Few animals have had such a great impact on British civilisation as the humble horse. The domestication of horses began in Britain by the 25th century BC and over the years, they have been used for warfare, agriculture and transportation. Today horses are kept mostly for recreational purposes but they remain a much-loved animal across the British Isles and the world.
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If there is one thing Wales is famous for – besides rugby, sheep and Tom Jones of course – it is the copious amounts of rain it receives throughout the year. It’s therefore no wonder that there are numerous ways to talk about the rain in the Welsh language! 🌧️
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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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Have you ever wanted to apologise to somebody in Welsh but weren’t quite sure how? Well, you’ve come to the right place! 🙂
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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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A tongue twister is a sequence of similar-sounding words whose repeated pronunciation is challenging even for native speakers. They exist in all languages and are a fantastic way of improving your pronunciation, even though most of them don’t make a lot of sense!
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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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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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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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Sesiwn Fawr is one of the most popular music festivals in Wales, attracting thousands of people each year to the historic town of Dolgellau where it has been held since its humble beginnings in 1992.
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