Welsh Mynediad (Entry, A1) key terms

A greeting used in the morning, roughly 'good morning'. It is one of the first phrases learners meet and works in shops, classrooms, and on the phone. It is followed naturally by 'Sut wyt ti?' or 'Sut dych chi?'.

The afternoon greeting, meaning 'good afternoon'. Used from midday until evening and common in formal settings such as offices, clinics, and reception desks. It pairs with 'Bore da' earlier in the day and 'Noswaith dda' later.

A farewell said at night, meaning 'good night'. It is used when parting, not as a greeting on arrival. For an evening greeting use 'Noswaith dda' instead, so learners must keep the two apart.

The evening greeting, meaning 'good evening'. Said on arriving somewhere after roughly six o'clock. It is a greeting, unlike the farewell 'Nos da', and appears in restaurants, hotels, and evening classes.

A common way to say goodbye, literally 'big fun'. It suits most partings, formal or friendly. 'Hwyl' alone is more casual and is often used with friends. Both are heard constantly in everyday Welsh conversation.

Means 'welcome' or 'you're welcome'. Said when someone arrives, and also as the reply when someone thanks you. The sign 'Croeso i Gymru' is seen on roads entering Wales, so learners meet it immediately.

The everyday word for 'thank you'. A common stronger form is 'Diolch yn fawr', meaning 'thank you very much'. The usual reply is 'Croeso'. It is essential in shops, cafes, and any polite exchange.

Means 'please', used in formal or polite situations. A shorter, less formal version is 'os gwelwch yn dda' shortened to 'plis' in speech. It usually comes at the end of a request, as in asking for a coffee.

The polite way to ask 'how are you?'. Used with strangers, older people, or in formal contexts. The familiar version is 'Sut wyt ti?'. The usual reply is 'Da iawn, diolch' or simply 'Iawn, diolch'.

The informal way to ask 'how are you?', used with friends, children, and people your own age. The polite form is 'Sut dych chi?'. Choosing between them is a key early skill in spoken Welsh.

Means 'may I have' or 'can I have'. Used to ask for things politely, as in 'Ga i goffi?' (may I have a coffee?). It is one of the most useful patterns for ordering food and buying tickets.

Asks 'how much is it?'. Used when shopping or checking a price. For several items you may hear 'Faint ydyn nhw?'. The answer is a number plus 'punt' or 'ceiniog', so number words matter here.

The Welsh word for a pound in money. Prices are given as a number plus 'punt', for example 'dwy bunt' (two pounds). The plural form changes after numbers, so learners practise it when shopping and paying.

Means 'where is...?'. A core question pattern for asking directions, as in 'Ble mae'r toiled?' (where is the toilet?). The answer often begins with 'Mae...' plus a place word such as 'yn y neuadd'.

The word for toilet or lavatory. Often seen on signs as 'Toiledau' in the plural. Asking 'Ble mae'r toiled?' is a standard survival phrase, and the answer may include 'ar y chwith' or 'ar y dde'.

Means 'slow' or 'slowly'. Seen on road signs as 'Araf' before bends or hazards, and used in class when asking someone to speak slowly. The opposite is 'cyflym', meaning fast.

Means 'time'. Used in questions about schedules, as in 'Faint o'r gloch yw e?' (what time is it?). It also appears in phrases like 'amser da' (a good time) and on timetables for buses and trains.

Means 'today'. It is used when talking about plans, opening hours, or the weather. Related words are 'ddoe' (yesterday) and 'yfory' (tomorrow). These time words are frequent in short listening passages.

Means 'tomorrow'. Used in arrangements and forecasts, as in 'Yfory, bydd hi'n braf'. It is often paired with 'heddiw' and 'ddoe' in questions about when something happens, so learn the three together.

Means 'weather'. Very common in short listening and reading texts, as in 'Mae'r tywydd yn braf'. Typical answers use 'braf' (fine), 'glawog' (rainy), and 'oer' (cold). It is a reliable topic in beginner exams.

