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 67 names in this directory beginning with the letter M.
Mabinogion (The)
Y Mabinogi

machine
peiriant, pie-ree-ant

magazine(s)
cylchgrawn (cylchgronau), kilchgrah-wn (kilchgroneh)

maid/housemaid/maiden
morwyn (b), mohr-oo-een

make fun of (someone) (to)
gwneud hwyl am ben, n-eye-d hoo-eel am ben

make redundant (to)
diswyddo, dee-soo-eeddoh

malicious
maleisus, mal-eye-ssiss

manager
rheolwr, rheh-ol-oor

mansion
plasty, plass-tee

manslaughter
dynladdiad, deen-ladd-yad

manuscript
llawysgrif (b)

marble
marmor

march (to)
gorymdeithio

masterpiece
campwaith

mathematics
mathemateg (b), mathamateg

matter of necessity
mater o raid

mean (to)
golygu

meaning
ystyr, uhsstir

meantime (in the)
cyfamser (yn y)

measles
y frech goch (b), uh vreh-ch gôch

measure
mesur

media type
cyfryngi

medicine (subject)
meddygaeth (b)

meditate (to)
synfyfyrio

memorable
cofiadwy

memorial
cofeb (b)

memories
atgofion

memory (in memory of)
er cof am, ehr cove am

memory stick
ffon gof (b)/co(f) bach, ffon gôv

men
gwwr

Menai Straits
Afon Menai

mental hospital
ysbyty meddwl

mention (to)
crybwyll

menu
bwydlen (b), boo-eedlen

mermaid
môr-forwyn (b), more-vor-win

message(s)
neges(euon) (b)

microwave
microdon, my-kroh-don

Middle Ages (The)
Y Canol Oesoedd

middle-aged
canol oed, kanol ôd

might
cadernid

might as well
man a man, man ah man

minute
munud (b), minid

minute(s)/record(s)
cofnod(ion), kovnod (kovnodyon)

mirror
drych

miss (to) (a bus etc.)
colli, kollee

miss (to) (a person/place)
gweld eisiau, gweld eesheh

mistake
camgymeriad, kam-gum-ehr-yad

mix (up) (to)
cymysgu, kumussggee

mock (to)
gwawdio

monk(s)
mynach(od)

month
mis, meesh/meess

more than enough
hen ddigon

more/any more
rhagor, rhah-gor

mortality
marwoldeb

most hated thing
cas beth, kâss bêth

mother in law
mam yng nghyfraith (b)

motorbike
beic modur, bike moh-dir

mouse
llygoden (b), lluh-god-en

mouthy
cegog, keh-gog

move furniture (to)
symud celfi, sumid kelvee

murder
llofruddiaeth (b), llov-ridd-yeth

murmur (to)
murmur

museum
amgueddfa (b), amgee-edd-vah

music
cerddoriaeth (b), keh-r-ddor-yeth

musical
cerddorol

my
fy (t.t.), un

mystery
dirgelwch, deer-gel-ooch


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