Silver is one of the seven metals of antiquity and has long been regarded as one of the most precious metals in human civilisation. Besides currency and bullions, silver is used for many other purposes including jewellery, silverware, electrical contacts and medical supplies.

The word for this precious metal in Welsh is arian.

To describe something that is silver in appearance, you can either place the preposition o in front of the word to create o arian (of silver) or use the adjective ariannaidd (silvery).

Roedd pob blewyn o’i wallt ariannaidd yn ei le.

Every strand of his silvery hair was in place.

The word for silver-coloured is arianlliw but it is also possible to say o liw arian.

Mae gyrrwr y car o liw arian wedi bod yn ymddwyn yn amheus.

The driver of the silver-colored car has been acting suspiciously.

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Arian is one of two Welsh words you will hear for money and is most commonly heard in the south. The other, pres, is used more often in the north.

As you can see from the words below, arian can also mean coin(s).

• arian melynion – gold coins (lit: yellow coins)
• arian gleision – silver coins (lit: blue coins)*
• arian cochion – copper coins (lit: red coins)

*Although the plural adjective gleision normally translates as blue or green, it can also mean grey or silver-coloured.

Below are some additional terms that contain the word arian:

• arian parod = cash, ready money
• arian mân = petty cash, small change
• arian byw = quicksilver
• arian papur = banknotes
• arian poced = pocket money
• peiriant arian parod = cashpoint