Learning Welsh can be a rewarding experience, providing insights into a rich cultural heritage and opening doors to a community of speakers who are passionate about their language. If you’re at the A2 level in your Welsh studies, you’ve already built a foundation and are ready to expand your vocabulary and understanding. This article aims to introduce you to some essential Welsh words that will help you progress to the next level of fluency.

Common Verbs

Verbs are the backbone of any language, enabling you to describe actions and states. Here are some common Welsh verbs that are crucial for A2 learners:

1. **Bod** (to be): This is perhaps the most important verb in Welsh, used in various forms to indicate existence, location, and identity. For example:
– Rydw i’n hapus (I am happy)
– Mae hi’n braf heddiw (It is nice today)

2. **Gwneud** (to do/make): This versatile verb is used frequently in everyday conversation.
– Beth wyt ti’n gwneud? (What are you doing?)
– Rydw i’n gwneud gwaith cartref (I am doing homework)

3. **Mynd** (to go): Essential for talking about movement and travel.
– Rydw i’n mynd i’r siop (I am going to the shop)
– Aeth hi i’r ysgol (She went to school)

4. **Dod** (to come): Useful for inviting or talking about arrivals.
– Wyt ti’n dod? (Are you coming?)
– Daeth e adref (He came home)

5. **Cael** (to get/receive): Often used in the context of obtaining something.
– Rydw i’n cael llyfr newydd (I am getting a new book)
– Ces i anrheg (I received a gift)

Everyday Nouns

Having a good grasp of basic nouns will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Welsh. Here are some everyday nouns that you should know:

1. **Tŷ** (house): A fundamental word for talking about living spaces.
– Mae fy nhŷ yn fawr (My house is big)

2. **Bwyd** (food): An essential word for any conversation involving meals.
– Rydw i’n hoffi bwyd Cymreig (I like Welsh food)

3. **Car** (car): Useful for discussions about transportation.
– Mae gen i gar newydd (I have a new car)

4. **Teulu** (family): Important for talking about relationships.
– Mae fy nheulu yn fawr (My family is large)

5. **Ysgol** (school): Often used in conversations about education.
– Mae hi’n mynd i’r ysgol bob dydd (She goes to school every day)

Adjectives to Describe the World

Adjectives add color to your sentences, allowing you to describe the world around you more vividly. Here are some common Welsh adjectives:

1. **Hapus** (happy):
– Rydw i’n hapus iawn heddiw (I am very happy today)

2. **Trist** (sad):
– Mae hi’n drist iawn (She is very sad)

3. **Prydferth** (beautiful):
– Mae’r ardal hon yn brydferth (This area is beautiful)

4. **Hen** (old):
– Mae’r llyfr hwn yn hen (This book is old)

5. **Ifanc** (young):
– Mae’r plentyn yn ifanc iawn (The child is very young)

Essential Prepositions

Prepositions are small but mighty words that show relationships between different parts of a sentence. Here are some Welsh prepositions that are useful at the A2 level:

1. **Ar** (on):
– Mae’r llyfr ar y bwrdd (The book is on the table)

2. **Yn** (in):
– Mae hi’n byw yn y dre (She lives in the town)

3. **Gyda** (with):
– Dw i’n mynd gyda fy ffrind (I am going with my friend)

4. **I** (to):
– Rydw i’n mynd i’r parc (I am going to the park)

5. **O** (from):
– Mae hi’n dod o Gymru (She is from Wales)

Useful Pronouns

Pronouns are used to replace nouns and avoid repetition. Here are some Welsh pronouns that are essential for A2 learners:

1. **Fi** (I/me):
– Rydw i’n hoffi coffi (I like coffee)

2. **Ti** (you – informal):
– Wyt ti’n hoffi siocled? (Do you like chocolate?)

3. **Fe/hi** (he/she):
– Mae e’n brysur (He is busy)
– Mae hi’n brysur (She is busy)

4. **Ni** (we/us):
– Rydyn ni’n mynd i’r sinema (We are going to the cinema)

5. **Chi** (you – formal/plural):
– Sut ydych chi? (How are you?)

Common Phrases and Expressions

Learning some common phrases and expressions can help you feel more comfortable in everyday conversations. Here are a few that are particularly useful:

1. **Bore da** (Good morning):
– Bore da, sut wyt ti? (Good morning, how are you?)

2. **Nos da** (Good night):
– Nos da, cysga’n dda (Good night, sleep well)

3. **Diolch** (Thank you):
– Diolch am eich help (Thank you for your help)

4. **Os gwelwch yn dda** (Please):
– Gallaf gael coffi, os gwelwch yn dda? (Can I have a coffee, please?)

