnogi elusen (to support a charity)
In some parts of the North-West cefnogi could also mean to recuperate but this is gradually being superseded by the more common form elsewhere in Wales, which is gwella (to better / to get better).
In many of these cases you could also translate it, colloquially, as to back, which may help you remember the word if it’s new to you. To back a friend means sticking up for them and being on their side; to back a policy means you endorse it and think it’s a good idea.
Byddwn yn sicr yn cefnogi’r penderfyniad.
I would certainly support the decision.
You may notice that to support something as in to physically hold it up is missing from the list above. That’s because in these contexts it’s usually better to use cynnal (to hold, to maintain) or dal (a very broad word, but here think of it as to hold).
Cynnal is also a good word for supporting someone or a group of people financially, as in cynnal teulu (to support a family). But lots of people say cefnogi for this too.
Another good word to be aware of is ategu, which is very similar to cefnogi but only for the contexts where you’re seconding or supporting something. Eilio also means to second; you can see how it’s come from the word ail (second as an adjective). Then there’s noddi, which means to patronise, but only in the traditional sense of to look after, to provide support to – it doesn’t mean to treat someone in a patronising and condescending way, which is nawddogi.
Lastly, there are a host of terms you can use to describe showing cefnogaeth to someone you care about. We already discussed the lovely idiomatic phrase bod yn gefn i rywun (being a back to someone), and cadw cefn rhywun (keeping someone’s back) is very similar. You can also use calonogi (to hearten, to encourage), cynorthwyo / rhoi cymorth (to help, to support), cysuro (to comfort), or simply helpu (to help).
Rydw i am i chi gael cymaint o gefnogaeth â phosibl.
I want you to have as much as support as possible.
Before we finish, here are a few more useful terms and phrases that incorporate cefnogi:
- cefnogi (rhywun) drwy (rywbeth) = to support (someone) through (something)
- siarad i gefnogi (rhywbeth) = to speak in support of (something)
- grŵp cefnogi = support group
- cyfundrefn gefnogi = support system
- ci cefnogi = my favourite, a support dog
Hopefully, this page can be a source of cefnogaeth to you in your Welsh learning journey! 😉
