Today’s blog post will take us to the United Kingdom and more precisely to Wales Cymru and the Welsh language, which is called Cymraeg in Welsh. The word Cymru is derived from the Brythonic word combrogi, meaning “fellow-countrymen”. Welsh is a language of the Brittonic branch of the Celtic languages. Apart from being spoken in Wales and by people in England near the Welsh border, there is a Welsh colony in Chubut Province in Argentina, called Y Wladfa.

Here are a few survival phrases in Welsh:

Sut mae = hello

Hwyl = goodbye

Beth ydy’ch enw chi? = What’s your name?

.… ydw i = I am ….

Diolch yn fawr = thank you very much

diolch = thank you

croeso = you are welcome

Os gwelwch yn dda = please

Esgusodwch fi = excuse me

Mae’n ddrwg gyda fi = sorry

Iawn = OK

Dych chi’n siarad Cymraeg? = Do you speak Welsh?

Dw i ddim yn deall = I don’t understand

Welsh cakes picau ar y maen are a traditional dessert in Wales. They are baked on a bakestone (maen) or cast-iron griddle and are made from flour, fat, baking powder, sultanas, raisins, and/or currants, and may also contain spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. They are round and usually measure about 7–8 cm (3 inches) in diameter and are 1–1.5 cm (0.5 inch) thick. Welsh cakes are served hot or cold dusted with caster sugar and are sometimes split and spread with jam.

An interesting article on the meaning of Welsh place names: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_toponymy