Basic Nouns

1. y dŵr

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; Welsh nouns are masculine or feminine, and feminine ones lenite after the article

2. y bwyd

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; plural "y bwydydd"

3. yr arian

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; the article is "yr" before a vowel. The word also means "silver"

4. y toiled

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; the euphemism "tŷ bach" (little house) is also common

5. yr hances bapur

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; "papur" lenites to "bapur" after the feminine noun

6. y feddyginiaeth

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; "meddyginiaeth" lenites to "feddyginiaeth" after the article

7. y bagiau

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   Used in the plural; one bag is "y bag" (masculine)

8. yr allwedd

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

   Grammar Note

   Feminine, taking "yr" before the vowel; southern Welsh says "agoriad"

9. y tocyn

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; plural "y tocynnau"

10. y pasbort

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; plural "y pasbortau"

11. y ffôn

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; a mobile is "y ffôn symudol"

12. y gwefrydd

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; from "gwefru" (to charge)

13. yr orsaf

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    Feminine; "gorsaf" lenites to "orsaf". A railway station is "yr orsaf drenau"

14. yr ysbyty

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    Masculine, taking "yr" before the vowel

15. yr heddlu

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    Masculine, the police force; an officer is "plismon" or "plismones"

16. y siop

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    Feminine; "s" does not lenite, so the form is unchanged

17. yr ystafell

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

    Grammar Note

    Feminine; a hotel bedroom is "yr ystafell wely"

18. y ffordd

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    Feminine; "ff" does not lenite. A town street is "y stryd"

19. y teulu

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; plural "y teuluoedd"

20. yr enw

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; a surname is "y cyfenw"

21. pen

    Head

    Usage

    Points at where it hurts; given in the dictionary form, without the article

22. llygad

    Eye

    Usage

    One eye is "llygad", both eyes are "llygaid"

23. dant

    Tooth

    Usage

    For reporting toothache; the whole set of teeth is "dannedd"

24. corn gwddf

    Throat

    Usage

    Throat specifically — "gwddf" alone can also mean the neck

25. bol

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    The belly; the stomach organ itself is "stumog"

26. cefn

    Back

    Usage

    The body part; "back" as a direction is "yn ôl"

27. gwaelod y cefn

    Lower back

    Usage

    The lower back; "gwasg" (waist) also means a printing press

28. coes

    Leg

    Usage

    The whole leg; from the ankle down it is "troed"

29. troed

    Foot

    Usage

    The foot; both feet are "traed"

30. llaw

    Hand

    Usage

    The hand; both hands are "dwylo"

31. brest

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest, for reporting chest pain; a breast is "bron"

32. gwesty

    Hotel

    Usage

    Point at it to tell a driver where you are going

33. maes awyr

    Airport

    Usage

    Literally "field of air"; Cardiff Airport is "Maes Awyr Caerdydd"

34. safle bws

    Bus stop

    Usage

    A bus stop; the same wording appears on the stop sign itself

35. llysgenhadaeth

    Embassy

    Usage

    An embassy; in the UK these are all in London, not in Wales

36. peiriant arian

    Cash machine (ATM)

    Usage

    A cash machine; literally "money machine"

37. cyfnewidfa arian

    Bureau de change

    Usage

    A currency exchange desk, found at airports and large stations

38. golchdy

    Launderette

    Usage

    A launderette; "golchi" (to wash) + "-dy" (house)

39. injan dân

    Fire engine

    Usage

    A fire engine; "injan" (engine) + "tân" (fire), which lenites to "dân" here

40. conswliaeth

    Consulate

    Usage

    A consulate, headed by a "conswl" (consul); an embassy is "llysgenhadaeth"

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