As soon as you arrive in Wales you’ll notice that all signs are bilingual – English, and the ancient language of Welsh, spoken by around a quarter of the population. To those unfamiliar with the Welsh language, it can appear strange, thanks to its double letter and extra vowel systems, and its complicated grammatical structures.
A little understanding will get you a long way though, especially in West and North Wales where the language is more widely spoken, and particularly when trying to navigate the roads! So here is a little breakdown of the basics.
Cymru – Wales
Greetings
Welcome – Croeso (Croy-so)
Hello – S’mae (Sha-my)
Good morning – Bore da (Boray-da)
Good afternoon – Prynhawn da (Prin-hown-da)
Good evening – Noswaith dda (Nos-way-th-da)
Good night – Nos da (Nos-da)
Good bye – Hwyl fawr (Hoo-will Vower)
Extra credit – roll the letter “R” as in Spanish pronunciation
Navigating the roads
Caer (as in the place name Caerdydd, Welsh for Cardiff) – Fort
Aber (as in place name Aberystwyth) – Mouth of river
Llan (as in place name Llanelli) – Parish
Araf – Slow
Dinas – City
Tref – Town
Pentref – Village
Canol – Centre
Pont – Bridge
Castell – Castle
Bryn – Hill
Cwm – Valley
Afon – River
Ynys – Island
Traeth – Beach
Parc – Park
Mynydd – Mountain
Are you ready to take a step into the unknown? An epic adventure in Wales can be yours when you enter for the chance to win our 6-Day “Peculiar” Tour of Wales, where one winner and a friend will be flown round-trip to experience a variety of activities and locations in Wales inspired by the upcoming film, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. There’s a new world filled with adventure and mystery coming; don’t miss it when Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children hits theaters on September 30, 2016.
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