By now we've all heard the words 'hiraeth' and 'cwtch' and their meanings. But the Welsh language has many more words that are just as beautiful – if not more.
Here are a few that refer to animals, greetings, places and much more, and their meanings. Let us know your favourites in the comments too.
1. Buwch Goch Gota
Its literal translation is 'little red cow' but it means 'ladybird' in Welsh.
2. Gwdihŵ
Pronounced as 'good-ee-hoo', this word means an owl.
3. Hwyl
This word is often used to mean 'fun' but it's also used for when you are saying goodbye to someone. It's also a shortened version of 'hwyl fawr', which also means goodbye.
4. Gorffennaf
Gorffennaf is July in Welsh. 'Gorffen' means 'end' and 'af' is a shortened version of 'haf', which means 'summer'. The name of the month therefore means the 'end of summer'.
5. Da-da
A term often used in parts of north Wales for 'sweets'. 'Da' means 'good' in Welsh so the literal translation is 'good good' and is similar to 'bonbon' in French, which also means 'good good' and is used to refer to sweets.
6. Cynefin
This Welsh word does not have a direct English translation and can be loosely translated as 'habitat' or 'place of birth'. Artist Kyffin Williams described it as: "[A] relationship: the place of birth and of your upbringing, the environment in which you live and to which you are naturally acclimatised".
7. Pendwmpian
Pronounced as 'pen-doom-peeahn' and it means 'to doze' or 'fall asleep'.
8. Eleni
In Welsh, we have one singular word to describe 'this year'.
9. Pili-pala
The Welsh word for 'butterfly'.
10. Sws
This means a 'kiss'.
11. Bendigedig
Bendigedig is the Welsh word for 'fantastic'.
12. Cymru
The Welsh name for Wales. 'Cymru' and 'Cymry' (the latter means Welsh people) derive from the Brythonic word 'combrogi', which means 'fellow-countrymen'.
13. Adref/Cartref
Variations of both these words are used all over Wales but they all mean the same thing – 'home'.
14. Bro
'Bro' means a region or vale and is usually used in place names such as Bro Morgannwg (Vale of Glamorgan). Like 'cynefin' however it can be used to describe the place where you are from – 'bro fy mebyd', which may mean 'the place I was born' or 'the place of my childhood'.
15. Hedd / Heddwch
'Hedd' and 'heddwch' mean 'peace' in Welsh.
What language is Welsh closest to? Is Welsh hard language to learn?