Language/Welsh/Grammar/Pronouns
Hi Welsh learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be exploring the fascinating world of Welsh pronouns. Pronouns are an essential part of any language as they help to replace nouns and make our communication more concise and efficient.
Introduction
Pronouns, also known as atebion or berfefeddion in Welsh, are words that stand in place of a noun or noun phrase. Welsh pronouns can be divided into personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, reflexive pronouns, and demonstrative pronouns. In this lesson, we will focus on personal pronouns as they are the most commonly used pronouns in Welsh.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Adjectives, Plurals, How to Use Have & Conditional Mood.
Personal Pronouns
Welsh personal pronouns inflect according to number and gender. The first and second person pronouns have distinct singular and plural forms, whereas the third person pronouns are the same for both singular and plural. In addition, Welsh personal pronouns also have a distinction between formal and informal registers.
Here is a table showing the different forms of Welsh personal pronouns:
| Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Fi | /vi/ | I (formal) |
| Fe / Fo | /ve/, /vo/ | He (formal), It (formal) |
| Hi | /hi/ | She (formal) |
| Ni | /ni/ | We (formal) |
| Chwi | /xwi/ | You (formal, plural) |
| Nhw | /n̥u/ | They (formal) |
| Sut wyt ti? | /sɨt wɪt ti/ | How are you? (informal) |
| Ti | /ti/ | You (informal, singular) |
| Fe / Fo | /ve/, /vo/ | He (informal), It (informal) |
| Hi | /hi/ | She (informal) |
| Ni | /nɪ/ | We (informal) |
| Chi | /xɪ/ | You (informal, plural) |
| Hwntw | /huːntuː/ | They (informal) |
Here are some examples of Welsh personal pronouns in context:
- Person 1: Dw i eisiau cig oen. (I want lamb)
- Person 2: Dw i eisiau cig eidion. (I want beef)
- Person 1: Dw i'n hoffi y gath hwn. (I like this cat)
- Person 2: Dw i'n hoffi'r ci hwn. (I like this dog)
It is important to note that in Welsh, the verb agrees with the subject pronoun, and there are no articles (such as 'the' or 'a') in Welsh.
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns, also known as berfenwau eiddo in Welsh, are used to indicate ownership or possession. They agree in number and gender with the noun they modify.
Here is a table showing the different forms of possessive pronouns in Welsh:
| Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| fy | /və/ | my (singular, masculine) |
| ein | /n̥aɪn/ | our (singular) |
| dy | /də/ | your (singular, masculine) |
| eich | /eɪx/ | your (singular or plural, formal) |
| ei | /eɪ/ | his, her, its |
| eu | /eɪ/ | their |
Here are some examples of Welsh possessive pronouns in context:
- Person 1: Mae fy nhŷ yn y dref. (My house is in the town)
- Person 2: Mae ein tai ni ar y bryn. (Our houses are on the hill)
- Person 1: Ble mae dy gar? (Where is your car?)
- Person 2: Mae eich car chi yn y garej. (Your car is in the garage)
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns, also known as berfenwau adlewyrchol in Welsh, are used to indicate that the action of the verb reflects back onto the subject. They agree in number and gender with the noun they modify.
Here is a table showing the different forms of reflexive pronouns in Welsh:
| Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| fy hun | /və hɪn/ | myself |
| ein hunain | /n̥aɪn hɪnaɪn/ | ourselves |
| dy hun | /də hɪn/ | yourself (singular, masculine) |
| eich hunan | /eɪx hɪnan/ | yourself (singular or plural, formal) |
| ei hunan | /eɪ hɪnan/ | himself, herself, itself |
| eu hunain | /eɪ hɪnaɪn/ | themselves |
Here are some examples of Welsh reflexive pronouns in context:
- Person 1: Dw i'n barod iawn ar gyfer y cyfweliad. (I am ready for the interview)
- Person 2: Gadewch i mi drefnu'r dyddiadur ar gyfer eich hun. (Let me schedule the diary for yourself)
- Person 1: A ydych chi'n teimlo'n iawn? (Are you feeling okay?)
- Person 2: Dw i'n teimlo'n iawn fy hun. (I'm feeling okay myself)
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns, also known as berfenwau dangosol in Welsh, are used to point out specific people, places, or things. They agree in number and proximity with the noun they modify.
Here is a table showing the different forms of demonstrative pronouns in Welsh:
| Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| hwn | /huːn/ | this (masculine singular) |
| hon | /hɔn/ | this (feminine singular) |
| hyn | /hɨn/ | this (plural) |
| hwnna | /huːna/ | that (masculine singular) |
| honna | /hɔna/ | that (feminine singular) |
| honno | /hɔnɔ/ | that (feminine singular, distant) |
| y rhain | /ə r̥ai̯n/ | these |
| y rheinau | /ə r̥aɪnaɪ/ | those |
Here are some examples of Welsh demonstrative pronouns in context:
- Person 1: Mae hwn yn ysgubor. (This is a barn)
- Person 2: Nac yw hon yn stafell haul? (Isn't this a sunny room?)
- Person 1: Mae hyn yn beth da! (These are good things!)
- Person 2: Pwy yw'r chwaraewr hwnna? (Who is that player?)
Practice makes perfect!
Now that we have explored the different types of Welsh pronouns, it is important to practice and use them in context. Practice with your friends, family, or Polyglot Club friends by engaging in conversation and asking questions. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, as they are all part of the learning process. Remember to be patient with yourself and enjoy the journey!
Remember, to improve your Welsh Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources
- Welsh/Grammar/Pronouns - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
- Colloquial Welsh morphology - Wikipedia
- Welsh Grammar: Using pronouns with verb-nouns - { i (to) + ei / eu + ...
➡ 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. 😎
Other Lessons
- How to Use Have
- Negation
- How to Use Be
- Plurals
- The article
- Adjectives
- Future Tense
- Conditional Mood
- Give your Opinion