Geirfa Gymraeg/WELSH VOCABULARY

Here are just a few Welsh words with a very basic pronunciation guide. The important thing is to have fun and try something new!

F is pronounced v, Ch like the German ach, all Rs are rolled, Rh sounds like hurr, Dd like the th in teethe, Ngh like ng-ha. LL is the most difficult consonant: put your tongue behind your top teeth and hiss like a snake. All c and g sounds are hard—there is no ‘j’ sound. Y is uh (or ee if at the end of a word), w is oo, u and i are ee.

Annwyl Duw [Awn-OO-weel DEEoo] — (expression) Dear God

bach [like Johann Sebastian...] — little; [male]a diminutive term of affection

Bore da [BORE-eh Dah] — Good Morning

Brawd [browd] — Brother

cachu [CACHee] — (vulgarity) shit

calon [CAL-on] — heart/love

cariad [CARE-ee-ad] — love/ darling

Chwaer [CHW-eyer] — Sister

Cymraeg [Come-RYEG] — Welsh, "The Language of Heaven;" also seen as Gymraeg

Cymru [COME-ree] — Wales – the nation

fy nghalon [vuhng HAL-on] — my heart/my love (possessive, mutation of calon)

fy nghariad [vuhng HAR-ee-add] — my love/my darling (possessive, mutation of cariad)

myn brain i [minn BRINE ee] — an expression like Holy Cow (Literally means "stone the crows," but no one ever actually uses it to mean that. Kind of like "Well bust my buttons.")

siwr iawn [shure yown] — certainly, for sure

sut rydych chi [sit ruh-DUCH chi] — How are you? (formal, as a sign of respect)

sut wyt ti [Sit wit tee] — How are you? (familiar)

syniad da [SIN-ee-add dah] — Good idea



**Much more is in the glossary included in Celtic Fire, Desert Rain...**