I could be way off the mark here, as I’ve never come across it before, but on having a look at GPC, my guess is that it has come from “am ddim” which as well as meaning “for nothing/free”, can also mean “by any means”.
As I said, I’ve personally not heard it used like that, but it’s the only thing I can see that would fit the rest of the sentence.
Thanks Siaron, It was used once before earlier in the book but I just carried on. After the second usage I thought I’d try to find out. That theory would fit.
Yeah, wondering if it is the original sense of slightest rather than nothing . As in bob dim. Any way possible etc.
As a follow up to my question Siaron, I asked a firsty (from Tudweiliog) today about “ddim” in that sentence and he said, with certainty, that it means absolutely nothing and is there only in the same way that a “innit, y’know, so” type tag is used at the end of a sentence. I won’t lose any sleep over that.
Fair enough then! As I said, that’s a tag I haven’t come across, but I’m expecting to hear it several times in the near future now (that’s how it usually works, isn’t it?! )
I keep hearing the word “sgil” on the radio, mostly political interviews. I’m assuming its not the literal Pillion meaning. I listened again this morning to make sure that it wasnt the English: Skill meaning. Im pretty sure it was “yn sgil”. So is it something happening on the back/as a result of something else?
Oh yes, they love this one on the news - yn sgil Brexit - the pound dropped 50%, yn sgil plastig - the oceans are full of rubbish etc etc.
The other definitions you mentioned like - as a result of, in the wake of, etc fit the best - or to me, just simply another way of saying because of, I think.
It’s just a band name, but I got curious to find out if I’m missing something, if I try to translate word by word:
Bob Delyn a’r Ebillion
And at least @siaronjames should be well informed!
I would guess it plays with the similarity with Bob Dylan, and telyn/delyn.
Then for ebillion, the only dictionary where I can get a result, gives me:
auger, borer, peg.
But each of these means many different things in English!!!
So which one should I choose?
Yes, you’ve spotted the play on “Bob Dylan” - and Twm plays the harp, so that’s why Delyn is the perfect twist on Dylan!
Harps have pegs - ebillion - for tuning, so Bob Delyn a’r Ebillion = Every Harp and the Pegs
Haaa, thanks, I had the impression I was missing something. Got it now, and love it!
For some reason, among tools, insects, clothes washing…I didn’t think peg also referred to stringed instruments!
(and when I googled ebillion in images, all I got was some watches brand)
yep, on a harp sometimes they’re called pins in English, but they’re definitely pegs in Welsh. Actually, in Welsh the keys or pegs for tuning any stringed instrument are ebillion.
“Brensiach y brain!” is sort of like “stone the crows!”…so I presume myn brain i - may be in a similar exclamatory vein!
Just a thought. Is there a literal way of asking “are you married?” Or would you just use “Oes wraig/gywr 'da ti” / Do you have a wife/husband.
I’m not sure where that came from, as I don’t recall ever asking the question in English
How about “Wyt ti’n briod?”
I’ve also heard “wyt ti wedi priodi?” quite often.
They usually ask me with a quizing, surprised tone for some reason.
I constantly get asked “Mrs or Miss” when I sign up for something new … which to me is asking the same thing.
Ms, Mx, Dr, Rev…? They ought to know there are possibilities beyond Miss or Mrs!
Dych chi’n briod is the usual way.
Thanks, Dee. I was wondering if it could be that, but then I wondering if my mind was just changing it from “barod”.
In Level 3, Challenge 5 South, around min 01:20 the translation for
He’s been more slow than we think sounds to me somerthing like:
Ma fe wedi bod yn arafach nag yn ni’n meddwl
How should I properly write it? I don’t really understand what’s going on after arafach!
In the tv show Rhannu the subtitles translate Dan ni’n barod i rhannu as let’s play Rhannu.
But what does it literally say? I can guess something about being ready…isn’t it?