Language/Welsh/Grammar/Describing-People
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In this lesson, we’re going to explore the delightful world of Welsh adjectives and how they can be used to describe people. Understanding how to describe someone's appearance, personality, and character is essential for building conversations in any language, and Welsh is no exception. By the end of this lesson, you’ll not only have a solid grasp of the vocabulary needed to talk about people, but you’ll also be able to form sentences that bring your descriptions to life!
We'll start with a brief overview of adjectives in Welsh, followed by specific examples and practical exercises. This will help you apply what you’ve learned in engaging and meaningful ways. So, let’s dive in!
The Importance of Adjectives in Welsh[edit | edit source]
Adjectives are words that describe nouns, and they play a crucial role in giving more detail about the people you talk about. In Welsh, adjectives can describe physical traits, personality characteristics, and even emotions. This makes them powerful tools for communication, allowing you to express thoughts and feelings about others clearly and vividly.
Structure of the Lesson[edit | edit source]
1. Understanding Welsh Adjectives
2. Describing Appearance
3. Describing Personality
4. Describing Character
5. Practice Exercises
6. Solutions and Explanations
Understanding Welsh Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Welsh adjectives typically precede the noun they describe. For example, in English, we say "a tall man," whereas in Welsh, it would be "dyn tal." This structure is an important aspect of forming sentences in Welsh.
Basic Adjective Structure[edit | edit source]
Here’s a simple structure to remember:
- Adjective + Noun
Common Welsh Adjectives[edit | edit source]
Let's start with a table of common adjectives that you can use to describe people.
| Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| tal | /tal/ | tall |
| byr | /bɨr/ | short |
| mawr | /maʊr/ | big |
| bach | /bax/ | small |
| hardd | /ˈhaːrd̥/ | beautiful |
| drwg | /drʊɡ/ | bad |
| da | /daː/ | good |
| cyfeillgar | /kəˈvɛɪlɡar/ | friendly |
| prydferth | /prɪˈðvɛrθ/ | lovely |
| dawns | /daʊns/ | bright |
Describing Appearance[edit | edit source]
Describing someone's appearance is often the first step in a conversation. Here, we’ll look at some adjectives that can help you paint a picture of a person's physical traits.
Common Appearance Adjectives[edit | edit source]
1. Tall - tal
2. Short - byr
3. Big - mawr
4. Small - bach
5. Beautiful - hardd
6. Handsome - prydferth
7. Old - hen
8. Young - ifanc
9. Skinny - tenau
10. Muscular - cyhyrog
Example Sentences[edit | edit source]
Now, let’s put those adjectives into sentences.
| Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mae e'n dal. | /mae eːn tal/ | He is tall. |
| Mae hi'n fyr. | /mae hiːn bɨr/ | She is short. |
| Mae o'n fawr. | /mae ɔːn maʊr/ | He is big. |
| Mae hi'n fach. | /mae hiːn bax/ | She is small. |
| Mae hi'n hardd. | /mae hiːn ˈhaːrd̥/ | She is beautiful. |
| Mae o'n prydferth. | /mae ɔːn prɪˈðvɛrθ/ | He is handsome. |
| Mae hi'n hen. | /mae hiːn hɛn/ | She is old. |
| Mae o'n ifanc. | /mae ɔːn ˈiːvaŋk/ | He is young. |
| Mae hi'n tenau. | /mae hiːn tɛnˈaɪ/ | She is skinny. |
| Mae o'n gyhyrog. | /mae ɔːn kəˈhɨrɔɡ/ | He is muscular. |
Describing Personality[edit | edit source]
Next, let's venture into the realm of personality traits. These adjectives will help you express how someone behaves or how they come across.
Common Personality Adjectives[edit | edit source]
1. Friendly - cyfeillgar
2. Kind - caredig
3. Funny - doniol
4. Shy - swil
5. Brave - dewr
6. Lazy - diog
7. Intelligent - doeth
8. Hardworking - llafurus
9. Polite - gwrtais
10. Generous - hael
Example Sentences[edit | edit source]
Let’s see how these adjectives can be used in sentences.
| Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mae hi'n gyfeillgar. | /mae hiːn kəˈvɛɪlɡar/ | She is friendly. |
| Mae o'n garedig. | /mae ɔːn ˈkaːrɛdɪɡ/ | He is kind. |
| Mae hi'n doniol. | /mae hiːn ˈdɔnjɔl/ | She is funny. |
| Mae o'n swil. | /mae ɔːn swil/ | He is shy. |
| Mae hi'n dewr. | /mae hiːn ˈdɛʊr/ | She is brave. |
| Mae o'n diog. | /mae ɔːn ˈdiːɡ/ | He is lazy. |
| Mae hi'n doeth. | /mae hiːn ˈdɔɪθ/ | She is intelligent. |
| Mae o'n llafurus. | /mae ɔːn ˈlaːvɨrɪs/ | He is hardworking. |
| Mae hi'n gwrtais. | /mae hiːn ˈɡʊrtaɪs/ | She is polite. |
| Mae o'n hael. | /mae ɔːn haːɪl/ | He is generous. |
Describing Character[edit | edit source]
Finally, let’s discuss character traits. These adjectives help convey deeper insights about a person's nature and values.
Common Character Adjectives[edit | edit source]
1. Honest - onest
2. Loyal - teyrngar
3. Respectful - parchus
4. Creative - creadigol
5. Ambitious - uchelgeisiol
6. Patient - amyneddgar
7. Optimistic - optimistaidd
8. Sensitive - sensitif
9. Courageous - dewr
10. Wise - doeth
Example Sentences[edit | edit source]
Let’s wrap up our descriptive journey with some sentences about character.
| Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mae hi'n onest. | /mae hiːn ˈoːnɛst/ | She is honest. |
| Mae o'n deyrngar. | /mae ɔːn ˈteɪrŋɡar/ | He is loyal. |
| Mae hi'n parchus. | /mae hiːn ˈparχɨs/ | She is respectful. |
| Mae o'n creadigol. | /mae ɔːn krɛˈadɪɡɔl/ | He is creative. |
| Mae hi'n uchelgeisiol. | /mae hiːn ɨˈχɛlɡeɪsɨol/ | She is ambitious. |
| Mae o'n amyneddgar. | /mae ɔːn əˈmɨnɛðɡar/ | He is patient. |
| Mae hi'n optimistaidd. | /mae hiːn ɔpˈtɪmɪstaɪð/ | She is optimistic. |
| Mae o'n sensitif. | /mae ɔːn sɛnˈsɪtɪf/ | He is sensitive. |
| Mae hi'n dewr. | /mae hiːn ˈdɛʊr/ | She is courageous. |
| Mae o'n doeth. | /mae ɔːn ˈdoɪθ/ | He is wise. |
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now that you’ve learned the vocabulary and structure, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice! Below are some exercises designed to reinforce what you’ve learned.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks[edit | edit source]
Complete the sentences with the appropriate adjective from the list provided.
- (tal, bach, hardd, swil)
1. Mae hi'n ______. (She is small.)
2. Mae o'n ______. (He is tall.)
3. Mae hi'n ______. (She is beautiful.)
4. Mae o'n ______. (He is shy.)
Exercise 2: Match the adjectives[edit | edit source]
Match the Welsh adjectives with their English meanings.
1. cyfeillgar
2. doeth
3. diog
4. dewr
5. onest
a. lazy
b. brave
c. friendly
d. wise
e. honest
Exercise 3: Create sentences[edit | edit source]
Using the adjectives provided, create sentences in Welsh.
- Adjectives: (mawr, caredig, prydferth, amyneddgar)
1. ______ (He is big.)
2. ______ (She is kind.)
3. ______ (She is beautiful.)
4. ______ (He is patient.)
Exercise 4: Identify the character trait[edit | edit source]
Read the following descriptions and identify the character trait being described.
1. Mae hi bob amser yn helpu eraill. (She always helps others.)
2. Mae o'n cadw ei addewidion. (He keeps his promises.)
3. Mae hi'n gwrando ar bobl. (She listens to people.)
Solutions and Explanations[edit | edit source]
Exercise 1:
1. bach
2. tal
3. hardd
4. swil
Exercise 2:
- 1 → c
- 2 → d
- 3 → a
- 4 → b
- 5 → e
Exercise 3:
1. Mae o'n mawr.
2. Mae hi'n garedig.
3. Mae hi'n prydferth.
4. Mae o'n amyneddgar.
Exercise 4:
1. Generous (Hael)
2. Loyal (Teyrngar)
3. Sensitive (Sensitif)
By completing these exercises, you’re not only practicing your Welsh vocabulary but also strengthening your understanding of how to use adjectives effectively. Keep practicing, and you’ll become more confident in your ability to describe people in Welsh!
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Conditional Mood
- The article
- Using Conjunctions
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Future Tense
- Describing Actions
- Present Continuous Tense
- How to Use Be
- Questions
| ◀️ Relationships — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Describing Actions ▶️ |