Words That Resist Mutation

Level 5

Mae hi'n braf, not fraf. Y gêm, not yr êm. A few words stay the same where you would expect a mutation.

How It Works

1. Braf. Braf (fine, nice) never mutates: Mae hi'n braf, noson braf (a fine evening), even though yn and a feminine noun would normally soften it. See Talking About the Weather.

2. Recent loans with g. Soft mutation normally drops g (gardd → yr ardd). Recent loanwords keep it instead: y gêm, i'r garej, rownd o golff (a round of golf). Older loans, such as gwn (gun), mutate as usual.

3. Ll and rh in some places. Ll and rh do not soften after:

In other places they soften as usual: dy law di (your hand), noson lawen (a merry evening).

4. Small words that speech leaves alone. In everyday speech, beth (be), ble, pam, mae and gyda do not mutate: i ble? (where to?), Am beth dych chi'n siarad? (What are you talking about?). Shortened words such as 'da (for gyda) and 'di (for wedi) also stay as they are.

5. Names. Careful writing mutates people's names (i Ddafydd), but everyday speech often leaves them unchanged (i Dafydd). Place names usually mutate: i Gaerdydd.

Examples (6)

  1. Mae hi'n braf heddiw.

    It's fine today.

    Braf never mutates, even after yn.

  2. Noson braf oedd hi.

    It was a fine evening.

    Braf stays unchanged after the feminine noun noson.

  3. Pwy enillodd y gêm?

    Who won the game?

    Gêm is a recent loan and keeps its g after y.

  4. Mae'r rhaglen yn dechrau am wyth.

    The programme starts at eight.

    Rhaglen is feminine, but rh does not soften after y.

  5. Mae'r bws yn llawn.

    The bus is full.

    Ll does not soften after this yn.

  6. I ble wyt ti'n mynd?

    Where are you going?

    Ble stays unchanged after i.

Common Mistakes

  • Mutating braf.

    Mae hi'n fraf heddiw.
    Mae hi'n braf heddiw.

    Braf never mutates, even after yn or a feminine noun.

  • Dropping the g of a recent loanword.

    Pwy enillodd yr êm?
    Pwy enillodd y gêm?

    Recent loans such as gêm and garej keep their g after the article.

How It Connects

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Words That Resist MutationLevel 5

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Words that resist mutation are exceptions to rules already met.

Words in This Pattern