Means 'rain'. The adjective 'glawog' means rainy. Weather phrases often use it, as in 'Mae'n bwrw glaw' (it is raining). It appears in forecasts and small talk, so it is worth learning with 'tywydd' and 'oer'.

Means 'cold'. Used for weather and for objects, as in 'Mae hi'n oer heddiw'. The opposite is 'poeth' (hot). Mutations can change the form after certain words, but the basic meaning stays the same in beginner texts.

Means 'family'. A standard topic for short speaking and writing tasks, where candidates describe parents, brothers, and sisters. Useful patterns include 'Mae gen i...' (I have...) and 'Mae fy mam yn...' (my mother is...).

Means 'mother' or 'mum'. Used in family descriptions such as 'Mae fy mam yn gweithio mewn siop'. The word mutates after 'fy' to 'mam', so learners meet the pattern early when introducing relatives.

Means 'father' or 'dad'. Appears in family descriptions alongside 'mam'. A common sentence is 'Mae fy nhad yn hoffi darllen'. The mutated form after 'fy' looks different, so reading tasks often test recognition of it.

Means 'brother'. The plural is 'brodyr'. Used when describing siblings, as in 'Mae gen i un brawd'. The word mutates after 'fy' to 'mrawd', which learners should recognise in reading passages about families.

Means 'sister'. The plural is 'chwiorydd'. A typical sentence is 'Mae gen i ddwy chwaer'. It belongs with 'brawd' and 'teulu' in the family topic, which appears in speaking and short writing tasks.

Means 'I have'. Used to talk about possessions, family, and pets, as in 'Mae gen i gath'. The pattern is slightly different from English, so it is worth practising as a fixed phrase in speaking and writing.

Means 'cat'. A common example in sentences with 'Mae gen i', as in 'Mae gen i gath' (I have a cat). Pets are a frequent topic in beginner speaking tests, so learn 'cath' with 'ci' (dog).

Means 'dog'. Used in pet descriptions, as in 'Mae gen i gi' (I have a dog). It mutates after 'fy' to 'nghi', a form that appears in reading tasks. Learn it alongside 'cath' for the pets topic.

Means 'to like'. Used to express preferences, as in 'Dw i'n hoffi coffi' (I like coffee). It is one of the first verbs learners use in speaking tests, and it pairs easily with food, hobbies, and places.

Means 'coffee'. A very common word in ordering tasks, as in 'Ga i goffi, os gwelwch yn dda'. It appears in cafe dialogues and in sentences about likes and dislikes, so it links shopping and preference language.

Means 'to read'. Used in hobby sentences such as 'Dw i'n hoffi darllen'. It is a regular verb and appears in reading and writing tasks about free time, often alongside 'gwrando' (listening) and 'siarad' (speaking).

Means 'school'. A frequent topic in beginner texts, as in 'Dw i'n mynd i'r ysgol'. It is used in questions about daily routines and places, and appears in short writing tasks describing a typical day.

Means 'work' or 'job'. Used in questions such as 'Ble wyt ti'n gweithio?' and answers like 'Dw i'n gweithio mewn swyddfa'. It is a standard speaking topic, so learn it with 'swyddfa' and 'siop'.

Means 'shop'. Used in directions and daily-routine sentences, as in 'Mae'r siop ar y chwith'. It also appears in job descriptions, such as working in a shop. Learn it with 'gwaith' and 'Ble mae...?'.

Means 'on the left'. Used when giving or following directions, often with 'Mae'r siop ar y chwith'. The opposite is 'ar y dde' (on the right). These phrases are essential for map and direction tasks.

Means 'on the right'. Used in directions, as in 'Mae'r toiled ar y dde'. It pairs with 'ar y chwith' (on the left), and both appear in listening tasks where a speaker describes a route or a building layout.

Means 'my name is'. The standard opening for introductions in speaking tests. A shorter form is 'Fy enw i yw...' followed by the name. It is usually followed by 'Dw i'n dod o...' (I come from...).

Means 'I come from'. Used to say where you are from, as in 'Dw i'n dod o Gaerdydd'. It is a fixed pattern in introductions and often follows 'Fy enw i yw'. Place names may mutate after 'o'.