Welsh Language
Welsh is one of Europe’s oldest living languages, underpinning a rich culture and heritage. You’ll see it on bilingual signs everywhere. Over one-quarter of Conwy County’s population speaks Welsh, so you’ll also hear it in our streets, towns and villages – along, of course, with English.
This lyrical language, amongst other things, makes Wales different. It shouldn’t cause you any problems or confusion. In fact, it’s good fun to dip into the language and to get your mouth around pronunciations. The effort’s well worth it, even if you manage to speak only a few words.
It’s also a very revealing language – in the sense that Welsh placenames tell you a lot about their immediate surroundings. Llan, for example – as in Llanrwst or Llandudno – signifies the presence of a church or religious settlement. Aber means ‘mouth of’ – so Abergele means ‘Mouth of the River Gele’. When you see llyn on the map look out for a lake. If there’s a mynydd ahead then you’ll have a mountain to climb.
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Afon River Bach / Fach Small Blaen Head, End, Source Bryn Hill Bwlch Pass Cefn Ridge Craig / Graig Rock Cwm Valley / Cirque Dinas Fort / City Dyffryn Valley Llan Church / Enclosure Llyn Lake Maen Stone Mawr / Fawr Great / Big Moel / Foel Bare Hill Mynydd / Fynydd Mountain / Moorland Pentre Village / Homestead Pont / Bont Bridge Ystrad Valley Floor -
Good morning Bore da Good afternoon Prynhawn da Good evening Noswaith da Good health / Cheers! Iechyd da! Good night Nos da Hello Shwmae How are you? Sut mae? Thanks Diolch Very good Da iawn Welcome Croeso Welcome to Wales Croeso i Gymru -
Double ‘ll’ (as in Llandudno) and double ‘dd’ (as in mynydd) crop up a lot in Welsh. They’re not difficult to get your tongue around. To pronounce ‘ll’ place the tongue behind the top row of your teeth and breathe out or hiss past the teeth. Double ‘dd’ is even easier – it’s equivalent to the ‘th’ sound in English.
