Geiriadur i Dysgwyr

Geiriadur i Ddysgwyr: Ar-lein / Dictionary for Learners: Online

This reference guide contains over 1600 common words. To support those new to the language, the most common words also have a pronunciation guide. Under the English word is the Welsh word on the left, with the approximate pronunciation using English sounds to the right. The stressed sound is underlined. For a fuller explanation, click the ‘How to Use This Guide’ button below. Full credit for the content goes to Mark Stonelake.

How to Use This Guide

All | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y
There are currently 229 names in this directory beginning with the letter S.
sacrifice (to)
aberthu

sad
trist, treest

sage advice
cyngor call

sail
hwyl (b)

sail (to)
hwylio, hoo-eel-yoh

sailing boat/yacht
cwch hwylio, kooch hoo-eel-yoh

salt
halen, halen

same old place (the)
yr un hen fan

sand
tywod, tow-od

satisfactory
boddhaol

satisfy (to)
bodloni

saucepan
sosban (b), sossban

save (to)
achub, achib

save lives (to)
achubbywydau

saying(s)
dywediad(au)

scar(s)
craith (creithiau) (b)

school of life (the)
ysgol brofiad (b)

school uniform
gwisg ysgol (b), gwissg ussgol

science
gwyddoniaeth (b), gwiddonieth

scientist
gwyddonydd

scientists
gwyddonwyr

scoring scheme
cynllun sgorio

scrape/scratch/grovel (to)
crafu, krah-vee

screw
sgriw (b), sgrew

seaside (the) (by the seaside)
glan y môr (ar lan y môr), glan uh more

season (of the year)
tymor, tuh-mor

seat
sedd (b)

second (time)
eiliad (b), eye-l-yad

second time (for the)
eilwaith (yr)

Second World War (The)
Yr Ail Ryfel Byd, Uhr Eye-l Ruvel Beed

second-hand
ail-law, eye-l lah-w

second-rate
eilradd

second/substitute(s)
eilydd(ion), eye-l-idd (eye-luddyon)

secondary school
ysgol uwchradd (b), ussgol ee-oochrah-dd

secret
cyfrinach (b), kuvreenach

Secretary of State
Ysgrifennydd Gwladol

see (you)
t'wel (rwy)t(i'n g)wel(d), twel

seems (he)
i('w) weld yn, ee weld un

select(to)
dethol

self-respect
hunan barch

selfish
hunanol, hinanol

senate/parliament
senedd (b), seh-nedd

senior lecturer
uwch ddarlithydd

senior official
uwch swyddog

sense (to)
synhwyro

sensible and wise
synhwyrol a chall

sensible/all there/wise
call, kah-ll

separate/split up (to)
gwahanu, gwahanee

series
cyfres(i) (b), kuvress (kuvressee)

serious
o ddifri(f), oh ddivree

sermon
pregeth (b)

service(s)
gwasanaeth(au), gwassaneth (eh)

set (to)
gosod

settle (to)
ymgartrefu

Severn Bridge (The)
Pont Hafren, Pont Havren

sew (to)
gwnïo, goon-yoh

sexual
rhywiol, rhoo-ee-yol

shaken
ysgytwol

shame on you!
rhag eich cywilydd

shares (in a company)
cyfrandaliadau, kuvrandalyadeh

sheath/scabbard
gwain (b)

sheathe (to)
gweinio

sheep (a)
dafad (b)

sheet(s) (of paper)
taflen(ni) (b), tah-vlen (tah-vlen-ee)

shelf (shelves)
silff(oedd) (b), shilff (shilffodd)

shelter
cysgodfa (b)

shelter (to)
cysgodi

shine (to)
sgleinio, ssglie-n-yoh

shiny
sgleiniog, ssglie-n-yog

ship
llong (b), lloh-ng

shirt
crys, kreess

shoe(s)
esgid (b) (esgidiau), essgid (sgitcheh)

shoot (to)
saethu, ss-eye-thee

shopping centre
canolfan siopa (b), kanolvan shoppah

shorter
byrrach, burrach

shortlived
byrhoedlog

shoulder
ysgwydd (b)

shout
gwaedd (b)

