10 Basic Welsh Phrases To Impress Your Friends

Most of us struggle to learn French, German, or Spanish in an effort to make our holidays abroad a more fulfilling experience. Being able to converse with taxi-drivers, order local delicacies in restaurants, and haggle in the native tongue when in local markets, all help create a more enjoyable holiday, as well as impressing the natives.
What though, if you prefer to spend your leisure time closer to home, Wales for instance. Rugby Union fans can visit Cardiff Arms Park. Those with an interest in culture can enjoy the National Eisteddfod of Wales. The National Parks, castle ruins, countryside, fabulous coastline and pristine beaches all help attract thousands of visitors to this beautiful country annually.

Be different – speak Welsh:

Learning a few phrases in the unique Welsh language will surely make you stand out from the crowd. And I mean stand out from the crowd. Although Welsh is taught in schools, less than 20% of the Welsh population can actually speak the language.

Try to memorise these few phrases and impress not just your friends, but many of the locals as well.

Greetings:

Hello. Helô, Hylô

Good morning. Bore da

Good afternoon. P’nawn da

Good evening. Noswaith dda

General Phrases:

Pleased to meet you. Mae’n dda gen i gwrdd â chi.

Do you speak Welsh? Ydych chi’n siarad Cymraeg?

Please speak more slowly. Siaradwch yn arafach, os gwelwch yn dda.

Please write it down. Wnewch chi ysgrifennu hynna, os gwelwch yn dda.

Thank you very much. Diolch yn fawn

Goodbye. Dab o chi.

The devolved National Assembly for Wales through its education system is trying very hard to retain a language which unfortunately appears to be in danger of dying out. For many years prior to devolution, learning Welsh has been a compulsory subject in schools. Official documents, official signs and road and street names all have to carry the information in both English and Welsh.

While Welsh speaking appears to be in decline within the country, in a land thousands of miles away there is a colony where the Welsh language remains alive and well. The colony of Y Wladfa, in the Argentine province of Chubut, retains Welsh as its foremost language. So perhaps, on your next visit to South America, taking the trouble to memorise a few Welsh phrases may well assist you converse with the local taxi driver, or help you find out how to get where you need to be.