Mae'n ddrwg gen i / Mae'n flin gyda fi

Saying Sorry in North and South

Level 2

To say "I'm sorry", say Mae'n ddrwg gen i (literally "it's bad with me"). In the South you will also hear Mae'n flin 'da fi.

How It Works

Mae'n ddrwg gen i is understood everywhere and is the usual form in the North. Other people: Mae'n ddrwg gynno fo (he's sorry), Mae'n ddrwg gynnon ni (we're sorry).

In the South people say Mae'n ddrwg 'da fi or Mae'n flin 'da fi (or gyda fi). In the South, blin can mean sorry: Wi'n flin am y ddamwain (I'm sorry about the accident).

In the North, blin means cross. Mae o'n flin iawn means "He's very cross". So in the North, say Mae'n ddrwg gen i to apologise. Neither region is wrong; see North and South Welsh.

Sorry about, sorry to. Add am + soft mutation for "about": Mae'n ddrwg gen i am y llanast. Add a soft-mutated verb-noun for "to": Mae'n ddrwg gen i glywed (I'm sorry to hear).

In formal writing you will see Mae'n ddrwg gennym (We are sorry) on notices and letters, for example Mae'n ddrwg gennym am yr oedi (We apologise for the delay). Notices often add am unrhyw anghyfleustra (for any inconvenience). You may also meet Mae'n flin gennym. In casual speech many people simply say sori.

Examples (6)

  1. Mae'n ddrwg gen i!

    I'm sorry!

    Word by Word: It's bad with me!

    Used everywhere, especially in the North.

  2. Mae'n flin 'da fi, dw i'n hwyr.

    I'm sorry, I'm late.

    South.

  3. Mae'n ddrwg gen i glywed am dy dad.

    I'm sorry to hear about your dad.

    Clywed softens to glywed; dy softens tad to dad.

  4. Mae'n ddrwg 'da fi am y llanast.

    Sorry about the mess.

    South.

  5. Mae o'n flin iawn heddiw.

    He's very cross today.

    North: blin means cross, not sorry.

  6. Mae'n ddrwg gennym am yr oedi.

    We apologise for the delay.

    Formal written Welsh, used on notices and letters.

Common Mistakes

  • Saying "I am bad" instead of "I'm sorry".

    Dw i'n ddrwg.
    Mae'n ddrwg gen i.

    Dw i'n ddrwg means "I'm bad" or "I'm naughty". To apologise, use the mae'n ... gen i (or 'da fi) pattern.

  • Forgetting the soft mutation after 'n.

    Mae'n drwg gen i.
    Mae'n ddrwg gen i.

    After the linking 'n, drwg softens to ddrwg (and blin to flin).

How It Connects

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

Mae'n ddrwg gen i / Mae'n flin gyda fiLevel 2Saying Sorry in North and South

Learn This First

Saying sorry uses mae'n + adjective + the possession phrase.

Words in This Pattern

mae'n ddrwg gen imae'n ddrwg gyda fidrwgblin