The Welsh word for ‘milk’ in Welsh is ‘llefrith’ or ‘llaeth’. Generally speaking, ‘llefrith’ is used more in North Wales whereas ‘llaeth’ is used more in South Wales. However, saying that, there are also some regional variations, depending where you are in the country.
llefrith
llaeth
For example, in Bala, north Wales, people generally use ‘llaeth’, but in Trawsfynydd, a village approximately 30 minutes down the road, people use ‘llefrith’.
Another example would be parts of north East Wales, to the east of the Conwy river, where some people would use ‘llaeth’ and others would use ‘llefrith’.
This is quite the controversy among Welsh speakers, as this particular word can spark up debates due to its differences. More recently, people have even gone so far to ask for people’s opinions on social media platforms through polls etc, but don’t worry too much as there’s no incorrect way of saying ‘milk’, as long as you choose either ‘llefrith’ or ‘llaeth’ of course!
For south Wales, the pronunciation of the word would be ‘llâth’.
As both are a masculine noun, there’s no need to mutate:
- Llaeth enwyn – Buttermilk
- Llefrith / llaeth cyddwys – Condensed milk
- Llefrith / llaeth pasteureiddiedig – Pasteurized milk
- Dyn llefrith / llaeth – Milkman
- Llefrith / llaeth sgim – Skimmed milk
- Llefrith / llaeth cyflawn – Whole milk
- Llaeth mwnci – Alcoholic drink
- Llefrith / llaeth o’r fuwch – Cow’s milk
Here are a few example sentences!
Dw i ar fin bicio allan i’r siop i nôl llefrith. Wyt ti isio rhywbeth?
I’m about to pop out to the shop to get some milk. Do you want something?
Dw i wrth fy modd yn yfed llaeth yn syth o’r fuwch.
I love to drink raw milk.
Mae Jac wedi anghofio prynu llefrith o’r siop.
Jac has forgotten to buy milk from the shop.
Wyt ti am adael rhywfaint o laeth i Siôn Corn?
Are you going to leave some milk for Father Christmas?
So, which one do you prefer? ‘Llefrith’ or ‘Llaeth’? Either or, they both taste the same!
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