Learning a new language can be an exciting yet challenging journey. If you’ve chosen to learn Welsh, you’re in for a treat! Welsh, or Cymraeg, is a beautiful and historic language spoken in Wales and by Welsh communities around the world. One of the best ways to get started with any language is to learn common questions and responses. These form the foundation of everyday conversation and help you get comfortable with speaking and understanding the language. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common questions and responses in Welsh, along with their English translations and explanations.
Common Greetings and Initial Questions
When learning a new language, mastering the basics of greetings and introductory questions is essential. Let’s start with some common phrases you might use when first meeting someone.
**Hello / Hi:**
– Welsh: Helo / Sut mae?
– Pronunciation: heh-loh / seet my
**How are you?:**
– Welsh: Sut wyt ti? (Informal) / Sut ydych chi? (Formal)
– Pronunciation: seet oo-eet tee / seet uh-duhk kh-ee
**I’m fine, thank you. And you?:**
– Welsh: Dwi’n iawn, diolch. A ti? (Informal) / A chi? (Formal)
– Pronunciation: dween yah-oon dee-olkh. ah tee / ah kh-ee
**What’s your name?:**
– Welsh: Beth yw dy enw di? (Informal) / Beth yw eich enw chi? (Formal)
– Pronunciation: beth ee-oo duh en-oo dee / beth ee-oo aykh en-oo kh-ee
**My name is…:**
– Welsh: Fy enw i yw…
– Pronunciation: vuh en-oo ee ee-oo
**Nice to meet you:**
– Welsh: Braf cwrdd â chi
– Pronunciation: brahv koorth ah kh-ee
These phrases will help you break the ice and start a conversation with a Welsh speaker. Remember that using the correct formality is important in Welsh, as in many other languages.
Asking for Information
Once you’ve got the greetings down, you’ll want to start asking for information. Here are some common questions and their responses:
**Where are you from?:**
– Welsh: O ble wyt ti? (Informal) / O ble ydych chi? (Formal)
– Pronunciation: oh bleh oo-eet tee / oh bleh uh-duhk kh-ee
**I am from…:**
– Welsh: Dwi’n dod o…
– Pronunciation: dween dod oh
**What do you do?:**
– Welsh: Beth wyt ti’n ei wneud? (Informal) / Beth ydych chi’n ei wneud? (Formal)
– Pronunciation: beth oo-eet teen ay nide / beth uh-duhk kh-een ay nide
**I am a…:**
– Welsh: Dwi’n…
– Pronunciation: dween
For example:
– I am a teacher: Dwi’n athro (male) / Dwi’n athrawes (female)
– Pronunciation: dween ath-roh / dween ath-rah-wes
**Where do you live?:**
– Welsh: Ble wyt ti’n byw? (Informal) / Ble ydych chi’n byw? (Formal)
– Pronunciation: bleh oo-eet teen bee-oo / bleh uh-duhk kh-een bee-oo
**I live in…:**
– Welsh: Dwi’n byw yn…
– Pronunciation: dween bee-oo un
Everyday Questions and Responses
These phrases will help you navigate everyday situations, from shopping to dining out.
**How much does this cost?:**
– Welsh: Faint mae hwn yn costio?
– Pronunciation: vinet my hoon un cost-yoh
**It costs…:**
– Welsh: Mae’n costio…
– Pronunciation: mine cost-yoh
**What time is it?:**
– Welsh: Faint o’r gloch yw hi?
– Pronunciation: vinet or glohkh ee-oo hee
**It is… o’clock:**
– Welsh: Mae hi’n… o’r gloch
– Pronunciation: my heen … or glohkh
**Can you help me?:**
– Welsh: Allwch chi fy helpu?
