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Rhys Dylan Series
Welsh Glossary
Welsh words and phrases that appear in the DCI Evan Warlow series and the DI Anna Gwynne trilogy. Wales is a bilingual country — these terms are part of everyday life there.
Welsh | Pronunciation | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Aber | AB-er | River mouth / estuary | Common in place names, e.g. Aberystwyth |
Aberystwyth | Ab-er-IST-with | Place name — town in Ceredigion (mouth of the Ystwyth) | |
Achos | AKH-oss | Because / reason / cause | |
Afon | AV-on | River | |
Amheus | Am-HAY-iss | Suspicious / doubtful | |
Ardderchog | Ar-DERKH-og | Excellent / splendid | |
Arglwydd | AR-gloo-ith | Lord | |
Arglwydd Mawr | AR-gloo-ith Mowr | Great Lord / Good Lord (exclamation) | |
Arolygydd | Ar-ol-UG-ith | Inspector | |
Bach | Bahkh | Small / little / dear (term of endearment) | |
Bachgen | BAKH-gen | Boy | |
Bara | BAR-a | Bread | |
Bara Brith | BAR-a Breeth | Speckled bread — traditional Welsh fruit loaf | |
Beth am 'ny | Beth am Nee | What about that / well then | |
Beth uffern | Beth IF-ern | What the hell | |
Bore da | BOR-e Dah | Good morning | |
Brawd | Browd | Brother | |
Brys | Breess | Urgency / emergency | |
Bwyd | Boo-id | Food | |
Cachgu | KAKH-gee | Coward / snitch (lit. shit dog — strong term) | |
Caer | Kire | Fort / fortified town (place name element) | Common in place names, e.g. Caernarfon |
Cariad | KAR-ee-ad | Love / darling | Term of Endearment |
Caws | Kowss | Cheese | |
Cefn Sidan | KEV-n SEE-dan | Silk Back — beach near Kidwelly | |
Cefn gwlad | KEV-n Goo-lahd | Countryside / rural heartland | |
Celwydd | KEL-with | Lie / falsehood | |
Chwaer | KHware | Sister | |
Cinio | KIN-ee-oh | Dinner / lunch | |
Coch | Kohkh | Red | |
Coedwig | KOYD-wig | Forest / woodland | |
Coffi | KOF-ee | Coffee | |
Corff | Korfth | Body / corpse | |
Croeso | KROY-so | Welcome | |
Cuddfan | KITH-van | Hiding place | |
Cwnstabl | KOON-stabl | Constable | |
Cwrt Y Waun | Koort Uh Hine | Court of the Moor (place name) | |
Cwrw | KOO-roo | Beer / ale | |
Cyfiawnder | Kuv-YOWN-der | Justice | |
Cyfrinach | Kuv-RIN-akh | Secret | |
Cymorth | KUM-orth | Help / assistance | |
Cymraeg | Kum-RIGE | Welsh language | |
Cymraes | Kum-RICE | Welsh woman | |
Cymro | KUM-ro | Welshman | |
Cymru | KUM-ree | Wales | |
Da iawn | Dah Yown | Very good / well done | |
Diawl | Dee-OWL | Devil / damn (mild oath) | |
Diawl bach | Dee-OWL Bahkh | Little devil (affectionate oath) | |
Diawled Bach | Dee-OW-led Bahkh | Little devils | |
Dim diolch | Dim DEE-olkh | No thank you | |
Dim problem | Dim PROB-lem | No problem | |
Dinefwr | Din-EV-oor | Historic Welsh kingdom / castle near Llandeilo | |
Diniwed | Din-EE-wed | Innocent | |
Diolch | DEE-olkh | Thank you | |
Diolch yn fawr | DEE-olkh un Vowr | Thank you very much | |
Ditectif | Dit-EK-tiv | Detective | |
Diwrnod Agored | DYOO-rnod Ag-OR-ed | Open day | |
Dryslwyn | DRUS-lwin | Place name — village in Carmarthenshire | |
Dyffryn | DUF-rin | Valley | |
Euog | AY-og | Guilty | |
Ffau'r Blaidd | Ffir Blithe | The wolf's den | |
Fferm | Fferm | Farm | |
Ffordd Yr Afon | Fortth Ur AV-on | River road | |
Ffwrch | FOORKH | Fork (in a road) / crotch (vulgar) | |
Galwad | GAL-wad | Call / phone call | |
Gellu Aur | GEL-ee Ire | Golden Grove (Country Park near Llandeilo) | |
Gwahoddiad | Gwah-HOH-thee-ad | Invitation | |
Gwendraeth | Gwen-DRAYTH | Place name — valley in Carmarthenshire | |
Gwirionedd | Gwir-ee-ON-eth | Truth | |
Gwych | Goo-ikh | Great / brilliant | |
Heddlu | HETH-lee | Police | |
Hwyl | HOO-il | Spirit / fun / mood / informal farewell | Also used as a farewell |
Hwyl fawr | HOO-il Vowr | Goodbye (lit. great fun / spirit) | |
Iawn | Yown | Fine / right / very | |
Ie | Yeh | Yes | |
Iesu | YEH-see | Jesus | |
Llan | Hlan | Parish / church enclosure (place name prefix) | Common in place names, e.g. Llanelli |
Llandeilo | Hlan-DAY-loh | Place name — town in Carmarthenshire | |
Llandovery | Hlan-DUV-er-ee | Place name — town in Carmarthenshire (Llanymddyfri) | |
Llandybie | Hlan-DUB-ee-eh | Place name — village in Carmarthenshire | |
Llandysul | Hlan-DUS-il | Place name — town in Ceredigion | |
Llanfynydd | Hlan-VUN-ith | Place name — village in Carmarthenshire | |
Llangunnor | Hlan-GIN-or | Place name — village near Carmarthen | |
Llansawel | Hlan-SOW-el | Place name — village in Carmarthenshire | |
Llanwrtyd Wells | Hlan-OOR-tid Welss | Place name — town in Powys | |
Llofruddiaeth | Hlov-rid-EE-aeth | Murder | |
Llyfr | Hlee-vr | Book | |
Llyn | Hlin | Lake | |
Llyn y Fan | Hlin uh Van | Lake of the peak (Llyn y Fan Fach / Fawr) | |
Ma bran i bob bran | Mah bran ee bob bran | Every crow to its own crow — birds of a feather (proverb) | |
Mab | Mahb | Son / boy | |
Machynlleth | Makh-UN-hletth | Place name — town in Powys | |
Maddeuwch i mi | Madh-AY-ooch ee mee | Forgive me / excuse me (formal) | |
Mae'n ddrwg da fi | Mine Throog dah vee | I'm sorry (lit. it is bad with me) | |
Mae'n drewi | Mine DREW-ee | It stinks | |
Maes Awelon | Mice Aw-EL-on | Field of breezes (place / property name) | |
Maesybont | Mice-uh-BONT | Field of the bridge (place name) | |
Mam | Mam | Mum / mother | |
Mam fach | Mam Vahkh | Little mum / dear mum | |
Marwolaeth | Mar-WOL-aeth | Death | |
Meithrin | MITH-rin | Nursery / to nurture |
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