North and South Welsh
Welsh speakers in the North and South use a few different everyday words and forms, like rŵan and nawr for "now". Both are correct.
How It Works
Everyday words (North / South):
- rŵan / nawr: now
- efo / gyda: with (see With: Gyda and Efo)
- isio / isie: want. Both are written eisiau, and the South also says moyn (see Wanting)
- llefrith / llaeth: milk
- taid / tad-cu: grandfather; nain / mam-gu: grandmother
Grammar forms (North / South):
- he, it: o, fo / e, fe (see personal pronouns)
- we are, you are: dan ni, dach chi / dyn ni, dych chi (see the present of bod)
- I have a car: Mae gen i gar / Mae car gyda fi (see mae gen i and mae ... gyda fi)
- is (in questions and some sentences): ydi / yw, with ydy in both (see ydy yw and ydi)
Standard written Welsh is shared by the whole country, so you will see forms like eisiau in writing wherever you are. In speech, neither region is "better". People from Caernarfon and Carmarthen chat together without trouble.
Examples (6)
- Dw i isio paned rŵan.
I want a cuppa now.
North: isio and rŵan. Northern speech often says panad for paned.
- Dw i isie coffi nawr.
I want a coffee now.
South: isie and nawr. Both isio and isie are written eisiau.
- Mae o'n dod efo ni.
He's coming with us.
North: o (he) and efo (with).
- Mae e'n dod gyda ni.
He's coming with us.
South: e (he) and gyda (with).
- Mae gen i gar.
I have a car.
Word by Word: Is with me car.
North: Mae gen i, with soft mutation of car to gar.
- Mae car gyda fi.
I have a car.
Word by Word: Is car with me.
South: Mae + noun + gyda fi, with no mutation.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- u and y: North and SouthU and Y in North and South Wales
The regions also pronounce u and y differently.
Level 1 - i / ti / e / o / hi / ni / chi / nhwPersonal Pronouns
Meet the Northern o and Southern e for he.
Level 1 - Present of bodPresent Tense of Bod
See the regional forms dan ni / dyn ni and dach chi / dych chi.
Level 1 - Mae gen i (North)Having in the North: Mae Gen I
The Northern way to say what you have.
Level 1 - Mae ... gyda fi (South)Having in the South: Mae ... Gyda Fi
The Southern way to say what you have.
Level 1 - gyda / efoWith: Gyda (South) and Efo (North)
The two regional words for with.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice North and South Welsh in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Welsh lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
