po + Superlative
The More ... the More: Po
To say the sooner the better or the more you practise, the better, Welsh uses po + a superlative with soft mutation: gorau po gyntaf.
How It Works
Two everyday phrases. These are used all the time, in speech and in writing:
- Gorau po gyntaf — the sooner the better
- Gorau po fwyaf — the more the better
How the pattern works. Po is followed by a superlative, the "-est" form of an adjective (see Superlatives: -af and Mwyaf). Po causes soft mutation, so cyntaf becomes gyntaf, mwyaf becomes fwyaf, lleiaf becomes leiaf and gorau becomes orau. In speech the final f is usually dropped: po gynta, po fwya.
Adding a verb. For a longer sentence, put y (yr before a vowel) after the superlative and then a verb. A future form of bod is common: Po fwyaf y byddwch chi'n ymarfer, gorau i gyd (The more you practise, the better). The second half is often gorau i gyd or gorau oll (all the better). It can also be another superlative without po: Po hira'r daith, mwya'r blinder (The longer the journey, the more tired you get).
In formal writing. Older and very formal texts put a subjunctive verb such as bo after po: po hiraf y bo'r nos (the longer the night). You only need to recognise this; see Subjunctive Forms.
Examples (6)
- Gorau po gyntaf.
The sooner the better.
Cyntaf (first, soonest) softens to gyntaf after po.
- Gorau po fwyaf.
The more the better.
Mwyaf (most, biggest) softens to fwyaf after po.
- Po fwyaf y byddwch chi'n ymarfer, gorau i gyd.
The more you practise, the better.
The verb comes after y; gorau i gyd means all the better.
- Po gynta y byddwn ni'n dechrau, gorau i gyd.
The sooner we start, the better.
Gynta is the everyday spoken form of gyntaf.
- Po hira'r daith, mwya'r blinder.
The longer the journey, the more tired you get.
The second half uses a superlative without po. Hira stays hira after po, because h never mutates.
- Anfonwch eich ffurflen aton ni, gorau po gyntaf.
Send your form to us, the sooner the better.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the soft mutation after po.
Gorau po cyntaf.Gorau po gyntaf.Po always softens the superlative after it: cyntaf becomes gyntaf, mwyaf becomes fwyaf.
Using the -er form after po, as English does.
Po fwy y byddwch chi'n ymarfer, gorau i gyd.Po fwyaf y byddwch chi'n ymarfer, gorau i gyd.Mwy means more, but po needs the superlative mwyaf (most). English says "the more", Welsh says "the most".
How It Connects
Learn This First
Po + a softened superlative expresses 'the more ... the more'.
Related Patterns
- -ach ComparativeComparatives with -ach
English uses the -er form here, but Welsh uses the superlative after po.
Level 3 - gwell / gwaeth / mwy / llaiIrregular Comparatives
Gorau (best) and mwyaf (most) belong to the irregular set da, gwell, gorau and mawr, mwy, mwyaf.
Level 3 - cystal / cymaint / cynddrwgAs Good as: Cystal, Cymaint, Cynddrwg
Another special way of comparing things.
Level 5 - bo / boed / byddedSubjunctive Forms: Bo, Boed, Bydded (Recognition)
Formal texts put a subjunctive such as bo after po.
Level 6
Practice po + Superlative in Bubblegum
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