Dydd Gŵyl Dewi: Welsh Phrases You Can Actually Use on St David's Day
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi (St David's Day) is on 1 March, Wales's national day. Whether you're Welsh, learning Welsh, or just want to mark the occasion, here are practical phrases you can actually use.
The Essentials
| Cymraeg | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus! | deethe goo-il deh-wee hap-iss | Happy St David's Day! |
| Bore da | bor-eh dah | Good morning |
| Prynhawn da | prin-hown dah | Good afternoon |
| Nos da | nohs dah | Good night |
| Shwmae / Sut mae? | shoo-my / sit my | How are you? (South / North) |
| Iawn, diolch | yown, dee-olch | Fine, thanks |
| Diolch yn fawr | dee-olch un vowr | Thank you very much |
Note: Welsh has North/South dialect differences. Shwmae is Southern, Sut mae (or S'mae) is Northern. Both are correct and universally understood.
For Social Media
| Cymraeg | English |
|---|---|
| Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus i bawb! | Happy St David's Day to everyone! |
| Cymru am byth! | Wales forever! |
| Balch o fod yn Gymro/Gymraes | Proud to be Welsh (male/female) |
| Dw i'n caru Cymru | I love Wales |
| Dw i'n dysgu Cymraeg | I'm learning Welsh |
| Gwnewch y pethau bychain | Do the little things (St David's last words) |
Hashtags: #DyddGŵylDewi, #StDavidsDay, #Cymraeg, #Cymru, #CymruAmByth
St David's most famous saying, Gwnewch y pethau bychain ("Do the little things"), is the perfect caption. It's widely known, culturally significant, and genuinely good advice for language learners too.
At Events and Gatherings
| Cymraeg | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ga i beint, os gwelwch yn dda? | gah ee baynt, oss gwel-ooch un thah | Can I have a pint, please? |
| Ga i baned, os gwelwch yn dda? | gah ee ban-ed, oss gwel-ooch un thah | Can I have a cuppa, please? |
| Blasus iawn! | blas-iss yown | Very tasty! |
| Hwyl fawr! | hooil vowr | Goodbye! / Great fun! |
| Iechyd da! | yech-id dah | Cheers! (Good health!) |
About Dewi Sant (St David)
- Dewi Sant (c. 500-589 AD) was a Welsh bishop who became the patron saint of Wales. He founded a monastery at what is now St Davids (Tyddewi) in Pembrokeshire.
- His last sermon included the words: Arglwyddi, frodyr a chwiorydd, byddwch lawen a chedwch eich ffydd a'ch cred, a gwnewch y pethau bychain: "Lords, brothers and sisters, be joyful and keep your faith, and do the little things."
- The leek (
cenhinen) and daffodil (cenhinen Bedr) are both symbols of Dydd Gŵyl Dewi. The similar Welsh names suggest why both became associated with the day. - 1 March has been celebrated since the 12th century, making it one of the oldest continuously observed national days in Europe.
When Your Welsh Runs Out
| Cymraeg | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dw i'n dysgu | doo een dusk-ee | I'm learning |
| Beth ydy hynna yn Saesneg? | bayth uh-dee hun-a un sice-neg | What's that in English? |
| Yn araf, os gwelwch yn dda | un ar-av, oss gwel-ooch un thah | Slowly, please |
| Sori, dw i ddim yn deall | sorry, doo ee theem un dee-all | Sorry, I don't understand |
Nobody expects perfect Welsh on Dydd Gŵyl Dewi. A Bore da to the person next to you, a Diolch in a shop, a Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus! on social media: that's participation. And if you want to keep going beyond 1 March, that's what daily practice is for.
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