– Pronunciation: all-ookh kh-ee vuh hel-pee
**Yes, of course:**
– Welsh: Ie, wrth gwrs
– Pronunciation: yeh, oor-th goorss
**No, sorry:**
– Welsh: Na, mae’n ddrwg gen i
– Pronunciation: nah, mine thr-ookh gen ee
Expressing Preferences
Being able to express your likes and dislikes is essential in any language. Here are some useful phrases:
**Do you like…?:**
– Welsh: Wyt ti’n hoffi…? (Informal) / Ydych chi’n hoffi…? (Formal)
– Pronunciation: oo-eet teen hoh-fee / uh-duhk kh-een hoh-fee
**Yes, I like it:**
– Welsh: Ydw, dwi’n hoffi
– Pronunciation: uh-doo, dween hoh-fee
**No, I don’t like it:**
– Welsh: Nac ydw, dwi ddim yn hoffi
– Pronunciation: nak uh-doo, dween thim un hoh-fee
For example:
– Do you like coffee?: Wyt ti’n hoffi coffi? (Informal) / Ydych chi’n hoffi coffi? (Formal)
– Pronunciation: oo-eet teen hoh-fee kof-fee / uh-duhk kh-een hoh-fee kof-fee
– Yes, I like coffee: Ydw, dwi’n hoffi coffi
– Pronunciation: uh-doo, dween hoh-fee kof-fee
– No, I don’t like coffee: Nac ydw, dwi ddim yn hoffi coffi
– Pronunciation: nak uh-doo, dween thim un hoh-fee kof-fee
**What is your favorite…?:**
– Welsh: Beth yw dy hoff…? (Informal) / Beth yw eich hoff…? (Formal)
– Pronunciation: beth ee-oo duh hoff / beth ee-oo aykh hoff
**My favorite… is…:**
– Welsh: Fy hoff… yw…
– Pronunciation: vuh hoff … ee-oo
Common Courtesy Phrases
Politeness is key in any culture. Here are some common courtesy phrases you should know:
**Please:**
– Welsh: Os gwelwch yn dda
– Pronunciation: os gwell-ookh un thah
**Thank you:**
– Welsh: Diolch
– Pronunciation: dee-olkh
**You’re welcome:**
– Welsh: Croeso
– Pronunciation: croy-soh
**Excuse me / Sorry:**
– Welsh: Esgusodwch fi / Mae’n ddrwg gen i
– Pronunciation: es-gee-sod-ookh vee / mine thr-ookh gen ee
**Goodbye:**
– Welsh: Hwyl fawr
– Pronunciation: hoyl vowr
Numbers and Counting
Understanding numbers is fundamental, especially when shopping or telling time. Here are the numbers from one to ten in Welsh:
– One: Un
– Pronunciation: een
– Two: Dau
– Pronunciation: die
– Three: Tri
– Pronunciation: tree
– Four: Pedwar
– Pronunciation: ped-wahr
– Five: Pump
– Pronunciation: pimp
– Six: Chwech
– Pronunciation: kh-wekh
– Seven: Saith
– Pronunciation: sigh-th
– Eight: Wyth
– Pronunciation: oo-eeth
– Nine: Naw
– Pronunciation: now
– Ten: Deg
– Pronunciation: deg
Days of the Week
Knowing the days of the week can be very helpful. Here they are in Welsh:
– Monday: Dydd Llun
– Pronunciation: deethe lheen
– Tuesday: Dydd Mawrth
– Pronunciation: deethe mowrth
– Wednesday: Dydd Mercher
– Pronunciation: deethe mehr-kher
– Thursday: Dydd Iau
– Pronunciation: deethe yow
– Friday: Dydd Gwener
– Pronunciation: deethe gwen-er
– Saturday: Dydd Sadwrn
– Pronunciation: deethe sah-doorn
– Sunday: Dydd Sul
– Pronunciation: deethe seel
Weather and Seasons
Talking about the weather is a universal conversation starter. Here are some useful phrases:
**What is the weather like?:**
– Welsh: Sut mae’r tywydd?
– Pronunciation: seet my-er tuh-with
**It’s sunny:**
– Welsh: Mae hi’n heulog
– Pronunciation: my heen hay-log
**It’s raining:**
– Welsh: Mae hi’n bwrw glaw
– Pronunciation: my heen boor-oo glow
**It’s cold:**
– Welsh: Mae hi’n oer
– Pronunciation: my heen ohr
**It’s hot:**
– Welsh: Mae hi’n boeth
– Pronunciation: my heen boy-th
**Winter:**
– Welsh: Gaeaf
– Pronunciation: guy-ahv
**Spring:**
– Welsh: Gwanwyn
– Pronunciation: gwan-wyn
**Summer:**
– Welsh: Haf
– Pronunciation: hahv
**Autumn:**
– Welsh: Hydref
– Pronunciation: hud-rev
Emergencies and Important Questions
Finally, some phrases that could be crucial in emergencies:
**Help!:**
– Welsh: Help!
– Pronunciation: help
**Call the police!:**
– Welsh: Galwch yr heddlu!
– Pronunciation: gal-ookh ur heth-lee
**I need a doctor:**
– Welsh: Mae arna i angen doctor
– Pronunciation: my ar-nah ee ahn-gen dok-tor
**Where is the hospital?:**
– Welsh: Ble mae’r ysbyty?
– Pronunciation: bleh my-er us-but-ee
**I’m lost:**
– Welsh: Rydw i ar goll
– Pronunciation: rid-oo ee ar gohl
**Can you speak English?:**
– Welsh: Allwch chi siarad Saesneg?
– Pronunciation: all-ookh kh-ee shar-ad size-neg
Practice Makes Perfect
The key to mastering any language is practice. Try to use these phrases in your daily conversations as much as possible. Practice with a language partner or use language learning apps to reinforce what you’ve learned.
Remember, making mistakes is a part of the learning process. Don’t be afraid to use your Welsh, even if you’re not perfect. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become.
Welsh is a beautiful language with a rich history. By learning these common questions and responses, you’re taking an important step towards fluency. Pob lwc! (Good luck!)
In conclusion, familiarizing yourself with these common questions and responses in Welsh will give you a solid foundation for conversing in the language. Whether you’re visiting Wales, connecting with Welsh-speaking friends, or just exploring a new linguistic landscape, these phrases will serve you well. Happy learning!
