There is only one way to say Goodnight! in Welsh and that is Nos da! with nos meaning night and da meaning good.
The expression good night and sleep well can be translated word for word from the English:
Nos da a chysga’n dda. (informal)
Nos da a chysgwch yn dda. (formal or plural)
Good night and sleep well!
However you may often hear Welsh people using the adverb yn dawel (quietly/peacefully) instead. The intended meaning is exactly the same.
Nos da a chysga’n dawel. (informal)
Nos da a chysgwch yn dawel. (formal or plural)
Good night and sleep well!
If you want to say good night to you, you can either use nos da i ti (informal) or nos da i chi (formal or plural). Goodnight everyone would be nos da bawb. In North Wales, you will also hear nos dawch which means the same thing as nos da i chi.
Goodnight + Terms of endearment
Below are a few popular terms of endearment in Welsh combined with nos da. Cariad (or fy nghariad) is the one you will hear most often but don’t be surprised if you encounter some of the others as well.
- Nos da, cariad. = Good night, love / darling.
- Nos da, fy nghariad. = Good night, my love / darling.
- Nos da fy annwyl. = Good night, my dear.
- Nos da, fy ngeneth. = Good night, my girl.
- Nos da, fy nghalon. = Good night, my heart.
- Nos da, blodyn. = Good night, flower.
- Nos da, cyw. = Good night, chick.
Cân Nos Da (The Goodnight Song)
Here is a lovely little song you can play to your children before they drift off to sleep (mynd i gysgu).
