The Welsh Word for Dog – Ci

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? 🙂