dau / dwy + Soft Mutation
Two: Dau and Dwy
Welsh has two words for two: dau for masculine nouns and dwy for feminine nouns. Both soften the next word: dau gi (two dogs), dwy gath (two cats).
How It Works
Dau + masculine noun + soft mutation: dau gi (ci), dau fachgen (bachgen), dau lyfr (llyfr), dau ddiwrnod (diwrnod).
Dwy + feminine noun + soft mutation: dwy gath (cath), dwy ferch (merch), dwy bunt (punt), dwy flynedd (blynedd), dwy law (llaw).
The noun stays singular: dau gi, not dau gŵn. See number + singular noun.
Un (one). Masculine nouns do not change: un ci, un bachgen. Feminine nouns soften: un gath, un ferch. But feminine nouns starting with ll or rh stay as they are: un llaw, un rhaw (one spade). This is the same exception as after y; see y + feminine singular noun.
Tips. Dau and dwy themselves soften after the article: y ddau fachgen, y ddwy ferch (see y ddau y ddwy ill dau). If you are not sure of a noun's gender in conversation, dau will still be understood.
Examples (6)
- dau gi a dwy gath
two dogs and two cats
Ci is masculine (dau), cath is feminine (dwy). Both soften.
- Mae dau fachgen yn y parc.
There are two boys in the park.
Bachgen softens to fachgen.
- Mae dwy ferch gyda hi.
She has two daughters.
South. Merch softens to ferch.
- Mae'n costio dwy bunt.
It costs two pounds.
Punt is feminine: dwy bunt.
- un gath ac un ci
one cat and one dog
Un softens feminine cath but not masculine ci.
- un llaw, dwy law
one hand, two hands
Ll does not soften after un, but it does after dwy. The everyday plural of llaw is dwylo.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting the soft mutation after dau or dwy.
dau cidau giDau and dwy each soften the noun after them: ci → gi, cath → gath.
Softening a masculine noun after un.
un giun ciUn softens only feminine nouns. Ci is masculine, so it stays ci.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Dau and dwy agree with gender and soften the noun.
Related Patterns
- Masculine and Feminine Nouns
Gender decides between dau and dwy.
Level 1 - Soft Mutation
The mutation caused by dau, dwy and un.
Level 1 - tri / tair, pedwar / pedairFeminine Three and Four
Three and four also have feminine forms.
Level 2 - y ddau / y ddwy / ill dauBoth: Y Ddau, Y Ddwy, Ill Dau
Both: y ddau and y ddwy.
Level 5 - dwylo / deulinPairs of Body Parts: Dwylo, Deulin
Old pair words built on dau and dwy.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice dau / dwy + Soft Mutation in Bubblegum
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