Mae'n well gen i
Preferring: Mae'n Well Gen I
To say what you prefer, use Mae'n well gen i in the North or Mae'n well 'da fi in the South. Literally it means "it's better with me".
How It Works
North: Mae'n well + gen i, gen ti, gynno fo, gynni hi, gynnon ni, gynnoch chi, gynnyn nhw. With a name, use gan: Mae'n well gan Siân nofio. These are the same forms as in mae gen i.
South: Mae'n well + 'da fi, 'da ti, 'da fe, 'da hi, 'da ni, 'da chi, 'da nhw ('da is short for gyda). With a name: Mae'n well gyda Siân nofio. See mae gyda fi.
Soft mutation. The noun or verb-noun after the person softens: Mae'n well gen i de (te), Mae'n well 'da fi goffi (coffi), Mae'n well gen i gerdded (cerdded).
Comparing two things. Use na (than), nag before a vowel. Na causes aspirate mutation of c, p and t: Mae'n well gen i goffi na the (I prefer coffee to tea), Mae'n well 'da fi afalau nag orennau (I prefer apples to oranges). See â gyda tua na + aspirate mutation.
Asking. Beth sy'n well gen ti? or Beth sy'n well 'da ti? (What do you prefer?). The same shape gives Mae'n gas gen i / Mae'n gas 'da fi (I hate).
For "I would rather", see byddai'n well gen i. Do not mix this up with Mae'n well i fi..., which means "I had better..."; see mae'n well i.
Examples (6)
- Mae'n well gen i de.
I prefer tea.
Word by Word: It's better with me tea.
North. Te softens to de.
- Mae'n well 'da fi goffi.
I prefer coffee.
South. Coffi softens to goffi.
- Mae'n well gyda fi bysgod na chig.
I prefer fish to meat.
South. Pysgod softens to bysgod; na turns cig into chig.
- Mae'n well gen i gerdded na gyrru.
I prefer walking to driving.
North. Cerdded softens to gerdded.
- Beth sy'n well gen ti, te neu goffi?
Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?
Neu softens coffi to goffi.
- Mae'n well gan Siân nofio.
Siân prefers swimming.
North, with a name: gan. South: Mae'n well gyda Siân nofio.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting the soft mutation.
Mae'n well gen i coffi.Mae'n well gen i goffi.The word after gen i or 'da fi softens: coffi → goffi.
Using i when you mean "prefer" (when you mean "I prefer swimming").
Mae'n well i fi nofio.Mae'n well gen i nofio.Mae'n well i fi nofio means "I'd better swim". For a preference, use gen i or 'da fi. See mae'n well i.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Mae'n well gen i combines possession and predicative yn.
- Mae gen i (North)Having in the North: Mae Gen I
Gen i is the Northern possession phrase.
Level 1 - Mae ... gyda fi (South)Having in the South: Mae ... Gyda Fi
'Da fi is the Southern possession phrase.
Level 1 - Predicative yn + Soft MutationDescribing with Yn + Soft Mutation
Mae'n well uses predicative yn with soft mutation.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- byddai'n well gen iI'd Rather: Byddai'n Well Gen I
I would rather: the same pattern with byddai or basai.
Level 3 - mae'n well iHad Better: Mae'n Well I
Had better: well + i, not gen i.
Level 3 - â, gyda, tua, na + Aspirate MutationAspirate Mutation After Â, Gyda, Tua and Na
Na (than) causes aspirate mutation.
Level 3 - gwell / gwaeth / mwy / llaiIrregular Comparatives
Gwell is the comparative of da (good).
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice Mae'n well gen i in Bubblegum
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