Welsh, or “Cymraeg” in the native tongue, is a beautiful and ancient language spoken primarily in Wales, a country that is part of the United Kingdom. As with any language, one of the fundamental building blocks of Welsh is its pronoun system. Pronouns are essential because they allow speakers to refer to people, objects, and ideas without constantly repeating names or nouns. This guide aims to provide beginners with a comprehensive overview of Welsh pronouns, helping you to navigate this aspect of the language with confidence.
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns in Welsh are used to refer to people and are similar to their English counterparts. They change form based on the grammatical person (first, second, or third), number (singular or plural), and sometimes gender. Below is a table summarizing the Welsh personal pronouns:
Singular:
– I: fi / i
– You (informal): ti
– He: e / fe / o / fo
– She: hi
Plural:
– We: ni
– You (formal or plural): chi
– They: nhw
In Welsh, the pronouns can sometimes change depending on regional dialects. For example, “fe” and “fo” are both used for “he,” with “fe” being more common in the south and “fo” in the north.
Subject Pronouns
Subject pronouns are used when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence (i.e., the person or thing performing the action). In Welsh, subject pronouns are usually placed before the verb.
Examples:
– I am: Dw i (fi) (Dw i’n hapus – I am happy)
– You are: Wyt ti (Wyt ti’n hapus – You are happy)
– He is: Mae e/fe (Mae e’n hapus – He is happy)
– She is: Mae hi (Mae hi’n hapus – She is happy)
– We are: Dyn ni (Dyn ni’n hapus – We are happy)
– You (plural) are: Dych chi (Dych chi’n hapus – You are happy)
– They are: Maen nhw (Maen nhw’n hapus – They are happy)
Object Pronouns
Object pronouns are used when the pronoun is the object of the sentence (i.e., the person or thing receiving the action). In Welsh, object pronouns usually follow the verb.
Examples:
– Me: fi (Gwelais i fi – He saw me)
– You: ti (Gwelais ti – He saw you)
– Him: e/fe/o/fo (Gwelais e/fe – He saw him)
– Her: hi (Gwelais hi – He saw her)
– Us: ni (Gwelais ni – He saw us)
– You (plural): chi (Gwelais chi – He saw you all)
– Them: nhw (Gwelais nhw – He saw them)
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession. In Welsh, possessive pronouns can either be used independently or attached to the noun they modify.
Independent Possessive Pronouns:
– Mine: fy un i
– Yours (singular): dy un di
– His: ei un e/fe
– Hers: ei hun hi
– Ours: ein un ni
– Yours (plural): eich un chi
– Theirs: eu hun nhw
Examples:
– The book is mine: Y llyfr yw fy un i
– The book is yours: Y llyfr yw dy un di
– The book is his: Y llyfr yw ei un e/fe
– The book is hers: Y llyfr yw ei hun hi
– The book is ours: Y llyfr yw ein un ni
– The book is yours (plural): Y llyfr yw eich un chi
– The book is theirs: Y llyfr yw eu hun nhw
Attached Possessive Pronouns:
In Welsh, possessive pronouns can be attached to the noun they modify, often causing a mutation in the following noun.
Examples:
– My book: fy llyfr i
– Your book: dy lyfr di
– His book: ei lyfr e/fe
– Her book: ei llyfr hi
– Our book: ein llyfr ni
– Your (plural) book: eich llyfr chi
– Their book: eu llyfr nhw
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of the sentence are the same. In Welsh, reflexive pronouns can be formed by combining the possessive pronoun with “hun” (self).
Examples:
– Myself: fy hun
– Yourself: dy hun
– Himself: ei hun
– Herself: ei hun
– Ourselves: ein hunain
– Yourselves: eich hunain
– Themselves: eu hunain
Examples in sentences:
– I see myself: Dw i’n gweld fy hun
– You see yourself: Rwyt ti’n gweld dy hun
– He sees himself: Mae e’n gweld ei hun
– She sees herself: Mae hi’n gweld ei hun
– We see ourselves: Rydyn ni’n gweld ein hunain
– You (plural) see yourselves: Rydych chi’n gweld eich hunain
– They see themselves: Maen nhw’n gweld eu hunain
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns in Welsh are used to point to specific things. They are akin to the English “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.”
Examples:
– This (singular): hwn (masculine), hon (feminine)
– That (singular): hwnna (masculine), honna (feminine)
– These (plural): rhain
– Those (plural): rheina
Examples in sentences:
– This is a book: Llyfr yw hwn
– That is a book: Llyfr yw hwnna
– These are books: Llyfrau yw’r rhain
– Those are books: Llyfrau yw’r rheina
Interrogative Pronouns
Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. In Welsh, these include:
– Who: pwy
– What: beth
– Which: pa
– Whom: pwy
– Whose: pwy
Examples in questions:
– Who are you?: Pwy wyt ti?
– What is this?: Beth yw hwn?
– Which one do you want?: Pa un wyt ti eisiau?
– Whom did you see?: Pwy wyt ti wedi gweld?
– Whose book is this?: Pwy yw’r llyfr hwn?
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific people or things. In Welsh, some common indefinite pronouns include:
– Someone: rhywun
– Anyone: unrhyw un
– Everyone: pawb
– No one: neb
– Something: rhywbeth
– Anything: unrhyw beth
– Everything: popeth
– Nothing: dim byd
Examples in sentences:
– Someone is here: Mae rhywun yma
– Anyone can come: Gall unrhyw un ddod
– Everyone is happy: Mae pawb yn hapus
– No one is here: Does neb yma
– Something is wrong: Mae rhywbeth o’i le
– Anything is possible: Mae unrhyw beth yn bosibl
– Everything is fine: Mae popeth yn iawn
– Nothing matters: Does dim byd yn bwysig
Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses, providing additional information about a noun mentioned earlier in the sentence. In Welsh, the relative pronouns are:
– Who/whom: pwy
– Which: pa
– That: bod
Examples in sentences:
– The person who is talking: Y person sy’n siarad
– The book which I read: Y llyfr a ddarllenais i
– The house that he built: Y tŷ a adeiladodd e
Conclusion
Welsh pronouns, like those in any language, are an essential part of communication. They allow speakers to refer to people, objects, and ideas without repetition, making conversations smoother and more efficient. This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of the different types of pronouns in Welsh, including personal, possessive, reflexive, demonstrative, interrogative, indefinite, and relative pronouns.
As with any aspect of language learning, practice is key. Try incorporating these pronouns into your daily Welsh practice, using them in sentences and conversations to become more comfortable with their forms and uses. With time and effort, you will find that Welsh pronouns become a natural part of your language toolkit, enhancing your ability to communicate effectively in this beautiful language.
