Welsh Language Resources
History of the Language
Online Learning Resources
Text/Audio Learning Resources
There are a number of books (some with accompanying CDs or tapes) which are designed for self-instruction and for use in Welsh learning classes. These are a few examples:
Reference Resources
Although Welsh learning materials normally include limited dictionary and grammar materials, more complete texts are helpful to the Welsh learner. These are a few of the supplementary resources currently available:
Other Resources
Welsh Pronunciation Examples
Click on the Welsh word or phrase to hear it pronounced in Welsh:
History of the Language
- The website of the Welsh Language Board includes background information about the history and current usage of the Welsh language: http://www.bwrdd-yr-iaith.org.uk/
- For a more extensive overview of the Welsh language, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_language
Online Learning Resources
- The BBC Wales website contains a wealth of free resources for Welsh learners, including online learning courses, an interactive dictionary and a basic grammar text: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/learnwelsh/
- Rosetta Stone produces and sells Welsh interactive learning software available online and on CDs: http://www2.rosettastone.com/en/individuals/languages/welsh
- SaySomethingInWelsh is an online learning course developed by Welsh volunteers. It is based on pre-recorded speaking exercises and is designed to teach new learners to speak Welsh: http://www.saysomethinginwelsh.com/
Text/Audio Learning Resources
There are a number of books (some with accompanying CDs or tapes) which are designed for self-instruction and for use in Welsh learning classes. These are a few examples:
- Welcome to Welsh: A Complete Welsh Course for Beginners, by Heini Gruffudd
- Welsh: The Complete Course for Beginners, by Gareth King [Includes CDs and tapes]
- Teach Yourself Welsh, by Julie Brake and Christine Jones [Includes CDs]
- Basic Welsh: A Grammar and Workbook, by Gareth King
- Intermediate Welsh: A Grammar and Workbook, by Gareth King
Reference Resources
Although Welsh learning materials normally include limited dictionary and grammar materials, more complete texts are helpful to the Welsh learner. These are a few of the supplementary resources currently available:
- What’s the Word for? Beth yw’r gair am?, by Carol Williams
This elementary dictionary is designed for persons who are learning Welsh as a second language. See http://www.uwp.co.uk/word_holding_frame.html - Teach Yourself Welsh Dictionary, by Edwin C. Lewis
This dictionary is designed to complement the Teach Yourself Welsh textbook referred to above. - Pocket Modern Welsh Dictionary: A Guide to the Living Language
This University of Oxford publication is edited by Gareth King. The usage and grammar commentaries for many of the entries provide a basic grammar reference resource to Welsh learners, although the number of entries is relatively limited. - Welsh-English, English-Welsh Dictionary, by H. Meurig Evans.
This standard format dictionary includes over 50,000 entries. Each entry is brief. - Collins Gem Welsh Dictionary
This is a Welsh-English/English-Welsh mini dictionary (about the size of a cell phone) that contains over 30,000 brief entries. The print is small. A recent edition uses the name Collins Welsh Dictionary. - Welsh-English/English-Welsh On-line Dictionary, Department of Welsh, University of Wales, Lampeter: http://www.geiriadur.net/
This dictionary currently incorporates over 250,000 items and includes audio pronunciation of some Welsh words and phrases. - NINNAU’s Guide to the Use of the Welsh Dictionary for Beginners and Others, compiled by Robert A. Fowkes
This guide provides a list of various possible forms in which a word can occur, in each instance referring the user to the base form in which the word can be found in the dictionary. - Dictionaries frequently contain supplementary grammar information. More extensive treatment of Welsh grammar is available online at the BBC Wales site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/learnwelsh/grammar/ and in grammar texts, e.g., Modern Welsh: A Comprehensive Grammar, by Gareth King.
Other Resources
- Cymdeithas Madog, the Welsh Studies Institute of North America, sponsors an annual Welsh language week with multiple levels of study. Its mission is also to be “…a clearinghouse for information about Welsh language resources….” http://www.madog.org/
- Several Welsh periodicals include information about the history and usage of the Welsh language as well as other information that is useful to the Welsh learner:
- Ninnau, The North American Welsh newspaper: http://www.ninnau.com/
- Cambria, Wales’ National Magazine: http://www.cambriamagazine.com/
- Y Cymro - the Welsh weekly - published by the Cambrian News of Aberystwyth: www.cambrian-news.co.uk/y-cymro-ar-lein/
- Ninnau, The North American Welsh newspaper: http://www.ninnau.com/
Welsh Pronunciation Examples
Click on the Welsh word or phrase to hear it pronounced in Welsh:
- Good morning: Bore da
- Good afternoon: Prynhawn da
- Good evening: Noswaith dda
- Good night: Nos da
- How are you? Shw mae
- What is your name? Beth ydy’ch enw chi?
- Where do you live? Ble rydych chi’n byw?
- What time is it? Faint o’r gloch ydy hi?
- Thank you: Diolch
- Bye: Hwyl
- Please: Os gwelwch yn dda
- I’m sorry: Mae’n flin ‘da fi
- Excuse me: Esgusodwch fi
- Everything is fine: Popeth yn iawn
- The best of luck: Pob lwc
- Today: Heddiw
- Tomorrow: Yfory