• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

We Learn Welsh

  • Home
  • Words
  • Grammar
  • Reviews
  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • About Me
  • Contact Me

The Welsh Word for Dog – Ci

June 15, 2019 By Heather Go to Comments

The Welsh word for dog is ci, or cŵn in the plural form. Because it is a masculine noun, it never mutates after the definite pronoun ‘y’. (e.g. Y ci du – The black dog)

And if you think you may have already seen “ci” elsewhere, you’d be right. The “gi” in Welsh Corgi is actually “ci” in its soft mutated form!

Here are some other fun Welsh words that contain the word for dog:

  • cachgi or cilgi– a coward
  • ci glas – a friend turned traitor
  • aergi – battle-hound
  • catgi – warrior or bloodhound
  • bolgi – glutton
  • celwyddgi – a lying dog
  • chwiwgi – a sneak, rogue, or cheat
  • ieithgi – one who is very interested in the study of language
  • ysgrythurgi – scripturist

And here are a few expressions and idioms:

  • Cyn codi cŵn Caer – An expression that means “early in the morning,” or literally “before the dogs of Chester get up.”
  • Byw fel cŵn a moch – To lead a cat and dog life, or literally “to live like dogs and pigs.”
  • Mynd i’r cŵn – to go to the dogs
  • Mynd rhwng y cŵn a’r brain – to go to rack and ruin, or literally “to be divided between the dogs and the ravens.”

Are you able to come up with any more words or expressions with ‘ci’ in them? 🙂

Filed Under: Words

Previous Post: « What to Do in Tywyn: 10 Things We Recommend!
Next Post: The Welsh Word for Love – Caru, Cariad and more »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • 10 Wonderfully Weird Welsh Words & Expressions
  • How to Say “Good Morning!” in Welsh – Bore da!
  • How to Say “Police” in Welsh – Heddlu
  • How to Say “Please” in Welsh – Os gwelwch yn dda
  • How to Say “Good luck!” in Welsh – Pob lwc!

Who am I? Pwy ydw i?

S'mae! My name is Heather and I've been learning Welsh in Mid Wales for approximately four years. I'm delighted you've decided to follow me on my language learning journey! Read More…

Join our friendly Facebook group for those learning the Welsh language! We share a new word of the day every day to help you improve your vocabulary. Wela i chi yno! 🙂

Join the Ymarfer Club in Tywyn! / Ymunwch â’r Clwb Ymarfer yn Nhywyn!

Copyright © 2019-2021 We Learn Welsh Heather Broster / Mathieu Gasquet

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT