As a first language Welsh speaker, being brought up in a solely Welsh speaking household has certainly shaped who I am today. As research shows, learning another language is extremely beneficial and passing on this wonderful language to your kids will bring them more opportunities in life. Indeed, “linguists warn that the Welsh language is …
When someone thanks you for something you’ve done, e.g. for a favour or a kind gesture, it’s always important to know how to respond to that person with the right expression. This shows that helping them has caused you no problems. Below are the four most common responses you will come across in the Welsh …
There are many different ways you can say “I wish…” in Welsh depending on preference and the formality of the language. This article covers the five most common translation for the phrase. 1. Basai’n dda gen i / Byddai’n dda gen i … The literal translation for this phrase in English is, “It would be …
Rugby can be a thrilling sport, evoking a range of emotions as you watch your team’s triumphs and setbacks. However, amidst the excitement, moments of confusion can arise when unfamiliar terms leave you puzzled, especially if you aren’t watching it in your native language! In this article, I’ll shed light on some of the most …
As with other languages, people use Welsh nicknames to refer to a partner, lover, close friend or a member of their family in informal situations. Some people may choose to use these in public or a more close-knit private setting, depending on the context. In Wales, the older generation seems to use nicknames as a …
All languages have their fair share of weird words and expressions, many of which would make little sense if translated word-for-word. Take, for example, the English idioms “blow someone’s socks off” (to amaze or impress) or “a piece of cake” (to be easy). In any other language, these expressions translated literally would only earn you …
There is no road sign I find more comforting than the one that straddles the border at every point between England and Wales. Those simple words – Croeso i Gymru or Welcome to Wales in English – are a sweet reminder that home is less than a couple of hours away! 🙂 The phrase Croeso …
Are you (literally) having trouble getting your tongue around the voiceless alveolar lateral fricative, otherwise known as the dreaded LL sound, in Welsh? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Most sounds in Welsh also exist in English, making Welsh a relatively easy language for English speakers to pronounce, but there are a few …
If you are celebrating Easter in Wales and want to make the best use of your Welsh, you’ve come to the right place. Here you’ll find a number of greetings, sayings and important vocabulary in Welsh to do with Easter. Now there’s no excuse whatsoever to let your Cymraeg get rusty over the break! 😉
In Welsh, there are many different ways you can translate the English expression “I would like…” in order to express a desire or to make a polite request. If you want to keep your sentences short and sweet, I would suggest learning these two expressions to begin with: Hoffwn i… and Liciwn i… Hoffwn i… …