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.
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?
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
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.
Depending on where you live in Wales, there are different ways of saying “grandmother” in Welsh.
Important: This article was originally written in 2019, back when Say Something in Welsh was still running its annual learner bootcamps. Although these events are no longer held, I wanted to share this experience with you all in our newsletter, as it was a turning point in boosting my confidence in Welsh at the time. …
As you cross the border from England into Wales, you will be greeted by the expression “Welcome to Wales” or “Croeso i Gymru” on most signs.
Are you fed up with using the same old hackneyed expression “Iawn, diolch!” whenever someone asks how you are in Welsh?
To be fair, it is by far the most common response to << sut wyt ti >>, even when native Welsh speakers talk amongst themselves, but if, as a learner, you’d like to spice things up a bit, why not give one of the following ten expressions a try!
