Heather is passionate about everything language-related. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, she holds a TEFL certification from Aberystwyth University and a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. Along with her native English, she speaks Italian, Welsh, and a smattering of Japanese and French.
Today, we’re investigating the most common Welsh term for someone who eats excessively: bolgi. This word is widely used across the country, making it a safe choice no matter where you are. However, as you’ll soon discover, there’s an astonishing array of dialectal variations to explore! Let’s dive in! bolgi glutton / big eater Bolgi …
Since the dawn of time, the moon has always been a point of interest for people andcivilisations all over the world. From tales about werewolves, stories about cheese and old wives tales relating to health issues, us humans have always been fascinated with the connection we have with the moon, and the role it plays …
If you’ve only just started learning Welsh, its pronunciation may seem somewhat daunting at first due to its many double consonants, Ys and Ws. However once you’ve learned the basics, you’ll realise that many of the words are easier to pronounce than you might have expected! How to pronounce DD in Welsh IPA Symbol: /ð/ …
Are you tired of using the phrase tipyn bach ad nauseam? Then it’s time to add some flair to your Welsh with this adorable word for the smallest amount of something: mymryn. mymryn a little bit In English, mymryn can be translated in various ways – a little bit, a smidgen, an iota, a speck, …
Being from Canada, I’m often asked here in Wales if I’ve ever encountered a bear. Thankfully, the only ones I’ve seen have been at the zoo, but I have friends who’ve come across them while hiking in the Canadian wilderness. In Welsh, this iconic and feared animal is known as arth. arth bear Arth is …
Some emotions, like hapusrwydd (happiness) or cariad (love), we gladly welcome into our lives, while others, such as tristwch (sadness) or rhwystredigaeth (frustration), we tend to avoid or suppress, even though they, too, have important roles in helping us grow as individuals. One such unpleasant emotion is fear, known as ofn in Welsh. ofn fear …
If there’s one piece of clothing most of us seem to have in abundance, it’s probably the simple shirt – or crys as it’s called in Welsh. In fact, I recently gave away nearly twenty to our local charity shop! crys shirt According to Geiriadur Pryfysgol Cymru, it is possible that belt (gwregys) was the …
This year, for the very first time, my son took part in our two local Eisteddfods, singing the beautiful song O Lili Wen Fach—one of the Welsh names for the snowdrop. In fact, every child in Wales aged six and under is learning this song in class, though not all of them go on to …
As adults, and especially as parents, we find ourselves spending much of our time washing something—whether it’s laundry, dishes, or our children’s dirty hands. That’s why the Welsh word golchi (to wash) is one of the first we tend to learn and frequently use. In fact, the very first phrase I ever learned in Welsh …
Rabbits are ubiquitous in popular culture, entertaining us for decades through the zany antics of Bugs Bunny, the endearing charm of Peter Rabbit, and the tardy, pompous nature of the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. But what do the Welsh call this adorably fluffy creature, which ranks fourth as the most popular pet after …
