How to Say “What is Your Name?” in Welsh
The Standard Way: “Beth yw eich enw?”
The most common and formal way to ask “What is your name?” in Welsh is:
Beth yw eich enw?
Pronunciation: Behth yoo aykh EN-oo?
This phrase is appropriate in formal settings or when speaking to someone you do not know well. Here’s a breakdown of each word:
- Beth – What
- yw – is
- eich – your (formal or plural)
- enw – name
Informal Way: “Beth yw dy enw?”
When speaking to children, friends, or people your own age, you can use the informal version:
Beth yw dy enw?
Pronunciation: Behth yoo duh EN-oo?
In this version, dy replaces eich to indicate informality and singular “you”.
Welsh Pronunciation Tips
Welsh pronunciation can be quite different from English, but with a bit of practice, you will quickly improve. Here are some tips for the phrases above:
- th in “beth” is pronounced like the “th” in “think”.
- yw is pronounced as “you”.
- eich is a bit tricky; it’s roughly “aykh”, where the “ch” is like the Scottish “loch”.
- dy is “duh”, with a soft ‘d’.
- enw is “EN-oo”, with a short ‘e’.
How to Respond to “What is Your Name?” in Welsh
When someone asks you “Beth yw eich enw?”, you can reply with:
Fy enw i yw [your name].
Pronunciation: Vuh EN-oo ee yoo [your name]
This means “My name is [your name].”
For example: Fy enw i yw Sioned. (My name is Sioned.)
Cultural Notes on Welsh Greetings
Welsh culture values politeness and friendliness. Using the formal or informal version appropriately shows respect and understanding of social context. When in doubt, start with the formal “Beth yw eich enw?” and switch to the informal version if invited to do so.
Adding a greeting such as “Shwmae” (Hi/Hello) before asking someone’s name is also a great way to sound more natural:
Shwmae! Beth yw eich enw?
Other Useful Welsh Phrases for Introductions
- Ple wyt ti’n dod? (Where are you from? – informal)
- Ple ydych chi’n dod? (Where are you from? – formal/plural)
- Braf cwrdd â chi. (Nice to meet you – formal)
- Braf cwrdd â ti. (Nice to meet you – informal)
Practice Welsh with Talkpal
Learning new phrases and practicing them regularly is key to language success. With Talkpal, you can use AI-powered tools to practice your Welsh conversation skills, get instant feedback on pronunciation, and build your confidence in real-life situations. Explore our platform to enhance your Welsh learning experience and connect with a supportive community of learners.
Conclusion
Knowing how to say “What is your name?” in Welsh is a simple yet powerful way to start conversations and immerse yourself in Welsh culture. Remember to use “Beth yw eich enw?” in formal situations and “Beth yw dy enw?” with friends or people your own age. Practice your pronunciation, explore more greetings, and make the most of language learning tools like Talkpal to achieve fluency and confidence in Welsh. Pob lwc! (Good luck!)
