St. Dwynwen’s Day, which takes place on January 25th, is what is known as the Welsh Valentine’s Day, although it celebrates a very different saint!
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The Most Common Welsh Phrases You’ll Hear in a Café
One of the best places you can practise your Welsh and increase your confidence is at your local café, especially if customers are encouraged to order in Welsh.
In this article, we’ve included the most common Welsh phrases you will hear when ordering, paying and receiving your food at the table.
20 Basic Welsh Phrases You’ve Got to Know to Survive
Although almost everyone in Wales is fluent in English, the Welsh language has a steadfast place in the country’s culture and history. In fact, according to a recent survey, approximately 30% of the population of Wales can speak Welsh, thanks in part to the increase in Welsh-medium education. I can tell you first-hand that whenever …
Welsh Sympathy Quotes & Phrases for Cards
Writing a sympathy message to a family member or friend can be an enormous challenge. In fact, you may feel as if no words could possibly comfort them at their time of need. While it is true that you cannot take their pain away, it is often better to express your feelings and show your …
How to Say “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!” in the Welsh Language
Things are certainly starting to feel Christmassy here in Tywyn. The festive street lights have been lit, the high street shops are decorated to the nines with colourful lights and decorations, and our local Father Christmas has paid a visit to most of the villages in the area on his sleigh. Unusually for this time of year, the temperature has fallen below zero, giving the rolling hills of the Dysynni valley a frosty silver sheen in the early hours of the morning. It certainly is a magical time of year! 🙂
How to Say “Thank you very much!” in Welsh
One of the first survival phrases you will have to learn if you move to Wales is “Thank you very much!” This phrase translates as “Diolch yn fawr iawn!“ Dyma chi, pymtheg punt. – O, diolch yn fawr iawn. Here you are, fifteen pounds. – Oh, thank you very much. Let’s break it down into …
The Tradition of the Welsh Christmas Horse Skull: Mari Lwyd in Dinas Mawddwy
Mari Lwyd (or Y Fari Lwyd) is a uniquely Welsh pagan tradition that predates Christianity. Although typically associated with South Wales, it is celebrated annually on or close to January 13th in the small town of Dinas Mawddwy, located in the heart of Gwynedd in the north.
How to Say “Cheers!” in Welsh
If you’re out at the pub celebrating with your Welsh friends – or any group of friends for that matter– someone will likely offer to make a toast at some point during the conversation. In Welsh, the way to say Cheers! is Iechyd da! (It is sometimes anglicised to Yaki da! or Yaki dah! but …
How to Say “Have a good day!” in Welsh
‘Have a good day!’ (or ‘Have a nice day!‘) is one of the most common ways in English to conclude a conversation or end a message on a positive note besides the various forms of goodbye. So, naturally, when an English person starts learning Welsh, it is also one of the first expressions he or she …
How to Say “Goodnight” in the Welsh Language
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 …