Speaking: short exchanges, role-play and pronunciation
This section covers the Speaking domain of the Welsh Mynediad (Entry, A1) exam. It tests whether you can take part in short, predictable exchanges in Welsh: greeting someone, giving personal details, asking and answering simple questions, handling a brief role-play, and talking about familiar topics such as family, home, work, free time, shopping and travel. The emphasis is on communication at A1, not on long speeches.
Core patterns
- Use the present tense of bod: dw i, rwyt ti, mae e/hi, dyn ni, dych chi, maen nhw. Contracted negatives: dw i ddim, dydy e/hi ddim, dyn ni ddim.
- Learn question frames: Ble rwyt ti'n byw?, Beth wyt ti'n hoffi?, Oes... gen ti?, Ga i...?, Faint o'r gloch...?
- Answer, then return the question: Dw i'n dda, diolch. A ti? This keeps the interaction going.
- After yn (in) place names mutate: Caerdydd → yng Nghaerdydd; Bangor → ym Mangor; Aberystwyth → yn Aberystwyth. After i (to): Caerdydd → i Gaerdydd.
- Pronunciation: dd = th in 'this'; ff = f; ch as in 'loch'; ll = voiceless l; stress usually on the penultimate syllable.
Worked example
Examiner: Bore da. Sut wyt ti? Candidate: Bore da. Dw i'n dda, diolch. A ti? Reasoning: the candidate mirrors the greeting, answers with Dw i'n dda, adds diolch, and returns A ti? A one-word Da would answer the question but close the exchange; the return question shows interaction. If the next question is Ble rwyt ti'n byw?, answer Dw i'n byw yng Nghaerdydd, not yn Caerdydd, because yn triggers nasal mutation before C.
Traps
- Giving only one-word answers; A1 still needs short sentences.
- Forgetting mutation after yn and i.
- Over-learning a monologue and missing the examiner's follow-up.
- Using English word order, e.g. Dw i hoffi instead of Dw i'n hoffi.
- Not asking a question back in role-plays.