Language/Welsh/Vocabulary/Drinks

Welsh Vocabulary - Drinks

Hi Welsh learners! 😊
In this lesson, we are going to learn some Welsh words related to drinks. You will not only learn the vocabulary but also Welsh drinking culture and some interesting facts about Welsh beverages.

Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Food, Clothes, Celebrations & Tastes.

Welsh Drinks

Welsh people are known for their love of alcohol. They have a rich drinking culture and produce unique beverages. Welsh drinks range from craft beers to wines and spirits. Among the famous Welsh drinks, there are some that we need to mention:

Beer

CWRW

Beer is one of the most popular drinks consumed in Wales. The Welsh word for beer is ‘cwrw’. Beer-making in Wales has a long history dating back to the thirteenth century when Cistercian monks brewed beer. Nowadays, there are many small breweries in Wales producing local beers. One of the famous brands is ‘Brains’. Brains was founded in 1882 and is the largest brewer in Wales. Another well-known beer is Dark (dark Black Ale).

Let's take a closer look at some vocabulary related to beer (Ydych chi’n hoffi/cariad cwrw? - Do you like beer?):

Welsh	Pronunciation	English
Cwrw/Cwrw Mawr	Koo-roo/Koo-roo mau-rr	Beer/Large beer
Cwrw Coch	Koo-roo koch	Red beer
Cwrw Gwyr	Koo-roo gweer	Beer from the Gower Peninsula region (South Wales)
Cwrw Brains SA	Koo-roo Brains SA	Brains SA Beer
Cwrw Da	Koo-roo da	Good beer

Now, let's learn some fun facts about Welsh beer:

• The smallest pub in Wales is The Watkin's Ale House, in the town of Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys. It only has 20 square meters of floor space, and it was established in 1830.
• Bragawd is Welsh beer made with honey, malt, and spices, which were popular with the Welsh aristocracy.
• In the Middle Ages, ale made with heather was popular in Wales. It was believed to have a calming effect.

Wine

GWYR PENINSULA

Although there is a widely held belief that Welsh wine is an oxymoron, it has been popularised over the years by many vineyards springing up especially in South Wales around the Gower Peninsula, and in the South East of the country such as Monmouthshire. Welsh wines have won many international awards, particularly for their white wines.

Check out some of the Welsh wine vocabulary:

Welsh	Pronunciation	English
Gwin	Goo-een	Wine
Gwin coch	Goo-een koch	Red wine
Gwin gwyn	Goo-een goo-een	White wine
Gwin ysgafn	Goo-een is-gav-n	Light wine
Gwin sêr	Goo-een sear	Sparkling wine

Some interesting details about Welsh wine:

• The Ancre Hill winery has won international awards for its biodynamic wines which are grown using organic and sustainable methods.
• In Wales, it is also possible to find honey vinegars with a unique and distinctive taste.

Spirits

PENDERYN WHISKY

Since 2000, Wales has had its own whisky - Penderyn. Penderyn whisky is the first whisky to be made in Wales in more than 100 years, and it has already gained significant international recognition for its unique and distinctive flavour. Ginger beer is also a popular drink in Wales, often mixed with whisky to create the popular tipple - 'whisky mac.'

You might want to learn some vocabulary related to Welsh whisky and other spirits:

Welsh	Pronunciation	English
Wisgi	Oo-sgee	Whisky
Gwinbrenninws Penderyn	Goo-een-brenn-in-oos pen-dur-rin	Penderyn Welsh whisky
Brandi / Branwydd	Brandi / Bran-with	Brandy
Cymru -diodydd / Diodydd Cymreig / Diodydd o Gymru	Come-ree dee-odith / Dee-odith Cum-rayg / Dee-odith o com-ree	Welsh spirits

And here some fun facts about Welsh whisky and other spirits:

• Liqueurs from wild oak and elderberry flowers are popular in Wales.
• The longest bar in Wales is located in a Spa town called Llandrindod Wells.

Non alcoholic Drinks

MEAD

When it comes to non-alcoholic beverages in Wales, the main traditional drink is mead (diod medd). Mead is an alcoholic drink made from fermented honey, water, and yeast. This drink was once very popular in Wales, but it lost popularity with the arrival of tea and coffee. Mead has been experiencing a renaissance in recent years as mead microbreweries have started to open across the country.

Here are some words and phrases you might come across when talking about non-alcoholic drinks in Welsh:

Welsh	Pronunciation	English
Diod Sbeislyd	Dee-od Sbais-lid	Fizzy drink
Diod Mês	Dee-od Mess	Juice
Diod Cawsennau	Dee-od kaw-sen-igh	Smoothie
Diod teisen lap	Dee-od tay-sen lap	Cake-flavoured drink

Some fun facts about Welsh non-alcoholic drinks:

• The oldest bottle of mead ever found was in the tomb of King Midas, and it is more than 2,700 years old.
• William Price, a Welsh physician, divided his time between medicine, freethinking, and the production of a carbonated soft drink which he called 'Uric Acid Lemonade.'

Dialogue

Here is an example of a dialogue between two people discussing Welsh drinks, ask questions if you dare! 😉

• Person 1: Dw i'n hoffi cwrw. (I like beer.)
• Person 2: Wyt ti wedi tri cwrw Cymreig? (Have you tried Welsh beer?)
• Person 1: Ydy, rydw i’n hoffi nodiadau amrwd a blas twistus Cymreig yn y cwrw. (Yes, I like the rugged notes and the Welsh twisty taste in beer.)
• Person 2: Cestyll a Chwmni Brains yw’r prif breweri yng Nghymru. (Brains and Castles Brewery are the main breweries in Wales.)
• Person 1: Dw i'n gwybod, dw i’n hoff iawn o Brans SA. (I know, I'm very fond of Brains SA.)

Conclusion

We have come to the end of this lesson on Welsh vocabulary related to drinks, and I hope you enjoyed learning some Welsh drinking culture and interesting facts. Drinking is an essential part of Welsh social culture, and it is an excellent opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. To improve your Welsh vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

---

➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Sources

• Drinks and snacks in Welsh for primary| free vocabulary
• Vocabulary List of drinks in Welsh and list of alcohol in Welsh

• Welsh Wine
• Penderyn distillery
• Mead
• global ranking of spirit
• Uric Acid Lemonade

Excellent job on conquering this lesson! Consider delving into these related pages: Greetings, Months of the year, Qualities & Colors lliwiau.

Other Lessons

• Basic phrases
• Feelings and Emotions
• Education
• Love
• Fruits
• Family
• Tastes
• Months of the year
• Sizes
• Colors