Welsh, or Cymraeg, is a beautiful and historic language spoken primarily in Wales and parts of Argentina. As with any language, adjectives form a crucial part of Welsh grammar, helping to describe nouns and thus enriching communication. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common Welsh adjectives and see them used in context, providing a practical guide for learners aiming to enhance their Welsh vocabulary.

Describing Size and Quantity

In Welsh, just like in English, adjectives relating to size and quantity are frequently used in everyday conversation.

Mawr (big) and bach (small) are two fundamental adjectives. For instance:
– Mae’r ci mawr yn chwarae yn y parc. (The big dog is playing in the park.)
– Mae gan Eleri lyfr bach iawn. (Eleri has a very small book.)

When discussing quantity, llawer (many/much) and ychydig (few/little) are useful:
– Mae llawer o bobl yn y sinema heddiw. (There are many people in the cinema today.)
– Dim ond ychydig o siocled sydd ar ôl. (There is only a little chocolate left.)

Describing Quality

Quality is another aspect frequently described by adjectives. Da (good) and drwg (bad) are quite straightforward:
– Mae’r bwyd yn dda yn y bwyty hwn. (The food is good in this restaurant.)
– Roedd y tywydd yn ddrwg ddoe. (The weather was bad yesterday.)

Describing Color

Color adds vividness to language, and Welsh has its unique set of color adjectives:
– Mae’r blodau melyn yn hardd. (The yellow flowers are beautiful.)
– Mae ganddi car coch. (She has a red car.)

Describing Personality

Describing people’s personalities is often done with adjectives. Cyfeillgar (friendly) and swil (shy) are examples:
– Mae Tomos yn berson cyfeillgar iawn. (Tomos is a very friendly person.)
– Mae hi’n ferch swil ac yn ysgrifennu barddoniaeth. (She is a shy girl and writes poetry.)

Describing Feelings

Feelings or emotions can also be expressed using adjectives. Hapus (happy) and trist (sad) are commonly used:
– Mae’r plant yn hapus iawn gyda’r anrhegion. (The children are very happy with the gifts.)
– Roedd hi’n drist pan aeth ei ffrind i ffwrdd. (She was sad when her friend left.)

Describing Weather

Talking about the weather? Here are some adjectives:
– Mae hi’n braf heddiw. (It is nice today.)
– Mae’r gwynt yn oer ym mis Ionawr. (The wind is cold in January.)

Describing Taste

Taste is often described in Welsh using adjectives like blasus (tasty) and chwerw (bitter):
– Mae’r cacen yn flasus iawn. (The cake is very tasty.)
– Mae’r coffi ychydig yn chwerw. (The coffee is a bit bitter.)

Describing Condition

The condition of objects or situations can also be described with adjectives. Hen (old) and newydd (new) are such examples:
– Mae’r car hen ond yn dal i weithio’n dda. (The car is old but still works well.)
– Prynodd hi esgidiau newydd ddoe. (She bought new shoes yesterday.)

Comparative and Superlative Forms

Like English, Welsh adjectives can be modified into comparative and superlative forms to show varying degrees of quality, quantity, or other attributes. This modification often involves morphological changes or the addition of more words. For example:
– Mwy (more), llai (less), gorau (best), gwaethaf (worst).

Adjective Agreement

In Welsh, adjectives usually follow the noun they describe and agree in number and gender with the noun. This is a crucial aspect of grammatical agreement in Welsh:
– Mae gan y dyn grys melyn. (The man has a yellow shirt.)
– Mae gan y ddynes grys melyn. (The woman has a yellow shirt.)

Understanding and using these common Welsh adjectives effectively will greatly enhance your ability to describe objects, people, feelings, and much more in Welsh. Regular practice and exposure to native speakers or media will aid in mastering their usage, making your Welsh communication clearer and more expressive.