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derbyn
to receive
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In the meantime, though, let’s learn about the word derbyn! 😉
Historically, derbyn was said and written as erbyn, the same as the preposition erbyn meaning against. This itself comes from the proto-Brythonic *are-pennī, which is likely a combination of root words meaning on and head, equivalent to the modern Welsh words ar and pen.
Derbyn doesn’t just mean “to receive” – it can also mean “to accept” or “to admit.” The distinction between these meanings isn’t as pronounced in Welsh as it is in English; they often blend into a grey area. However, even in English, we sometimes talk about “receiving” someone into a faith, which is similar to “accepting” them into a faith. So, this overlap in Welsh isn’t as unusual as it might initially seem. Additionally, derbyn can also refer to receiving a signal, such as a radio signal.
In all of these cases there are synonyms. You could say cael to mean get, take or receive, croesawu to mean receive guests, or cymryd to mean take or accept. You’ll get a sense of which word feels most natural in each specific situations as you practice your conversation.
Since it begins with a d, this word is subject to both the soft and nasal mutations. Remember that the dd noise in Welsh isn’t as hard as it looks – it’s exactly the same as the th that’s used in English words like these and then.
Soft mutation
dderbyn
Nasal mutation
nerbyn
Aspirate mutation
N/A
Some examples of derbyn in use include situations where it follows personal pronouns, as these are among the most common triggers for mutations. For instance, dy dderbyn di (receiving/accepting you) and fy nerbyn i (receiving/accepting me) illustrate how the word adapts depending on the context.
Since this is such a useful word which covers a wide variety of situations, it stands to reason that there are a fair few words deriving from it. So, for example:
- derbyngar = receptive
- derbyniwr = recipient
- derbyniad = reception (as in a receiving / admission / acceptance)
- derbynfa = reception (as in reception area / reception desk)
- dosbarth derbyn = reception (as in the school year group)
- derbynneb = receipt
- derbyniol = acceptable
I think derbynfa is a particularly useful one if you live in a Welsh-speaking area or are planning a trip – if you’re visiting somewhere like an ysbyty (hospital) or ysgol (school), you can use the following handy phrase…
Esgusodwch fi, ble mae’r dderbynfa?
Excuse me, where’s the reception?
Notice that here, derbynfa has mutated to dderbynfa. This is because it’s a feminine noun, so it takes a soft mutation after the definite article y / yr / ‘r.
If you want to talk about derbyn rhywbeth (receiving something), you may also want to discuss who it’s from. There are a few ways of saying from in Welsh, namely oddi wrth, o, and gan. There are rules governing which is more appropriate in which situation; for example oddi wrth is mostly used in very formal situations (or to sign off on letters / cards), and o is most often used with reference to locations.
Which form of from is used preferentially with derbyn definitely varies regionally. Personally, I always say derbyn gan, so that’s my slightly biased recommendation!
It’s important to note that gan changes form when followed by a pronoun. For example, gan Georgia (from Georgia) and gan ei wraig (from his wife) remain unchanged, but from her is ganddi hi. Here, ganddi is the correct inflected form of gan to correspond with hi (her).
Derbyniais ffurflen ganddyn nhw.
I received a form from them.
In Welsh, there is a phrase derbyn wyneb, which literally translates to “receiving face.” Although it’s not as commonly used as it once was, it essentially refers to showing someone respect based on their societal status or appearance, rather than their true character. This phrase is used in the Welsh Bible to translate the following proverb:
Nid da derbyn wyneb yr annuwiol, i ddymchwelyd y cyfiawn mewn barn.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
I really appreciate this translation, as I feel the English version doesn’t necessarily highlight the idea that someone might be driven to show partiality to the wicked due to their status or power. It’s a perfect example of how speaking and reading in a new language can shift your perspective and teach you something new—even about topics or texts you thought you knew inside out. Now, if that’s not motivation, I don’t know what is!