shout (at)
gweiddi (ar), gw-eye-ddee (ahr)

shout at (to)
gweiddi ar

shovel (to)
rhawio

shower (a)
cawod (b), kah-wod

shred (to)
rhwygo

shy
swil, swil

siege
gwarchae, gwah-r-ch-eye

sign
arwydd

sign (to)
arwyddo

signature
llofnod, llovnod

silence
tawelwch

since/for
ers, ehrss

singer (female)
cantores (b), kantoress

singer (male)
canwr, kanoor

situation
sefyllfa (b), seh-vullvah

skeleton
sgerbwd, sgeh-r-bood

skirt
sgert (b), sgeh-rt

sleep peacefully (to)
cysgu'n dawel, kussgeen dah-wel

sleep tight! (command)
cysga/wch yn dawel!, kussgah-n dah-wel

sleepy
cysglyd

slide (in a playground)
llithren (b), llithren

slip (to)
llithro

sloshing
slochian

smaller/less
llai, ll-eye

smallest/least
lleia(f), llayah

smile (to)
gwenu, gwenee

smoke
mwg

smoke (to) (e.g. chimney/fire)
mygu

smoke alarm
larwm mwg, laroom moog

smokeless
di-fwg

smokers
ysmygwyr

snails (snail)
malwod(en) (b), malwoden (malwod)

snake(s)
neidr (b) (nadredd), n-eye-dir

snatch (to)
cipio

sneeze (to)
tisian, tishan

snooker
snwcer, snookeh-r

Snowdon
Wyddfa (Yr), Uhr Oo-eeddvah

Snowdonia
Eryri

snuff box
blwch snisin

snugness
didosrwydd

so bad
cynddrwg, kunddroog

so good
cystal, kusstal

so much/as much
cymaint/gymaint, kument

so...
mor... (t.m.), moh-r...

soaking wet
siwps

social worker
gweithiwr cymdeithasol, gweethoor kumdiethassol

socialise (to)
cymdeithasu, kum-die-thass-ee

soldier
milwr, meeloor

solicitor
cyfreithiwr, kuv-rye-th-yoor

some bits
rhai tameidiau

some kind of
rhyw fath o, rhee-oo vah-th oh

some kind of...
rhyw fath o...

some other time
rhywbryd (eto), rhee-oobreed 'toh

some/about/approximately
rhyw, rhee-oo

somehow
rhywsut

someone (else)
rhywun (arall), rhee-oo-in

sometimes
ambell waith/weithiau, ambell/weetheh

song(s)
cân (b) (caneuon), kahn (kan-eye-on)

sooner/quicker
gynt, gint

South Africa
De Affrica, Deh Affrika

special guest
gwestai arbennig

special occasion
achlysur arbennig

specialise (to)
arbenigo

spend (time) (to)
treulio

spend (to) (£)
gwario/hala, gwaryoh

spoken (in speech)
llafar (ar lafar)

spokesperson
llefarydd, llevaridd

sponsor
noddwr

sponsored
noddedig, noddedig

sponsored walk
taith gerdded noddedig, t-eye-th geh-rdded noddedig

sponsorship
nawdd

spoon
llwy (b), lloo-ee

sports programme
rhaglen chwaraeon, rhaglen chwareyeon

spot(s)
ploryn (plorod), plorin (plorod)

spread (to)
lledu

Spring
gwanwyn, gwanwin

squash (the game)
sboncen (b), sbon-ken

squirrel(s)
gwiwer (b) (gwiwerod), gwee-weh-r

St Davids Day
Dydd Guyl Dewi

St Dwynwens Day
Dydd Santes Dwynwen

St Valentines Day
Dydd Sant Ffolant

stab (to)
trywanu, truh-wanee

stage
llwyfan (b)

stand/stay (coll.) (to)
sefyll, seh-vill

star(s)
seren (b) (sêr), seh-ren

stare at (to)
syllu ar

state
gwladwriaeth (b)

statement
datganiad, datganyad

statistics
ystrydeb (b)

staunch
pybyr

stay (to)
sefyll

steal (to)
dwgyd/dwyn, doogid/doo-een

steel
dur

steer (to)
llywio, llee-oo-yoh

step(s)
cam(au), kam (kameh)

