Adjectives

38 phrases · Welsh with romanization, English and audio

  1. mawr

    Big

    Usage

    For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

    Grammar Note

    Welsh adjectives follow the noun and lenite after a feminine singular noun: "gwlad fawr"

  2. bach

    Small

    Usage

    The opposite of big; use it to ask for another size

    Grammar Note

    After a feminine noun it becomes "fach"

  3. trwm

    Heavy

    Usage

    Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

    Grammar Note

    After a feminine noun it becomes "drwm"

  4. ysgafn

    Light (weight)

    Usage

    Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

    Grammar Note

    Light in weight; light in colour is "golau"

  5. drud

    Expensive

    Usage

    Opens a price negotiation

    Grammar Note

    After a feminine noun it becomes "ddrud"

  6. rhad

    Cheap

    Usage

    Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

    Grammar Note

    After a feminine noun it becomes "rad"

  7. poeth

    Hot

    Usage

    Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

    Grammar Note

    Hot to the touch; for weather Welsh says "Mae hi'n boeth"

  8. oer

    Cold

    Usage

    Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

    Grammar Note

    Cold to the touch; for weather, "Mae hi'n oer"

  9. newydd

    New

    Usage

    For asking for a new item or a different room

    Grammar Note

    It does not change after a feminine noun

  10. hen

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Old as in an object; exceptionally it precedes the noun: "hen dŷ"

  11. ifanc

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    It does not change after a feminine noun

  12. oedrannus

    Old (person)

    Usage

    The word used for people; keep it apart from "old thing"

    Grammar Note

    The polite word for an elderly person, from "oed" (age)

  13. glân

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

    Grammar Note

    Mainly "clean" (it can also mean clear or fair); the usual word for beautiful is "prydferth"

  14. budr

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    Southern Welsh often uses "brwnt"

  15. da

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

    Grammar Note

    After a feminine noun it becomes "dda"

  16. drwg

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

    Grammar Note

    After a feminine noun it becomes "ddrwg"

  17. agos

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

    Grammar Note

    "Ydy e'n agos?" is the standard question

  18. pell

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

    Grammar Note

    "Ydy e'n bell?" is the traveller's standard question, with lenition to "bell"

  19. cynnar

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — this entry is about the clock, not speed

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; fast in speed is "cyflym"

  20. hwyr

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; slow in speed is "araf"

  21. llawer

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

    Grammar Note

    Works for count and amount; before a noun it is "llawer o"

  22. ychydig

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

    Grammar Note

    Works for count and amount; before a noun it is "ychydig o"

  23. Mae hi'n boeth

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    Hot weather; many languages use a different word than for hot objects

    Grammar Note

    Weather takes the dummy feminine subject "hi" and lenites "poeth" to "boeth"

  24. Mae hi'n oer

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    Cold weather; many languages use a different word than for cold objects

    Grammar Note

    Weather takes the dummy subject "hi"; "oer" does not lenite

  25. del

    Cute

    Usage

    Used broadly for people, things, and animals

  26. cŵl

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly about looks; a colloquial loanword from English, widely used in speech

  27. blasus

    Delicious

    Usage

    The word you will reach for most often at the table

  28. anhygoel

    Amazing

    Usage

    An expression of surprise and admiration

  29. hwyliog

    Fun

    Usage

    For describing an experience itself; the adjective form of the noun "hwyl" (fun)

  30. sych

    Dry

    Usage

    Dry, whether of laundry or of the weather

  31. gwlyb

    Wet

    Usage

    Wet — a much-used word about Welsh weather

  32. llawn

    Full

    Usage

    Says a seat, room or container is full

  33. gwag

    Empty

    Usage

    Says a seat, room or container is empty

  34. diogel

    Safe

    Usage

    Point at it to ask whether something is safe

  35. peryglus

    Dangerous

    Usage

    Warns that something is dangerous; same root as the sign "PERYGL"

  36. prysur

    Busy

    Usage

    Crowded, or busy in the sense of having a lot on

  37. tawel

    Quiet

    Usage

    Quiet; it mutates to "dawel" after a feminine noun

  38. cryf

    Strong

    Usage

    Strong — of medicine, drink or wind

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