5. **Croeso** (Welcome/You’re welcome):
– Croeso i Gymru (Welcome to Wales)
– Diolch – Croeso (Thank you – You’re welcome)

Numbers and Counting

Numbers are fundamental in any language. Here are the Welsh numbers from 1 to 10, which you should know at the A2 level:

1. **Un** (one)
2. **Dau** (two)
3. **Tri** (three)
4. **Pedwar** (four)
5. **Pump** (five)
6. **Chwech** (six)
7. **Saith** (seven)
8. **Wyth** (eight)
9. **Naw** (nine)
10. **Deg** (ten)

Using these numbers, you can form more complex numbers:
– Un deg un (eleven)
– Dau ddeg (twenty)

Time and Dates

Being able to talk about time and dates is crucial for making plans and understanding schedules. Here are some key words and phrases:

1. **Awr** (hour):
– Mae’r cyfarfod yn para un awr (The meeting lasts one hour)

2. **Dydd** (day):
– Pa ddydd yw e heddiw? (What day is it today?)

3. **Wythnos** (week):
– Mae saith diwrnod mewn wythnos (There are seven days in a week)

4. **Blwyddyn** (year):
– Mae hi’n un blwyddyn oed (She is one year old)

5. **Amser** (time):
– Pa amser yw e? (What time is it?)

Weather Vocabulary

The weather is a common topic of conversation. Here are some Welsh words related to the weather:

1. **Haul** (sun):
– Mae’r haul yn tywynnu (The sun is shining)

2. **Glaw** (rain):
– Mae’n bwrw glaw (It is raining)

3. **Eira** (snow):
– Mae hi’n eira (It is snowing)

4. **Gwynt** (wind):
– Mae’r gwynt yn gryf (The wind is strong)

5. **Cymylog** (cloudy):
– Mae hi’n gymylog heddiw (It is cloudy today)

Shopping and Money

If you’re going to be in a Welsh-speaking area, knowing some shopping and money-related vocabulary can be very useful:

1. **Pris** (price):
– Beth yw’r pris? (What is the price?)

2. **Arian** (money):
– Mae gen i ddim digon o arian (I don’t have enough money)

3. **Siop** (shop):
– Rydw i’n mynd i’r siop (I am going to the shop)

4. **Prynu** (to buy):
– Dw i eisiau prynu hwn (I want to buy this)

5. **Gwerthu** (to sell):
– Mae e’n gwerthu ei gar (He is selling his car)

Food and Drink

Discussing food and drink is a part of daily life. Here are some Welsh words you should know:

1. **Bara** (bread):
– Hoffwn i gael bara (I would like some bread)

2. **Caws** (cheese):
– Rydw i’n hoffi caws (I like cheese)

3. **Llaeth** (milk):
– Ydych chi eisiau llaeth yn eich coffi? (Do you want milk in your coffee?)

4. **Gwin** (wine):
– Hoffwn i gael gwydraid o win (I would like a glass of wine)

5. **Cig** (meat):
– Mae cig yn flasus (Meat is tasty)

Health and Body

When discussing health and the body, the following words will be useful:

1. **Pen** (head):
– Mae pen tost gyda fi (I have a headache)

2. **Llaw** (hand):
– Mae’r llaw yn boenus (The hand is painful)

3. **Trwyn** (nose):
– Mae trwyn fy mhlentyn yn rhedeg (My child’s nose is running)

4. **Claf** (sick):
– Mae hi’n glaf heddiw (She is sick today)

5. **Meddyg** (doctor):
– Mae angen gweld meddyg arnaf (I need to see a doctor)

Travel and Directions

For navigating your way around, these words and phrases will be indispensable:

1. **Lôn** (road):
– Dilynwch y lôn hon (Follow this road)

2. **Pont** (bridge):
– Mae’r pont yn ddrwg (The bridge is bad)

3. **Gorsaf** (station):
– Ble mae’r orsaf drên? (Where is the train station?)

4. **De** (right):
– Troi i’r dde (Turn right)

5. **Chwith** (left):
– Troi i’r chwith (Turn left)

Conclusion

Expanding your Welsh vocabulary to include these A2 level words will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively and confidently. Practice using these words in sentences, engage in conversations with native speakers, and immerse yourself in Welsh media to reinforce your learning. Remember, language learning is a journey, and every new word you learn brings you one step closer to fluency. Pob lwc (good luck) on your Welsh language learning journey!