Helpful Guide On How To Pronounce Welsh Words?

Welsh is included among the oldest languages in Europe.It was spoken by the indigenous people before the 1500s, and it was outlawed when English was made the official language. However, this language regained prominence after the 20th century and is currently spoken by over 20% of the population. Fact about Wales, it is now a multilingual nation where people speak both Welsh and English. Welsh is used to name many of Wales’ regions.

It is not as hard as it would seem for those who wish to learn how to speak and pronounce Welsh words. The sounds and pronunciation of the Cymraeg language are what make it famous. The language appears challenging at first, but it becomes engaging to speak once you get the hang of it.

Understanding The Welsh Words

29 letters are included in the Welsh alphabet. These alphabets include:
a, b, c, ch, d, dd, e, f, ff, g, ng, h, i, j, l, ll, m, n, o, p, ph, r, rh, s, t, th, u, w, y.
Among these, some words are unique to Welsh, like dd, ll, and ff. Besides this, some words pronounce specific sounds.
Some key letters of the Welsh language include:

a is pronounced as ah. For example, Father.
e is pronounced as e in pen.
i is pronounced as ee. For example, see.
o is pronounced as o in pot.
u is pronounced as ee in see.
The letter w is pronounced as oo. For example, the moon.
The letter y has two sounds like uh on the sofa.

Some Key Consonants On How To Pronounce Welsh Words

Find out some of the consonants that can help pronounce Welsh words.
The word dd is pronounced like the English word “th.” The word ff is pronounced f in fish, while the single f is pronounced v. ll, which is a distinctive sound that doesn’t exist in English.
Ch is a sound like Bach, just like German ich. At the same time, the sound rh is a breathy r.

Stressed Syllable In Welsh Language

Its examples include:

Aberystwyth: A-ber-YST-wyth.
Llandudno: Llan-DUD-no.

This guide might help you in pronouncing the longest Welsh words or phrases.

Some Famous Welsh Words & Their Pronunciation

Let’s look at a list of some famous and known words of Welsh that a tourist should be familiar with.

Croeso (kroy-so) – Welcome
Bore da (bor-eh dah) – Good morning
Nos da (noss dah) – Good night
Diolch (dee-olch) – Thank you
Sut ydych chi? (Sit uh-deekh khee?) – How are you?
Diolch (dee-olch) – Thank you
Hwyl (hoyl) – Bye / Fun
Da iawn (dah yah-wn) – Very good
Cymru (kum-ree) – Wales
Cymraeg (kum-rye-g) – Welsh (language)
Hiraeth (heer-eye-th) – Longing, homesickness
Draig (dray-g) – Dragon
Cariad (ka-ree-ad) – Love
Araf (ah-raf) – Slow
Teg (tehg) – Fair
Gwaith (gwhy-th) – Work
Dŵr (door) – Water
Tŷ (tee) – House
Bwyd (bwoo-id) – Food
Pobl (pob-l) – People
Enw (en-oo) – Name
Bach (bah-ch) – Small
Cwtch (kutch) – Cuddle
Prynhawn da (prin-hown dah) – Good afternoon
Noswaith dda (noss-why-th dah) – Good evening
Eisteddfod (ay-steth-vod) – Welsh cultural festival
Bachgen (bahch-gen) – Boy
Merch (mehrch) – Girl
Gwlad (goo-lad) – Country
Dydd (deeth) – Day
Blwyddyn (bloo-ee-thin) – Year
Merched (mehr-chedd) – Girls
Say hello in Welsh. Its pronunciation is Helo (heh-lo). It is a welsh language hello that should be pronounced to meet the native people.

Places Names: How To Pronounce Welsh Words?

Do you know there are no silent letters in welsh. All the letters are pronounced in this language. Besides this, it is a phonetic language, therore the letters you see must be pronounced as it is.
Here’s a list of common Welsh place names with their pronunciation and English translation:

Caerdydd (kire-deeth) – Cardiff
Aberystwyth (a-ber-uhst-with) – A coastal town in West Wales
Llandudno (hlan-did-no) – A seaside resort town in North Wales
Bangor (ban-gor) – A city in North Wales
Swansea (swon-zee) – A city in South Wales
Carmarthen (kar-mar-then) – A town in West Wales
Conwy (kon-wee) – A historic town with a castle in North Wales
Wrexham (rek-sam) – A town in North Wales
Llanelli (hlan-ehth-lee) – A town in South Wales
Holyhead (hol-ee-head) – A port town on the Isle of Anglesey
Rhyl (rhil) – A seaside town in North Wales
Newport (new-port) – A city in South Wales

These names of the places show the rich history of Wales and its ancient architectural beauty. Take your time and learn how to pronounce welsh words. It will help you communicate with the native people of that place.

FAQ'S

How Welsh Words Should Be Pronounced?

The second-to-last syllable is stressed when pronouncing Welsh words. This blog contains a few common words that can be used to converse with Native Americans.

How To Pronounce Y In Welsh?

In Welsh Y has two different sounds. For unstressed syllables it is pronounced as uh like cymru and in stressed syllables it is pronounced as i” in pit or sit.

What Is Hello In Welsh?

In Welsh hello is called Helo and pronounced as (heh-lo).

Ella Harrison

Hi, I am a traveling enthusiast. I have explored more than 18 countries. I have been curious about exploring the world since I was a kid. My search for hidden gems helped me immerse myself in the new cultures. Now, my current motive is to share stories about places that can inspire people to experience an adventurous journey. Throughout my exploration, the thing I enjoyed most was hiking in the UK’s places like Chepstow, Wales. I have experienced the vibrant cities and local flavors of different places. Join me and experience unforgettable adventures.

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