Nia is an aspiring writer from Powys, Wales. She attended Welsh-medium primary and secondary school, and is passionate about preserving the beautiful Welsh language and culture. She speaks some French, and is currently learning Arabic.
One thing we all know about Welsh is that it’s chock full of variation. Just when you think you’ve mastered a phrase, you learn that it’s said completely differently in a town an hour away! And this just doesn’t apply to phrasing but also to vocabulary. One of the worst culprits is the humble nionyn, …
Dych chi’n gallu siarad Cymraeg? (Can you speak Welsh?) It’s kind of a moot point here at We Learn Welsh, since what we think is really important is that dych chi’n gallu dysgu Cymraeg (you can learn Welsh). And this is definitely the case, because anyone can learn Welsh! The verb gallu in the previous two …
As a child, my siblings and I really enjoyed taking part in eisteddfodau (Eisteddfods), a traditional Welsh arts festival based around a series of contests. There’s an organisation, Urdd Gobaith Cymru (The League of Welsh Hope) that organises eisteddfodau for young people, often high-school students. One of my favourite competitions was the ymgom, which in …
I have a bit of a soft spot for words about words – so it’s no surprise that I’m so fond of the Welsh adjective llafar. The Welsh word llafar is best translated as spoken and can refer to something done orally, vocally, or verbally. When describing speech, it often means colloquial. In older usage, …
One fascinating feature of the Welsh language is the use of reflexive verbs, which are formed by adding the prefix ym– to the beginning of a verb. This prefix indicates that the subject of the action is also its recipient, making the verb reflexive in nature. Of course, words change over time, and some words …
One of my favourite walks as a child was to Water-Break-Its-Neck in Warren Wood, near New Radnor. I loved to watch the fierce white dŵr (water) cascade over the cerrig (rocks), amidst thick green mwsogl (moss). Water-Breaks-Its-Neck, of course, is an example of a rhaeadr (waterfall). It’s far from the only one worth visiting in Wales …
When I was about eight or nine, one of my friends from England came to stay with my family and me during the school term, and she even came into school with me for one day. It was definitely a very confusing day for her, as all our lessons were in Welsh! I’m not sure …
Everyone knows that modern Welsh is full of English loan words. This is definitely expected given that Wales and England sit next to each other, and it’s almost inescapable when you consider the history of the Welsh language’s endangerment under English linguistic dominance. For better or for worse, English loanwords are part of the fabric …
Cymru (Wales) is famous for its miles and miles of arfordir (coast) – 1680 to be exact. In fact, aside from the land border with Lloegr (England), this small country is surrounded entirely by moroedd (seas). Môr Iwerddon (the Irish Sea), Môr Celtaidd (the Celtic Sea), Môr Cymru (St George’s Channel / Welsh Sea), and …
Do you have a hoff liw (favourite colour)? A lot of people go for porffor (purple). In Welsh as in English, this word functions mainly as an adjective, though it can also be used as a masculine noun. porffor purple It’s no coincidence that porffor starts with the letter p, just like the English translation. …
