hwn / hon / hyn

This and That: Hwn, Hon, Hyn

Level 2

Put the word after the noun, with y in front: y llyfr hwn (this book), y ferch hon (this girl), y plant hyn (these children).

How It Works

This and that

  • masculine: y llyfr hwn this book / y diwrnod hwnnw that day
  • feminine: y ferch hon this girl / y noson honno that night
  • plural: y plant hyn these children / y dyddiau hynny those days

The noun needs y. Always put y (yr, 'r) before the noun: y llyfr hwn. A feminine noun still softens after y: cân → y gân hon (this song).

On their own. Hwn and hon can mean this one: Beth ydy hwn? (What's this?). For that one, speech usually says hwnna and honna: Dw i eisiau honna (I want that one, for a feminine thing). These and those on their own are y rhain and y rheiny (also said y rheina).

Ideas. Hyn (this) and hynny (that) can point to an idea or a situation: Mae hynny'n wir (That's true), ar hyn o bryd (at the moment), ar ôl hynny (after that).

Time phrases. yr wythnos hon (this week), y tro hwn (this time), y dyddiau hyn (these days).

Speech. Everyday speech often says y llyfr 'ma (this book) and y ferch 'na (that girl). See This and That in Speech.

Examples (6)

  1. Mae'r llyfr hwn yn ddiddorol iawn.

    This book is very interesting.

    Llyfr is masculine: hwn.

  2. Dw i'n hoffi'r gân hon.

    I like this song.

    Cân is feminine: it softens after y and takes hon.

  3. Roedd y diwrnod hwnnw'n berffaith.

    That day was perfect.

  4. Mae'r plant hyn yn dysgu'n gyflym.

    These children learn quickly.

    Plural: hyn.

  5. Mae hynny'n wir.

    That's true.

    Hynny points to an idea.

  6. Beth ydy hwn?

    What's this?

    Hwn on its own means this one.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out y before the noun.

    Mae llyfr hwn yn dda.
    Mae'r llyfr hwn yn dda.

    The noun needs the article: y llyfr hwn. After mae, y becomes 'r.

  • Using the masculine word with a feminine noun.

    y ferch hwn
    y ferch hon

    Merch is feminine, so this is hon.

How It Connects

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

hwn / hon / hynLevel 2This and That: Hwn, Hon, Hyn

Learn This First

Hwn and hon are this after article + noun and agree with gender.

Words in This Pattern

hwnnwhwnnwhonnohonnohynnyhynny