When learning a new language, food vocabulary is often one of the most enjoyable areas to explore. Whether you’re talking about your favorite dishes, asking for restaurant recommendations, or simply grocery shopping, knowing how to describe flavors is essential. In Welsh, two fundamental flavor profiles are melys (sweet) and hallt (salty). Understanding these basic terms can help you navigate the culinary landscape of Wales and enrich your conversational skills. Let’s delve into these terms and some related vocabulary that can help you talk about food in Welsh.

Understanding Melys

Melys means “sweet” in Welsh. This term is used to describe foods that have a sugary taste, like desserts, fruits, and certain beverages.

Mae’r cacen hon yn felys.
This cake is sweet.

Related Vocabulary for Melys

Sudd – Juice. This is a liquid that is naturally contained in fruit and vegetables.

Dw i’n hoffi yfed sudd oren gyda brecwast.
I like drinking orange juice with breakfast.

Siwgr – Sugar. A sweet substance commonly used in cooking and baking.

Ychwanegwch lwy o siwgr i’r te.
Add a spoonful of sugar to the tea.

Mêl – Honey. A sweet, viscous food substance made by bees.

Rydw i’n hoffi rhoi mêl ar fy mharaf.
I like putting honey on my toast.

Ffrwyth – Fruit. The sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed.

Mae ffrwyth yn iach ac yn felys.
Fruit is healthy and sweet.

Losin – Candy/Sweets. Confections that are made with sugar.

Mae plant yn caru losin.
Children love candy.

Hufen iâ – Ice cream. A sweetened frozen food typically eaten as a snack or dessert.

Ydych chi eisiau rhai hufen iâ?
Do you want some ice cream?

Understanding Hallt

Hallt means “salty” in Welsh. This term is used to describe foods that have a high salt content, such as snacks, meats, and some types of cheese.

Mae’r caws hwn yn hallt.
This cheese is salty.

Related Vocabulary for Hallt

Halen – Salt. A mineral used to season and preserve food.

Peidiwch ag ychwanegu gormod o halen i’r bwyd.
Don’t add too much salt to the food.

Chips – Chips/Fries. Thin slices of potato that have been deep fried and salted.

Mae’r chips yn flasus iawn.
The chips are very tasty.

Ham – Ham. Meat from a pig’s leg, usually preserved with salt or smoke.

Dw i’n hoffi brechdan ham gyda chaws.
I like a ham sandwich with cheese.

Caws – Cheese. A dairy product made from curdled or cultured milk.

Mae’r caws hwn yn hynod o hallt.
This cheese is extremely salty.

Brechdan – Sandwich. A food typically consisting of vegetables, sliced cheese or meat, placed on or between slices of bread.

Mae brechdan caws a ham yn flasus iawn.
A cheese and ham sandwich is very tasty.

Sosej – Sausage. A cylindrical meat product usually made from ground meat, salt, and spices.

Mae sosej yn dda ar gyfer brecwast.
Sausage is good for breakfast.

Melys a Hallt mewn Bwydydd Cymreig

Wales has a rich culinary tradition that includes both melys and hallt dishes. Here are a few examples of traditional Welsh foods that you might encounter.

Melys Dishes

Pice ar y maen – Welsh cakes. Small, round cakes made from flour, butter, sugar, and currants.

Mae pice ar y maen yn arbennig o felys ac yn berffaith gyda phaned.
Welsh cakes are especially sweet and perfect with a cup of tea.

Teisen – Cake. A sweet baked dessert usually made from flour, sugar, and other ingredients.

Ydych chi eisiau darn o teisen siocled?
Do you want a piece of chocolate cake?

Bara brith – Speckled bread. A traditional Welsh tea bread made with dried fruit.

Mae bara brith yn felys ac yn flasus.
Speckled bread is sweet and delicious.

Hallt Dishes

Cawl – Soup. A traditional Welsh soup or broth made with meat and vegetables.

Mae cawl yn bryd hallt a chynnes.
Soup is a salty and warm meal.

Pastai – Pie. A baked dish typically with a filling of meat, fish, or vegetables.

Mae pastai cig yn bryd hallt a blasus.
Meat pie is a salty and tasty meal.

Ffacbys – Faggots. A traditional Welsh meatball made from minced off-cuts and offal.

Mae ffacbys yn hallt ac yn flasus.
Faggots are salty and tasty.

Pastai gig oen – Lamb pie. A savory pie made with lamb and vegetables.

Mae pastai gig oen yn bryd hallt traddodiadol.
Lamb pie is a traditional salty meal.

Combination of Melys and Hallt

Some foods and dishes combine both melys and hallt flavors, creating a delightful balance that many people enjoy.

Bara menyn a mêl – Bread with butter and honey. A simple yet delicious combination of sweet and salty.

Rydw i’n hoffi bara menyn a mêl gyda phaned o de.
I like bread with butter and honey with a cup of tea.

Popcorn hallt a melys – Sweet and salty popcorn. A popular snack that combines the two flavors.

Mae popcorn hallt a melys yn flasus iawn.
Sweet and salty popcorn is very tasty.

Caws a ffrwythau – Cheese and fruit. A combination often served as a dessert or appetizer.

Mae caws a ffrwythau yn gyfuniad perffaith o flasau.
Cheese and fruit is a perfect combination of flavors.

Using Melys and Hallt in Sentences

To help you practice, here are some sentences that use melys and hallt along with other food-related vocabulary.

Mae’r pwdin hwn yn felys iawn.
This dessert is very sweet.

Mae’r sosej yn rhy hallt i mi.
The sausage is too salty for me.

Ydych chi’n hoffi bwydydd melys neu hallt?
Do you like sweet or salty foods?

Mae’r sudd yma’n felys iawn.
This juice is very sweet.

Rydw i’n hoffi ychwanegu halen i fy chips.
I like adding salt to my chips.

Gallaf gael brechdan ham a caws, os gwelwch yn dda?
Can I have a ham and cheese sandwich, please?

Conclusion

Understanding the basic terms melys and hallt in Welsh can greatly enhance your ability to talk about food and flavors. By expanding your vocabulary to include related terms and practicing with example sentences, you can become more confident in your conversational skills. Whether you’re enjoying a traditional Welsh dish or discussing your favorite snacks, knowing how to describe flavors is an essential part of language learning. So next time you’re in Wales or chatting with a Welsh speaker, don’t hesitate to use these terms and enjoy the rich culinary experiences that come with them.