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 30 names in this directory beginning with the letter N.
nappy (nappies)
cewyn(nau), keh-win (keh-wuneh)

nasty to
cas wrth

national
cenedlaethol, kenedl-eye-thol

nationalism
cenedlaetholdeb

native
brodor

native cultures
diwylliannau brodorol

nature
natur (b), nah-tir

near future
dyfodol agos, duh-vodol agoss

need(s)
angen (anghenion)

negligent
esgeulus, ess-guy-liss

neice
nith (b)

neighbour
cymydog

nephew
nai, n-eye

nervousness
nerfusrwydd, neh-r-vissroo-eedd

netball
pêl-rwyd (b), pêl roo-eed

never again
byth eto, bith 'toh

New Years Day
Dydd Calan

New Years Eve
Nos Galan

New Zealand
Seland Newydd, Zeland neh-widd

Newport
Casnewydd, Kassneh-widd

news
newyddion, neh-wudd-yon

nickname
llysenw

niece
nith (b), neeth

nightmare
hunllef (b), hinlleh

no need
dim eisiau, dim eesheh

no wonder (its)
does dim rhyfedd

noisy
swnllyd, soon-llid

not to mention
heb sôn am, hêb sôn am

note
nodyn, nodin

notice (to)
sylwi, sulwee


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