Funny Welsh Words

Welsh General / Questions
#1

Canolfan Cymraeg i Oedolion Gwent - Gwent Welsh for Adults Centre

10 Funny Welsh words that will hopefully brighten your day. Unfortunately, some of these are not commonly used… take a guess as to why…!

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#2

I remember my father saying to me that the fact that people used “wilbro” for “wheelbarrow” when they were speaking Welsh when he was young (along with things like “cini binsh” for kidney beans) even though most people spoke English as well in the area was a sign of the strength of the Welsh language in the area then, and a way for the Welsh language to survive. Not that funny, in my book! Just how words work.

“Ffrwchnedd” is not the “correct” word for banana- it doesn’t appear in any (reasonable) dictionaries, because no one uses (or has ever used) it.

However, “Ansparadigaethus” in my experience, is used occasionally by some Welsh speakers as an “amusing” :wink: , made-up word- which is exactly what it is!v

#3

Oh, and thanks Dinas for posting that link. I enjoyed watching it, and it’s interesting! Disagreement over some things does not equal disagreement or indeed disinterest* for the whole thing! Cheers!

[or “uninterest” if you like, but “disinterest” can mean the same thing, and “uninterest” just sounds odd.]

#4

Uninterested and disinterested are different.

If you’re uninterested then you’re indifferent, or maybe bored by something.
If you’re disinterested then you’re impartial, have no bias or have no personal stake.

Think of a disinterested judge compared to an uninterested judge.

#5

I was hoping “ansparadigaethus” was the word for “asparagus”. I was wrong, and yet, not disappointed :slight_smile: thanks for the link!

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#6

This is (as I understand it) one of those interesting bits of English where two words have traditionally shared a meaning but one’s gained a new, more prominent, meaning and use of the other has continued or reappeared while growing into a bone of contention for grammarians and their ilk.

Let’s all try to be as forgiving of each other’s choice of English dialects as we are of Welsh :wink:

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#7

The meanings of disinterested and uninterested have a complicated history, swapping and changing meanings over the years. The meanings are not as clear cut as you wish to point out to me. (In my belief)

I think my original post showed that I know of this matter, and disagree with the pedantry sometimes shown over it!

I wouldn’t say it was my ‘dialect’, just a knowledge of English. :wink:

#8

Here’s a link to loads of local dialectal words found in different areas of, Wales. This one is north-west dialect; using some words not found in dictionaries but common on the streets… There’s loads more on the sidebar.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/cymraeg/safle/tafodiaith/tudalen/tafodiaith_gogleddorllewin.shtml

#9

Let’s keep this one on the rails, folks.

Dave, we encourage people not to offer corrections for Welsh unless actively requested - probably a good rule for English as well :sunny:

Ow, I know I’m boring about this, but it is easy to come across as argumentative in text-only communication, and takes extra effort to make your friendliness clear. :sunny:

If we could sit the two of you at a table and put a pint in front of each of you, I’m sure you’d get along in no time (and probably be discussing fine linguistic points long after I’d finished my bottle of rum and gone to bed…;-)).

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#10

Myself, I thought that’s what we were doing without being argumentative, written medium or not! But as always, I bow to your opinion and wishes on the tone you want on this forum! :wink:

#11

I’m entirely certain that was your intention, just as I’m entirely certain Dave was making a friendly contribution.

I’m less certain that you will necessarily have come across correctly to each other - and as you know, when there’s any doubt on that score, I’m a big fan of being painfully obvious and hammering the point to death to make assurance doubly sure.

Thanks for your patience :sunny:

#12

Hmm, I’m getting a bit different vibes from uninterested than disinterested but I can’t really explain it. And hey, non-native English speaker here. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

#13

Most natives in my local area, including myself, are the same, Susanna they wouldn’t know the difference…
They don’t even know the difference between - to and too or there and their, adverse and averse

#14

…and as Dylan Thomas probably didn’t say :smile:

" a verse in time saves nine".

I’ll get my côt…

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#15

I find neidr cantroed to be funny…and a far better way of saying the English equivalent.

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#16

LOL! Occasionally, I’ve heard the words - codi sgwarnog - in conversations on the radio and thought it was something to do with hares; or raising them. You’ll hear it quite often. But, just discovered, its an idiom meaning in translation - to raise a red herring - in a discussion, debate argument…

#17

For anyone else (like me) who didn’t know it, it’s “centipede”, although Geiriadur Bangor has it as “neidr gantroed”

My memory.translated has one instance of this rendered as “wild goose chase”, although it has more references to “red herring”.

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