The Welsh flag famously features a red dragon (draig goch), but you could argue that the green field it’s standing on is just as important. There are plenty of words for grass in Wales, which makes sense, because the country is well-known for being full of glaswelltiroedd (grassy pastures)and bryniau gwyrddlas gwelltog (grassy green hills). …
One of my favourite facts to tell people about Welsh is that there isn’t really a word for mind. The word meddwl (to think) might be used sometimes, and there is a word for brain (ymenydd). However, the word that is closest in usage to the English mind is probably cof (pl: cofion), which would …
Few books are as useful as a dictionary, whether you are learning a brand new language or trying to improve your knowledge of your mother tongue. In Welsh, this useful tool is known as a geiriadur. geiriadur dictionary Geiriadur is the combination of the plural form of gair, meaning word in Welsh, and the suffix …
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 …
Today’s word of the day is cariad which is the Welsh word for love. If you’ve ever been to a souvenir shop in Wales, you’ve probably seen this word plastered on mugs, teddies and all sorts of little trinkets, but did you know cariad actually has a few different meanings and uses? Maybe there’s a …
In North Wales, the word for a cup, as in the kind of cup used for the nation’s favourite hot drink, is cwpan. Its plural form is cwpanau. You may also encounter the variation cwpa without the word-final n in South Wales. cwpan cup The word was borrowed from the Old English cuppan, which was …
Whenever I used to visit the hairdresser as a teenager, I was inevitably greeted with the comment Mae gen ti wallt mor drwchus! (You have such thick hair!) as soon as the stylist touched my hair. Recently, however, I’m receiving more comments about the encroaching grey strands than anything else! gwallt hair Soft mutationwallt Nasal …
There was once a time when we all relied on pencils for jotting down notes and lists. However, with the rise of smartphones and computers, pencils have shifted from being essential writing tools to more of a go-to for sketching and drawing. In Welsh, the word for this stalwart tool is pensel. pensel pencil Note: …
Every country has its own unique customs, and Wales is no exception. For instance, it used to be customary to gift a llwy garu (lovespoon) to your beloved as a symbol of affection. In modern Wales, a more common tradition is enjoying a paned (cup) of tea in the afternoon, often accompanied by a slice …