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.
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.
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.
‘Say Something in Welsh’ Bootcamp in Tresaith – Diary of my experience
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. …
The Welsh Word for Welcome – Croeso!
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.
10 Ways to Say “I’m fine, thanks!” in Welsh Besides “Iawn, diolch!”
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!
The Welsh Word for Home – Cartref, Gartref or Adref?
In standard Welsh, there are different ways of saying “home” depending on the context of the sentence.
The first word cartref, or cartrefi in its plural form, is the generic noun for “home” and is often used in the sense of ‘a home’.
The Welsh Word for Blue: Glas
The Welsh word for “blue” is glas or las in its mutated form following feminine nouns.
- yr aderyn glas (the blue bird)
- y faner las (the blue flag)
Dark blue is glas tywyll or dulas, whereas light blue is glas golau or goleulas.
The Welsh Word for Jellyfish: Slefran Fôr & More!
Washed-up jellyfish on the beach are a very common sight in Wales, especially during the summer months. Despite their fearsome reputation, most species are actually quite harmless, inflicting just a mild sting. That said, there are a vicious few such as the Lion’s Mane Jellyfish that can do plenty of damage, even posthumously, so unless you know your jellyfish really well, it’s probably best to avoid touching them!
Welsh Words Without Vowels? It’s time to bust the myth!
Have you ever been talking to someone about Welsh, only for them to joke all-knowingly about the total absence of vowels in the language? I know I have, on more than one occasion!
The Welsh Word for Love (+ How to Say “I Love You” in Welsh)
If you’re searching for the Welsh word for love, you probably want to say one of four things:
- I love you
- in love
- to love something (non-romantic)
- love (a term of endearment for someone you care about)