Essential Welsh Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Welsh words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

N = Northern Welsh
S = Southern Welsh

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Shwmae (S)
S'mae (N)

Hello.
Hwyl fawr.
Goodbye.
Dych chi'n siarad Saesneg? (S)
Dach chi'n siarad Saesneg? (N)
Do you speak English?
Dw i ddim yn deall.
I don't understand.
Tipyn bach.
A little.
Ie. Na.
Yes. No.
Faint ydy?

How much is it?
Rhy ddrud. Iawn.
Too expensive. OK.
Os gwelwch yn dda.
Please.
Diolch (yn fawr).
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Beth yw eich enw chi? What is your name? Fy enw i yw ... My name is ... Sut ydych chi? (S) Sut dach chi? (N) How are you? Da iawn. A chi? Fine. And you? Ble mae ...? Where is ...? Ble mae'r tŷ bach? Dynion/Merched Where is the toilet? Men/Women Mae'n ddrwg gen i. Esgusodwch fi. Sorry. Excuse me. Dim problem. No problem. Dw i eisiau ... I want ... Dw i ddim eisiau ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

O ble ydych chi'n dod? (S)
O le dach chi'n dod? (N)
Where are you from?
Dw i'n dod o Awstralia.
I am from Australia.
Y bil, os gwelwch yn dda.
The bill, please.
Dw i ar goll.
I'm lost.
Peidiwch! Arhoswch!
Stop! Wait!
Yma, yna, acw.
Here, there, over there.
Taksi. Gwesty. Maes awyr. Gorsaf.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Dw i'n hoffi ...
I like ...
Dw i ddim yn hoffi ...
I don't like ...

un, dau**, tri**, pedwar**, pump.
one, two, three, four, five.
chwech, saith, wyth, naw, deg.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

** Use dau before a masculine noun.
Use dyw before a feminine noun.
Use tri before a masculine noun.
Use tair before a feminine noun.
Use pedwar before a masculine noun.
Use pedair before a feminine noun.

*Or choose your country:
o America - from America
o Ganada - from Canada
o Loegr - from England
o Iwerddon - from Ireland
o Seland Newydd - from New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

Iechyd da!
Cheers!

da / drwg
good / bad
mawr / bach
big / small
agos / pell
near / far
llai / mwy
less / more
un arall / digon
another / enough

Llysieuwr ydw i. (man)
Llysieuwraig ydw i. (woman)
I am vegetarian.
Dw i ddim yn bwyta cig.
I don't eat meat.
... cyw iâr.
... chicken.
... pysgod.
... fish.

Mae arna i alergedd i gnau.
I am allergic to nuts.
... gnau daear.
... bysgnau.
... peanuts.
... bysgod.
... fish.
... fwyd môr.
... seafood.
... wyau.
... eggs.

Pronunciation Guide

Vowels:
A circumflex over the vowel (ˆ) makes the vowel longer.
ae is pronounced as ai as in aisle
au is pronounced as ai in the South or as aɨ in the North
-au at the end of words (plural marker) is shortened to e in the South or a in the North
ei is pronounced as Welsh y plus i (əi)
u is pronounced as i in the South or as ɨ (a high schwa ə or New Zealand i) in the North
w is pronunced as oo as in hook (ʊ)
ŵ is pronounced as oo as in pool (IPA u)
wy is pronounced as ʊi in the South or ʊɨ in the North
y is pronounced as e as in brother (ə)
y at the end of words is pronounced as i in the South or as ɨ (a high schwa ə or New Zealand i) in the North

Consonants:
ch is pronounced as a voiceless uvular fricative, a voiceless French r (χ)
chw is pronounced as hw in the South (ʍ) or as χw in the North
dd is pronounced as th as in this (ð)
f is pronounced as v
ff is pronounced as f
ll is pronounced as a voiceless l that is a fricative, ie. air still escapes (ɬ)
mh, nh, ngh and rh are voiceless m, n, ng and r, ie. they are breathy
si is pronounced as sh as in shop (ʃ)

Please note:
The words y, dy, fy are pronounced as ə, də and və.
The words ei and eu are pronunced as i.
The word eisiau is pronounced iʃe in the South and iʃo in the North.