Predicative yn + Soft Mutation
Describing with Yn + Soft Mutation
To say what someone or something is or is like, use bod + yn + a describing word, and soften that word: Mae'r bwyd yn dda (The food is good).
How It Works
Pattern: bod + subject + yn + adjective or noun.
- da → Mae'r bwyd yn dda. (The food is good.)
- mawr → Mae'r tŷ yn fawr. (The house is big.)
- tal → Mae e'n dal. (He is tall.)
- coch → Mae'r car yn goch. (The car is red.)
- meddyg → Mae hi'n feddyg. (She is a doctor.)
- gwlyb → Mae'r ci yn wlyb. (The dog is wet.)
What does not change. Words starting with ll and rh keep their first letter here: Mae'r bws yn llawn (The bus is full), Mae'r tocyn yn rhad (The ticket is cheap). Braf (fine, of weather) never changes: Mae hi'n braf. See words that resist mutation. Letters that never mutate stay the same too: Mae e'n hapus.
Three kinds of yn. This yn causes soft mutation. The yn before a verb-noun causes none (Dw i'n canu), and yn meaning "in" causes nasal mutation (yng Nghaerdydd). See three kinds of yn.
The same yn + soft mutation turns an adjective into an adverb: siarad yn dda (speak well). See yn + adjective as adverb. To say exactly who someone is, with a name, use a different pattern: Siân dw i; see Saying Your Name.
Examples (6)
- Mae Siân yn feddyg.
Siân is a doctor.
Meddyg softens to feddyg.
- Mae'r tywydd yn dda heddiw.
The weather is good today.
Da softens to dda.
- Mae e'n dal.
He's tall.
Tal softens to dal. South: e. In the North: Mae o'n dal.
- Mae'r car yn goch.
The car is red.
Coch softens to goch.
- Mae'r ci yn wlyb!
The dog is wet!
Gwlyb loses its g: wlyb.
- Mae'r trên yn llawn heddiw.
The train is full today.
Llawn starts with ll, so it does not change after this yn.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting the soft mutation after yn.
Mae'r bwyd yn da.Mae'r bwyd yn dda.A describing word after yn takes soft mutation: da becomes dda.
Softening ll after this yn.
Mae'r trên yn lawn heddiw.Mae'r trên yn llawn heddiw.Words starting with ll and rh do not change after the describing yn.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Predicative yn follows bod and softens the describing word.
Related Patterns
- Three Kinds of yn
Tell this yn apart from the other two.
Level 3 - yn + Adjective (Adverb)Adverbs: Yn + Adjective
The same yn turns adjectives into adverbs.
Level 2 - Words That Resist Mutation
Why braf, ll and rh stay the same.
Level 5 - Athro dw iIdentifying Sentences: Athro Dw I
Another way to say what someone is.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- Mae hi'n + WeatherTalking About the WeatherLevel 1
- Mae'n ddrwg gen i / Mae'n flin gyda fiSaying Sorry in North and SouthLevel 2
- Mae'n well gen iPreferring: Mae'n Well Gen ILevel 2
- oed: Saying Your AgeSaying Your AgeLevel 2
- roeddwn iPast of Bod: Roeddwn ILevel 2
- -ach ComparativeComparatives with -achLevel 3
- mynd yn / dod ynBecoming: Mynd Yn and Dod YnLevel 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice Predicative yn + Soft Mutation in Bubblegum
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