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.
About The Author
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.
15 Welsh Words That Resemble French (But Come From Latin!)
If you speak or have ever studied French, you will surely have noticed the many lexical similarities it shares with Welsh. I can remember visiting Wales for the first time as an adult and being in disbelief at how much I could already pick out from the street signs, all thanks to my high school French.
Now, this isn’t because French had a direct influence on Welsh but because French descends primarily from Latin, which was the language of the Romans who conquered Britain in 43 AD.
10 Fun Ways to Say Goodbye in Welsh
If you stop and think about how many ways there are of saying “goodbye” in English – from the standard “bye” and “see you later” to the more niche expressions like “cheerio” to “toodle-loo” – it should come as no surprise that Welsh has a wide range of phrases too. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ones now! 🙂
The Welsh Word for Congratulations: Llongyfarchiadau!
The Welsh word for congratulations is … a long one! 😉
I remember it took me ages to learn how to pronounce this word without getting my tongue tied, so don’t worry if it takes you a while for you to master it as well. Let’s break it down into small bite-sized syllables, shall we?
Tired of “Sut/Shwt wyt ti?” Why not try these other ways of saying “How are you?” in Welsh!
When you sign up for a Welsh course, one of the very first survival phrases you’ll learn is “How are you?”. This “cyfarchiad” (greeting) can be expressed in two different ways:
- the colloquial “Sut wyt ti?” (NW) / “Shwt wyt ti?” (SW)
- the formal or plural “Sut ‘dach chi?” (NW) / “Shwt ‘ych chi?” (SW)
10 Common Welsh Idioms (And Their Meanings in English)
The Welsh language has a wide range of idiomatic sayings and phrases that are worth exploring if your aim is to sound like a native. Why not see if you can slip some of the following into your next conversation! 1. Dim ffiars o beryg! English translation: Not likely! Not a chance! This has got to be my favourite Welsh …
Why This Canadian Decided to Start Learning Welsh
Note: This article was written a few years ago now, and while my circumstances have changed (i.e. the birth of my son), I believe the reasons for starting to learn Welsh remain just as relevant today. When I first became fascinated by language learning, I have to admit that Welsh wasn’t my first choice. As …
10 Welsh Expressions to Instantly Make You Sound More Welsh
In every language, including Welsh, there are certain expressions that people tend to use over and over again when speaking. Below you can find ten expressions you’ll come across on a regular basis in colloquial Welsh. By mastering these expressions, not only will you be able to carry on a more natural conversation in Welsh …
Where to Speak Welsh: Review of Caffi Alys in Machynlleth
Located at the historic heart of the market town of Machylleth lies a small cafe called Caffi Alys. It is well-known in the area as a haven for Welsh speakers and those learning the language.
The Welsh word for Grandmother – Nain or Mam-gu?
Depending on where you live in Wales, there are different ways of saying “grandmother” in Welsh.