Learning a new language can be both exciting and challenging, especially when it comes to understanding how to express time-related concepts. In the Welsh language, time-related vocabulary is rich and diverse, reflecting both the historical and contemporary culture of Wales. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to time-related vocabulary in Welsh, helping you to navigate through various expressions related to time, days, months, seasons, and more.
The Basics: Hours and Minutes
Understanding how to tell time in Welsh is crucial for everyday conversation. The Welsh word for “time” is amser. To ask “What time is it?” you would say “Faint o’r gloch ydy hi?”
Hours
The Welsh language uses a 12-hour clock, similar to English. Here are the basics of telling the hour:
– One o’clock – Un o’r gloch
– Two o’clock – Dau o’r gloch
– Three o’clock – Tri o’r gloch
– Four o’clock – Pedwar o’r gloch
– Five o’clock – Pump o’r gloch
– Six o’clock – Chwech o’r gloch
– Seven o’clock – Saith o’r gloch
– Eight o’clock – Wyth o’r gloch
– Nine o’clock – Naw o’r gloch
– Ten o’clock – Deg o’r gloch
– Eleven o’clock – Un ar ddeg o’r gloch
– Twelve o’clock – Deuddeg o’r gloch
Minutes
To specify minutes past the hour, you simply add the minutes after the hour:
– Five past one – Pum munud wedi un
– Ten past two – Deg munud wedi dau
– Quarter past three – Chwarter wedi tri
– Twenty past four – Ugain munud wedi pedwar
– Half past five – Hanner awr wedi pump
For minutes before the hour, use the word “i” (to):
– Five to one – Pum munud i un
– Ten to two – Deg munud i dau
– Quarter to three – Chwarter i dri
– Twenty to four – Ugain munud i bedwar
Days of the Week
The days of the week in Welsh are unique and can be a bit tricky to memorize at first. Here they are:
– Monday – Dydd Llun
– Tuesday – Dydd Mawrth
– Wednesday – Dydd Mercher
– Thursday – Dydd Iau
– Friday – Dydd Gwener
– Saturday – Dydd Sadwrn
– Sunday – Dydd Sul
To say “on Monday” or “on Tuesday,” you use the prefix “ar”:
– On Monday – ar Dydd Llun
– On Tuesday – ar Dydd Mawrth
Months of the Year
Learning the months of the year in Welsh can be quite straightforward as they are very similar to their English counterparts:
– January – Ionawr
– February – Chwefror
– March – Mawrth
– April – Ebrill
– May – Mai
– June – Mehefin
– July – Gorffennaf
– August – Awst
– September – Medi
– October – Hydref
– November – Tachwedd
– December – Rhagfyr
To specify a month, use the preposition “yn”:
– In January – yn Ionawr
– In February – yn Chwefror
Seasons
The seasons in Welsh are closely tied to nature and traditional ways of life. Here’s how you say each season:
– Spring – Y Gwanwyn
– Summer – Yr Haf
– Autumn – Yr Hydref
– Winter – Y Gaeaf
You can use these words to describe activities or events during a particular season:
– In the spring – yn y Gwanwyn
– During the summer – yn yr Haf
Parts of the Day
The Welsh language also has specific terms for different parts of the day:
– Morning – Bore
– Afternoon – Prynhawn
– Evening – Noswaith
– Night – Nos
To say “in the morning” or “in the evening,” you use the preposition “yn”:
– In the morning – yn y bore
– In the evening – yn y noswaith
Expressions of Frequency
Understanding how often something occurs is an important aspect of mastering time-related vocabulary. Here are some common expressions of frequency in Welsh:
– Always – Bob amser
– Often – Yn aml
– Sometimes – Weithiau
– Rarely – Anaml
– Never – Byth
For example:
– I always read in the evening. – Rwy’n darllen bob amser yn y noswaith.
– She rarely goes to the gym. – Mae hi’n mynd i’r gampfa yn anaml.
Time Expressions with Verbs
Combining time-related words with verbs can help you describe actions more precisely. Here are some useful phrases:
– To spend time – Treulio amser
– To save time – Arbed amser
– To waste time – Gwastraffu amser
– To take time – Cymryd amser
Examples in sentences:
– We spend time together every weekend. – Rydym yn treulio amser gyda’n gilydd bob penwythnos.
– He saves time by working efficiently. – Mae’n arbed amser trwy weithio’n effeithlon.
Time-Related Idioms
Welsh, like any other language, has its own idiomatic expressions related to time. Here are a few examples:
– Amser aur – Golden time (a valuable or cherished time)
– Amser a ddengys – Time will tell
– Amser hir – A long time
Examples in sentences:
– This is our golden time. – Dyma ein hamser aur.
– Time will tell if we made the right decision. – Amser a ddengys os gwnaethom y penderfyniad cywir.
Days and Dates
When talking about specific dates, it’s important to know how to say ordinal numbers in Welsh:
– First – Cyntaf
– Second – Ail
– Third – Trydydd
– Fourth – Pedwerydd
– Fifth – Pumed
For example:
– January 1st – Ionawr y cyntaf
– February 2nd – Chwefror yr ail
To ask or tell the date, you can use the phrase “Pa ddyddiad ydy hi?” (What date is it?) and respond with the appropriate date format.
Future and Past Tenses
Describing actions that took place in the past or will happen in the future requires knowledge of the Welsh future and past tenses.
Future Tense
The future tense can be formed using the verb “to be” (bod) and the infinitive of the main verb:
– I will go – Bydda i’n mynd
– He will eat – Bydd e’n bwyta
Past Tense
The past tense in Welsh often uses the preterite form:
– I went – Es i
– She ate – Bwytodd hi
Examples in sentences:
– We will meet tomorrow. – Byddwn ni’n cwrdd yfory.
– They went to the market yesterday. – Aethon nhw i’r farchnad ddoe.
Time Markers
Time markers help indicate when something happens. Here are some common Welsh time markers:
– Today – Heddiw
– Tomorrow – Yfory
– Yesterday – Ddoe
– Last week – Wythnos diwethaf
– Next month – Mis nesaf
Examples in sentences:
– I’m busy today. – Rwy’n brysur heddi.
– We’ll travel tomorrow. – Byddwn ni’n teithio yfory.
Practice Makes Perfect
To fully integrate this vocabulary into your Welsh language skills, consistent practice is essential. Here are some tips:
– **Use flashcards** to memorize days, months, and seasons.
– **Engage in conversations** with native Welsh speakers focusing on daily activities and plans.
– **Watch Welsh television** programs or listen to Welsh radio to hear time-related vocabulary in context.
– **Write a daily journal** in Welsh, noting the date and describing your activities for that day.
Learning time-related vocabulary in Welsh not only helps you communicate more effectively but also deepens your understanding of Welsh culture and daily life. With practice and persistence, you’ll find yourself becoming more fluent and comfortable with these essential expressions. Happy learning!