stepmother
llysfam (b), lleess-vam

stereotype
ystadegau

still
dal i, dal ee

stocky
cydnerth

stone
maen

stories
straeon/storïau, str-eye-on/stor-ee-eh

straight (away)
yn syth, un seeth

strait
swnt

strategy
strategaeth (b)

stream/brook
nant (b), nant

strengthen (to)
cryfhau

strict metre poetry (Lit. harmony)
cynghanedd (b)

strict/harsh
llym, llim

strong
cryf, kreev

stronghold
cadarnle

struggle/battle
brwydr (b), broo-eedir

student (female)
myfyrwraig (b), muh-vur-wraig

student(s) (male)
myfyriwr (myfyrwyr), muh-vur-yoor

studio
stiwdio (b), stiwdyoh

study (to)
astudio, asstid-yoh

subject/topic
pwnc, poonk

substantial(ly)
sylweddol (yn)

success
llwyddiant, lloo-eedd-yant

successful
llwyddiannus, lloo-eedd-yaniss

suffer (to)
diodde(f), dee-odd-eh

suggest (to)
awgrymu, ah-w-grumee

suit
siwt (b), suit

suitable
addas, ah-ddass

sulk/pout/be in a huff (to)
pwdu, poodee

sulking
dan bwdu

sulky/moody
pwdlyd, poodlid

sun
haul, h-eye-l

sun tan cream/lotion
eli haul, elee h-eye-l

sunbathe (to)
torheulo, tor-high-loh

sunny
heulog, h-eye-log

sunset / to set
machlud

superb
ardderchog, ah-r-ddeh-r-thog

supermarket
archfarchnad (b), ah-rch-vah-rch-nad

support
cefnogaeth (b)

support (to)
cefnogi

support to (a)
cefn i (yn gefn i)

supposed to
i fod i, ee vode eh

surprising (Its)
maen syndod

survey
arolwg, aroloog

swan(s)
alarch (elyrch)

sweat (to) (buckets/like a pig/profusely)
chwysu ('n stecs), oosseen stekss

sweatshirt
crys chwys, kreess chweess

sweep (to)
ysgubo, 'sgeeboh

sweeping
ysgubol

sweet tooth
dant melys

sweets
losin, loshin

swell (to)/bulge/distend/magnify
chwyddo, (ch)weeddoh

swing(s)
siglen (b) (siglenni), shiglen

sword
cledd(yf)

sympathise (to)
cydymdeimlo, keed-um-die-m-loh

sympathy
cydymdeimlad, keed-um-die-m-lad


Pronunciation Guide

In Welsh words the stress usually falls on the last but one syllable (a syllable is a unit of sound). Putting stress on a syllable means lengthening the sound with more emphasis in the voice.

For example, people with a Welsh accent would pronounce the surname Meredith as Mer-ed-ith, with the last sound but one ‘ed’ stressed. People with an English accent would tend to put equal weight on all three syllables – Mer-ed-ith.

If the stress falls on the last syllable of a Welsh word it is usually marked by an accent e.g. carafán. There are very few words like this in Welsh.

Try saying these words: – canol – canolfan. The stress moves on each time a unit of sound or syllable is added.

Abbreviations used

(adj) adjective- a describing word
(b) benywaidd – feminine (noun)
(col) colloquial– a word used in one area of Wales
(au) ….(s) plurals e.g. shop(s) – siop(au)
adre(f) (f) not pronounced
{rhed} root/stem of the verb e.g. rhedeg {rhed-}
(t.ll.) treiglad llaes – the word causes an aspirate mutation
(t.t.) treiglad trwynol – the word causes a nasal mutation
(t.m.) treiglad meddal – the word causes a soft mutation
(adj.) adjective
….(to) verb e.g. talk (to) – to talk
(tag) tags are short questions that we put on the end of sentences such as ‘…isn’t it?’
N.W. a word used in North Wales
S.W. a word used in South Wales

Further resources

For a complete learner’s dictionary I recommend Heini Gruffudd’s Welsh Learner’s Dictionary, and for a comprehensive online dictionary go to Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru.

Y diweddaraf oddi wrth Resources