Adjective + iawn

Very: Adjective + Iawn

Level 1

To say very, put iawn after the adjective: da iawn = very good.

How It Works

Adjective + iawn: da iawn (very good), mawr iawn (very big), bach iawn (very small), oer iawn (very cold), prysur iawn (very busy).

In a sentence: Mae hi'n oer iawn (It's very cold). Mae'r ffilm yn dda iawn (The film is very good): da softens to dda after yn, and iawn just follows. See Describing With Yn.

After a noun and adjective: tŷ mawr iawn (a very big house). See Adjectives After Nouns.

A phrase to learn: Diolch yn fawr iawn (Thank you very much).

Iawn on its own means OK, fine or right: Iawn, diolch (Fine, thanks), Wyt ti'n iawn? (Are you OK?). So Mae hi'n iawn means "She's fine", not "She's very".

Two other words change strength but go before the adjective and soften it: rhy (too; see rhy + soft mutation) and mor (so; see mor + soft mutation).

Examples (6)

  1. Mae hi'n oer iawn heddiw.

    It's very cold today.

  2. Mae'r ffilm yn dda iawn.

    The film is very good.

    Da softens to dda after yn; iawn follows it.

  3. Diolch yn fawr iawn!

    Thank you very much!

  4. Maen nhw'n byw mewn tŷ mawr iawn.

    They live in a very big house.

  5. Dw i'n brysur iawn.

    I'm very busy.

  6. Wyt ti'n iawn?

    Are you OK?

    Iawn on its own means OK or fine.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting iawn before the adjective.

    Mae hi'n iawn oer.
    Mae hi'n oer iawn.

    Iawn meaning "very" always comes after the adjective. Mae hi'n iawn on its own means "She's fine".

How It Connects

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

Adjective + iawnLevel 1Very: Adjective + Iawn

Learn This First

Iawn follows the adjective, just as the adjective follows the noun.

Words in This Pattern