Commands to chi

Level 2

Use -wch commands with more than one person, or politely with one person: Eisteddwch (Sit down), Dewch i mewn (Come in).

How It Works

Regular commands: stem + wch.

  • eistedd → eisteddwch (sit)
  • edrych → edrychwch (look)
  • aros (stem arhos-) → arhoswch (wait)
  • gwrando (stem gwrandaw-) → gwrandewch (listen)
  • troi → trowch (turn); rhoi → rhowch (give)
  • dweud → dwedwch (say)

Irregular commands:

  • dewch — come (dowch in parts of the North)
  • ewch — go (cerwch in Southern speech)
  • gwnewch — do, make
  • cymerwch — take, have
  • byddwch — be: Byddwch yn ofalus

Soft mutation after a command. A noun straight after the command softens: Cymerwch ddarn o gacen (Have a piece of cake), Dwedwch rywbeth! (Say something!).

Everyday Welsh. Even "please" is a chi form: os gwelwch yn dda is literally "if you see well". On doors you will see Gwthiwch (Push) and Tynnwch (Pull).

For friends and children, see ti imperatives. For "don't", use Peidiwch â; see paid â and peidiwch â. For "let's", see awn ni and gadewch i ni.

Examples (6)

  1. Eisteddwch, os gwelwch yn dda.

    Please sit down.

    Eistedd + wch.

  2. Gwrandewch yn ofalus!

    Listen carefully!

    Gwrandaw- becomes gwrandew- before -wch.

  3. Ewch yn syth ymlaen, wedyn trowch i'r chwith.

    Go straight on, then turn left.

    Ewch is irregular; trowch comes from troi.

  4. Dewch i mewn, mae'r drws ar agor!

    Come in, the door's open!

    Dewch is the chi command of dod.

  5. Cymerwch ddarn o gacen.

    Have a piece of cake.

    Darn softens to ddarn after the command.

  6. Dwedwch rywbeth yn Gymraeg!

    Say something in Welsh!

    Rhywbeth softens to rywbeth.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the ti command with a group.

    Eistedda, bawb!
    Eisteddwch, bawb!

    When you speak to more than one person you need the -wch form, even if they are friends.

  • Treating mynd as regular.

    Myndwch!
    Ewch!

    Mynd has an irregular command: ewch (cerwch in Southern speech).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Commands to chiLevel 2

Learn This First

Chi commands add -wch to the stem.

Words in This Pattern

-wchewchmynd