Today’s Welsh word of the day is rhaglen. It means programme – that’s program for many of our readers outside the UK, and in computing contexts – and its plural is rhaglenni (programmes).
I’m afraid I have no rhaglen for the cynnwys (contents) of this erthygl (article), so if you’re keen to know where this word comes from and how it’s used today, well, you’ll just have to keep reading 😉
rhaglen
programme / program
rhaglenni
programmes / programs
The pronunciation above is standard, but it’s sometimes said like this in North Wales:
Rhaglen is a feminine noun. This would normally mean that it mutates after y (the), but remember that that particular mutation rule doesn’t apply to words that start with rh. It’s an easy one to get caught out by!
But the soft mutated form could show up in other circumstances, like in the term hoff raglen (favourite programme).
Soft mutation
raglen
Nasal mutation
N/A
Aspirate mutation
N/A
Programme evolved from an Ancient Greek word, pronounced programma. And in fact rhaglen, although it looks very different, is a calque of that word too; that just means that the elements that make up in the word in Ancient Greek were translated into English and then put together in the same way. Rhag is a prefix that means pre- or pro-, and llen means a curtain or a sheet.
Llen is actually used very often in compound words to indicate something like a sheet of papur (paper) or something that you’d write on. Take words like amlen (envelope), ffurflen (form), or bwydlen (menu).
And rhaglen itself has become the ancestor to words like rhaglennu (to program, particularly as in computing), rhaglennwr / rhaglennydd (a programmer), and rhaglennol (programmatic).
Which brings me to my next point: the versatility of the word. Because rhaglen was designed as a calque very recently (in the 1800s), it works as a perfect equivalent to programme / program in English, as well as equivalents in many other languages also borrowed from the Greek. That means that the word rhaglen can describe:
- rhaglen deledu (a television program)
- rhaglen gyfrifiadur (a computer program)
- amserlen / agenda (a schedule)
- rhestr o berfformwyr (a list of performers)
- polisi (a political platform)
And, unlike in British English, you don’t even have to change the spelling based on which meaning you’re going for!
Dydyn nhw ddim wedi penderfynu’r rhaglen adeiladu.
They haven’t yet decided on the building schedule.
Even when you narrow it down to one kind of rhaglen, there’s all kinds of variety even within that. For example, when watching teledu (television / TV), some people prefer a rhaglen ddogfen (documentary), whereas others go for comedi (comedy) or chwaraeon (sports). You might even be a loyalist to rhaglenni radio (radio programmes).
Wales’ sianel (channel) is S4C. It stands for Sianel Pedwar Cymru (Channel Four Wales) and is pronounced es – pedwar – ec. If you’ve got time to watch a few rhaglenni, I’d say that engaging in teledu iaith Cymraeg (Welsh language TV) is one of the best ways to improve your language skills. You’ll become more comfortable with people speaking quickly, and you’ll gain a greater sense of how people actually use yr iaith (the language) in day to day life.
Watching y newyddion (the news) is always a good bet because it’s short, relevant to everyone, and has a lot of relevant vocabulary – although do remember that darllenwyr newyddion (newsreaders) use formal Welsh.
Cyw (Chick) is also a good bet; this is the name for S4C’s rhaglennu (programming) for children, so it has simple geirfa (vocabulary) that’s easy to understand as a learner.
Dw i’n chwilio am raglen newydd i’w gwylio.
I’m looking for a new programme to watch.
But you’ll get the greatest wealth of geirfa, particularly colloquial, and the most content, from Wales’ two iconic sioeau sebon (soap operas). This is Pobol y Cwm (Valley People), centred around a fictional pentref (village) called Cwmderi in South Wales’ cymoedd (valleys), and Rownd a Rownd (Round and Round), set on Ynys Môn (Anglesey) and targeted more towards younger people.
Both of these rhaglenni have multiple darllediadau (broadcasts) weekly, so there’s so much content to learn from. You can choose your loyalties based on the dialect of Welsh you’re learning, or simply try them both and see what interests you – either way, this is an absolutely fantastic way to learn. And did you know that Pobol y Cwm is the longest running sioe sebon (soap) across the entire BBC?!
