Learning a new language opens up a world of cultural richness and personal growth. For those interested in the Welsh language, understanding how to express age and stages of life can be particularly useful. Whether you’re planning to visit Wales, have Welsh heritage, or simply have a passion for languages, this guide will help you become more fluent in discussing age and life stages in Welsh.
Basic Vocabulary for Age
When it comes to expressing age in Welsh, there are a few fundamental words and phrases that you will find indispensable. Let’s start with the basics:
– **Oedran**: Age
– **Blwyddyn** (plural: **blynyddoedd**): Year
To say how old someone is, you use the verb “to be” (bod) in Welsh, combined with the word for years (blynyddoedd). For instance:
– I am 25 years old: **Dw i’n bump ar hugain oed**.
– She is 30 years old: **Mae hi’n tri deg oed**.
– He is 45 years old: **Mae e’n pedwar deg pump oed**.
Notice that the Welsh language uses a vigesimal counting system (based on 20), which is reflected in how you express numbers. For example:
– **Pump ar hugain**: 25 (literally “five on twenty”)
– **Tri deg**: 30 (literally “three ten”)
– **Pedwar deg pump**: 45 (literally “four ten five”)
Common Questions About Age
When asking about someone’s age, you would typically use the following phrases:
– How old are you?: **Faint oed wyt ti?**
– How old is he/she?: **Faint oed mae e/hi?**
The responses would follow the structure mentioned earlier, indicating the number of years:
– I’m 20 years old: **Dw i’n ugain oed**.
– He’s 18 years old: **Mae e’n ddeunaw oed**.
Stages of Life
Understanding the stages of life and how to express them in Welsh can be particularly enriching. Below is a breakdown of key terms and phrases associated with different life stages:
Infancy and Childhood
– **Babi**: Baby
– **Plentyn** (plural: **plant**): Child
– **Bachgen** (plural: **bechgyn**): Boy
– **Merch** (plural: **merched**): Girl
– **Gofal plant**: Childcare
– **Meithrinfa**: Nursery
Some sentences to use these words in context:
– The baby is sleeping: **Mae’r babi’n cysgu**.
– The children are playing: **Mae’r plant yn chwarae**.
– She is a girl: **Merch yw hi**.
Adolescence and Teenage Years
– **Glaslanc**: Adolescent (male)
– **Glaslances**: Adolescent (female)
– **Arddegau**: Teenage years
– **Pobl ifanc**: Young people
Examples of usage in sentences:
– He is a teenager: **Mae e’n glaslanc**.
– Young people often go to the cinema: **Mae pobl ifanc yn aml yn mynd i’r sinema**.
Adulthood
– **Oedolyn** (plural: **oedolion**): Adult
– **Dyn**: Man
– **Menyw**: Woman
– **Gŵr**: Husband
– **Gwraig**: Wife
In context:
– Adults are responsible for their actions: **Mae oedolion yn gyfrifol am eu gweithredoedd**.
– He is a man: **Dyn yw e**.
– She is a woman: **Menyw yw hi**.
Middle Age and Beyond
– **Canol oed**: Middle-aged
– **Pensiynwr**: Pensioner (male)
– **Pensiynwraig**: Pensioner (female)
– **Henoed**: Elderly people
– **Henaint**: Old age
Example sentences:
– He is middle-aged: **Mae e’n ganol oed**.
– Pensioners enjoy various activities: **Mae pensiynwyr yn mwynhau gweithgareddau amrywiol**.
– The elderly need support: **Mae’r henoed angen cefnogaeth**.
Expressions and Idiomatic Phrases
Just like in any other language, Welsh has its own set of idiomatic expressions and phrases related to age and stages of life. Here are a few to enrich your vocabulary:
– **Yn ifanc ac yn ffôl**: Young and foolish
– **Hen ond doeth**: Old but wise
– **Oedran yw dim ond rhif**: Age is just a number
– **Cyrraedd oed**: To come of age
Using these in sentences:
– Young and foolish, he made many mistakes: **Yn ifanc ac yn ffôl, gwnaeth lawer o gamgymeriadau**.
– She is old but wise: **Hen ond doeth yw hi**.
– Age is just a number: **Oedran yw dim ond rhif**.
Practical Application
To truly master the vocabulary related to age and stages of life in Welsh, you need to practice using it in real-life contexts. Here are some practical scenarios where you can apply what you’ve learned:
Introducing Yourself
When meeting new people, you might want to introduce yourself and mention your age or ask about theirs:
– Hi, my name is John, and I am 35 years old: **Helo, John ydw i, a dw i’n bump ar ddeg ar hugain oed**.
– How old are you?: **Faint oed wyt ti?**
Discussing Family
Family gatherings often involve discussing the ages and life stages of various family members:
– My daughter is 10 years old: **Mae fy merch yn ddeg oed**.
– My parents are pensioners: **Mae fy rhieni yn bensiynwyr**.
Talking About Milestones
Milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries, and coming of age ceremonies are important in many cultures, including Welsh:
– He will come of age next year: **Bydd e’n cyrraedd oed y flwyddyn nesaf**.
– We celebrated my grandmother’s 80th birthday: **Fe wnaethon ni ddathlu pen-blwydd fy mam-gu yn wyth deg oed**.
Conclusion
Mastering the Welsh vocabulary for expressing age and stages of life will not only enhance your language skills but also give you deeper insights into Welsh culture and society. From infancy to old age, these terms will help you communicate effectively about life’s different phases. Remember, the key to language learning is consistent practice and immersion, so try to use these words and phrases in your daily conversations as much as possible.
Happy learning—**dysgu hapus**!
