Here is our September Cymraeg back to school lesson for you. Time to get back to it if you’ve had the summer off and are feeling a bit rusty. Lots of useful stuff, including some school-related words to help you encourage your children with their return to ‘Ysgol’!
| English | Welsh | English pronunciation |
| September
School Back to School Open (Building/Shop) Closed (Bulding/Shop) I’m going to… Study Learn College University Bedtime Thank you You’re welcome | Medi
Ysgol Nôl i’r Ysgol Ar Agor Ar Gau Dwi’n mynd i… Astudio Dysgu Coleg Prifysgol Amser gwely Diolch Croeso | Med-ee
Usk-oll Norl eer usk-oll Are agg-or Are guy Dween min-d ee Ass-tid-yo¹ Dusk-ee Coll-egg Preeve-usk-oll Am-ser gwell-ee Dee-olch² Croy-so |
¹ “o” short and sharp as in “top”
² “ch” as in “loch”
| Darparwyd gyda chymorth gan Helo Blod Lleol | Provided with support from Helo Blod Local |
| Os hoffech gyngor ar sut i ddefnyddio’r Gymraeg yn eich busnes a chymhorth cyfieithu cysylltwch: | If you’d like advice on how to use Welsh in your business and translation support, contact: |
ffion.whitham@heloblodlocal.wales
A Brief History of Welsh – Introduction
Firstly, Cymraeg, or Welsh, is a language native to the British Isles, originating from a Celtic language spoken by the ancient Britons. Throughout its history, it has faced numerous challenges to its existence.
Welsh is a Brythonic language, meaning British Celtic in origin and was spoken in Britain even before the Roman occupation. Thought to have arrived in Britain around 600 BC, the Celtic language evolved in the British Isles into a Brythonic tongue which provided the basis not only for Welsh, but also Breton and Cornish. At this time in Europe, Celtic languages were spoken across the continent even as far as Turkey.
The Welsh Language Society
Secondly, in the 19th century, the Welsh language still did not benefit from the increasing literacy levels amongst the general public. Moreover, whilst children were attending school, Welsh was not part of the school curriculum. English was still the dominant language as it represented administration and business in an era of imperial expansion.
In the 20th century, there was a growing recognition that the Welsh language and Welsh speakers were being discriminated against. For example, in 1942 the Welsh Courts Act formally addressed the issue of defendants and plaintiffs being forced to speak in English and ushered in a new law allowing Welsh to be used in the courts.
By 1967, a very important and crucial piece of legislation was introduced thanks to the campaigning of many individuals including Plaid Cymru and also the Welsh Language Society.
This legislation was largely modelled on the Hughes Parry Report only two years earlier which stated that Welsh should have equal status to English in the courts.
This was a pivotal moment when the prejudices ushered in during the Tudor period began to be reversed. Today the Welsh language is spoken at home, in the workplace, in the community and also in the government. In the 2011 census, over 562,000 people named Welsh as their main language.
Finally, to learn more Welsh phrases view The Welsh Gift Shop website here.
Also, to view our other Welsh words click here.
