The Welsh word estyn is used in a variety of ways, to mean reach, stretch, give, or pass. But its most basic meaning, covering the majority of ways in which it’s used in everyday Welsh, is to extend.
estyn
extend
Did you spot a similarity between this word and its English translation? If so, you’d be on the right track! Estyn and extend both derive from the Latin word extendo, which meant to extend, to stretch, or to enlarge.
I was curious as to whether extendo was borrowed into the other living Brittonic languages, or just Welsh. My brief research suggests it probably was – the Breton say astenn and the Cornish go for ystyn, which certainly sound familiar. The Goidelic languages (this is the other branch of living Celtic languages, consisting of Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx), on the other hand, don’t seem to have taken the Latin loan.
The fact that estyn and extend come from the same root makes things quite simple for English-speaking learners. Whenever you’d say extend in English, you can say estyn in Welsh. So think about phrases like:
- estyn allan = extending out / stretching out
- estyn tŷ / codi estyniad i dŷ = extending a house
- ysgol estyn = extension ladder
- estyn gwahoddiad = extending an invitation
- estyn croeso = extending a welcome
- estyn dwylo = extending hands / reaching out to someone
- fy estyn i = extending myself
As you can see, it covers both literal and non-literal kinds of estyniad (extension / stretch).
Hoffwn i estyn gwahoddiad i aelodau newydd ymuno â ni.
I would like to extend an invitation to new members to join us.
But there are also uses of estyn – and the important variant form ymestyn, often used to refer to stretching for ymlaciad (relaxation) or ymarfer corff (exercise) – beyond the English equivalent. It’s a much more casual word in Welsh than it is in English, where it would be replaced by stretch or reach in informal contexts.
So stretching one’s legs is estyn coesau, reaching out for something is ymestyn am rywbeth and taking a step is estyn cam. My lazy cathod (cats) could be described as either ymestyn or estyn when they stretch themselves out on the sofa to ymlacio. And if I were to tell someone to reach for the stars, I’d say estyn am y sêr, although the idiom isn’t as natural in Welsh and you’d be more likely to just use the word uchelgeisiol (ambitious).
Rhaid i chi ymestyn eich breichiau a’ch ysgwyddau cyn codi pwysau.
You need to stretch your arms and shoulders before doing weight-lifting.
In Welsh, we also often use estyn to mean pass or give, which adds even more depth to its meaning. You can think of it as the Welsh conceptualising giving as the act of physically extending something to someone—much like the English expression to extend the hand of friendship.
Although that’s a very positive example, you can of course rhoi (give) someone less pleasant things too! Estyn cic is to give someone a kick, and estyn bys is to point fingers / to accuse. Or you can estyn gwefus, which literally translates to to extend lips, and means to pout.
O, sori, gad i mi estyn y dŵr i ti.
Oh, sorry, let me pass you the water.
Here is how estyn conjugates:
| Future | Conditional | Past | |
| First person singular | Estynna(f) i I will extend | Estynnwn i I would extend | Estynnais i I extended |
| First person plural | Estynnwn ni We will extend | Estynnen ni We would extend | Estynnon ni We extended |
| Second person singular / informal | Estynni di You will extend | Estynnet ti You would extend | Estynnaist ti You extended |
| Second person plural / formal | Estynnwch chi You will extend | Estynnech chi You would extend | Estynnoch chi You extended |
| Third person singular | Estynnith / Estynniff o/e/hi He/she will extend | Estynnai fo/fe/hi He/she would extend | Estynnodd o/e/hi He/she extended |
| Third person plural | Estynnan nhw They will extend | Estynnen nhw They would extend | Estynnon nhw They extended |
There are also a couple of adjectives based on estyn, which are estynadwy (extensible) and estynedig (extended). The latter features in some useful terms, like:
- teulu estynedig = extended family
- trosiad estynedig = an extended metaphor
- cyfwng estynedig = in music, an extended interval
- limwsîn estynedig = a stretch limo
You could use estynadwy to describe stretchy things like elastig, alongside the synonym ymestynnol. But these words are quite long, so you’d be forgiven for going for hyblyg (flexible) instead. Or, simply using elastig as an adjective, as many Welsh people do.
What always comes to mind for me when I hear the word estyn might seem a little random—unless you’re familiar with the British education system. That’s because Estyn is also the name of the Welsh government’s school inspection body, the equivalent of Ofsted in England.
I’d guess it was originally named to reflect a commitment to inspiring estyn am y sêr amongst pupils and teachers. Though I’m sure the good people of Estyn are strong believers in this principle, I remember my teachers always thought they were very scary!
