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.
It’s widely known that many Welsh speakers naturally blend Welsh and English in their daily lives – not just switching between languages from one conversation to the next, but even within sentences, and sometimes in the middle of a single word! One such word, that’s arguably equally Welsh and English, is the famous cwtsh (cuddle). …
If you’ve ever admired Tom Jones’ unique croon, Cerys Matthews’ poetic lyrics, or the lilting melody of a traditional Welsh folk tune, you’ll understand how Wales came to be known as Gwlad y Gân (the Land of Song). Cerddoriaeth (music) is a huge part of Welsh culture, and so it’s definitely worth being able to …
The Welsh word for soft or tender is meddal. The synonym esmwyth is also common, especially when discussing something that is silky or smooth to the touch, such as soft hair (gwallt esmwyth). Both words can be used to describe something that is physically soft, as well as someone’s attitude or personality. Meddal can also …
As with many other languages, the type of Welsh you use in conversation depends on who you’re speaking to. This mainly comes down to the distinction between formal and informal speech. Formal speech is typically used when addressing someone older than you, someone you don’t know personally, or someone in a professional or service role. …
