mi / fe + Soft Mutation
Mi (North) and Fe (South) Before Verbs
In statements, a short verb is often introduced by mi (North) or fe (South): Fe welais i'r ffilm (I saw the film). These little words have no meaning in English.
How It Works
Pattern: mi / fe + soft-mutated short verb.
- past: Mi ges i amser da (North), Fe brynodd hi gar (South)
- short future: Fe fydda i yno, Mi wela i chi yfory
- conditional: Mi faswn i'n hoffi dod (North), Fe fyddwn i'n hoffi dod (South)
Only in positive statements. Do not use mi or fe in questions or negatives: Welaist ti'r ffilm?, Welais i ddim byd. See questions and negatives of inflected verbs. They are also not used before the present forms mae or dw i.
Optional, but the mutation often stays. Many people leave out mi or fe, and the verb still starts with its softened sound: Ges i amser da, Brynodd hi gar. This is why so many spoken statements start with a mutated verb.
Two words called fe. In the South, fe also means he or him: Fe welodd e fi is "He saw me", with fe as the particle and e as he. Context always makes it clear.
These particles go with short verbs such as preterite -ais i -aist ti -odd, short future -a i -i di -ith e and baswn i and byddwn i. Both are standard; see North and South Welsh.
Examples (6)
- Mi welais i Siân yn y dref.
I saw Siân in town.
North: mi. Gwelais softens to welais.
- Fe welais i'r ffilm neithiwr.
I saw the film last night.
South: fe.
- Fe fydda i yno am wyth.
I'll be there at eight.
Bydda softens to fydda.
- Mi ges i amser da.
I had a good time.
North. Ces softens to ges.
- Fe brynodd hi gar newydd.
She bought a new car.
South. Prynodd softens to brynodd; the object car softens to gar.
- Mi faswn i'n hoffi dod.
I'd like to come.
North. Baswn softens to faswn.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting to soften the verb after mi or fe.
Fe prynodd hi gar.Fe brynodd hi gar.Mi and fe always cause soft mutation of the verb after them.
Using fe in a question.
Fe welaist ti'r ffilm?Welaist ti'r ffilm?Mi and fe mark positive statements only. A question starts with the softened verb and no particle.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Mi and fe precede an inflected verb and soften it.
Related Patterns
- -a i / -i di / -ith o / -iff eShort Future: Gwela I
Short future verbs can follow mi or fe.
Level 3 - baswn i / byddwn iWould: Baswn I and Byddwn I
Mi faswn i, fe fyddwn i.
Level 3 - Questions and Negatives of Short Verbs
No mi or fe in questions and negatives.
Level 3 - Soft Mutation
The mutation caused by mi and fe.
Level 1 - North and South Welsh
Mi is Northern, fe Southern.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice mi / fe + Soft Mutation in Bubblegum
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