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E-book Edition © July 2017
Version: 2017-06-16
CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
Notes on the pronunciation of Welsh
Mutations
Abbreviations
WELSH-ENGLISH
Welsh Grammar
ENGLISH-WELSH
About the Publisher
INTRODUCTION
The first Spurrell Welsh-English dictionary appeared in 1848 published by William Spurrell (181389) the Carmarthen printer and publisher. One of his sons, Walter Spurrell (18581934), joined his father in the business and the family firm published a series of distinguished Welsh-English, English-Welsh dictionaries and influential Welsh grammars during the latter part of the nineteenth century and the first half of the last century. William Spurrell was advised by and well-acquainted with Daniel Silvan Evans (18181903), one of the father figures of Welsh lexicography, sometime lecturer in Welsh at St Davids University College, Lampeter and the first professor of Welsh to be appointed by the University of Wales.
The Collins-Spurrell Welsh Dictionary was first published in 1960 and quickly became an essential tool of general reference for Welsh learners as well as those anxious to interpret literature. It was edited by Henry Lewis, Professor of Welsh Language and Literature at University College, Swansea, with valuable contributions from the staff of the Department of Welsh Language and Literature at St Davids University College, Lampeter.
D A THORNE
NOTES ON THE PRONUNCIATION OF WELSH
VOWELS
They are sounded, long or short, as the vowels in the English words given below.
A palm, pat. E gate (without diphthongization), get. I feet, fit. O more, not. U (1) North Wales: like French u or German ü without rounding lips. (2) South Wales: as I. W cool, full. Y (1) In monosyllables generally, and in final syllables, as U (the clear sound). (2) In all but final syllables, and in y, yr (the), fy (my), dy (thy), yn, yng, ym (in), the adverbial yn, the preverbal and relative particle y, yr (ym, yth etc), syr (sir), nyrs (nurse), as English fun, (the obscure sound).DIPHTHONGS
1 Falling diphthongs, in which the second sound is consonantal: the two vowels have the sound noted above: ae, oe, ai, oi, the diphthong ei as English by, aw, ew, iw, ow, uw, ŵy, yw.2 Rising diphthongs, in which the first sound is consonantal: ia, ie, io, iw, iy, (obscure y); wa, we, wi, wo, wy, (clear y), wy, (obscure y).CONSONANTS
Only those which differ from English need to be noted.
CH (following C in the alphabet), as Scottish loch. DD (following D in the alphabet), as th in English this, breathe. F as English v. FF as English f. G always as in English go. NG (following G in the alphabet), as in English sing. In some words (e.g. dangos), however, it is sounded ng-g, as in English longer. Alphabetically this follows after N. LL produced by placing the tongue to pronounce l, then emitting breath without voice. PH (following P in the alphabet), as English f. TH always as th in English thin.ACCENT
ACCENT
Welsh words are generally accented on the last syllable but one. There are certain exceptions:
1 The reduplicated personal pronouns myfi, tydi, efe, efô, hyhi, nyni, chwychwi, hwynt-hwy, accented on the final syllable. 2 Verbs in -(h)au, -(h)oi, -eu, accented on the final syllable. 3 A few dissyllabic words beginning y + consonant, accented on the final syllable. 4 Certain polysyllabic words with a diphthong resulting in contraction in the final syllable, such as Cymraeg.5 Some borrowed words accented as in the language of origin, generally English.MUTATIONS
Mutations, or letter changes, can occur at the beginning of Welsh words. Mutations are caused by the preceding word. There are three different mutations:
Llythyren wreiddiol Treiglad meddal Treiglad trwynol Treiglad llaes Original letterSoft mutationNasal mutationAspirate mutationchanges to:changes to:changes to:P b mh ph t d nh th c g ngh ch b f m d dd n g - ng ll l m f rh rCOMMON WORDS CAUSING SOFT MUTATION TREIGLAD MEDDAL
ei his dy your dau / dwy two (masculine / feminine) pa which neu or rhy too yn before an adjective Adjectives which come before the noun: For example: Maer hen ddyn yn byw yn y tŷ. The old man lives in the house. Dyma fy hoff gân. This is my favourite song. Some prepositions: For example: Maer bws yn mynd i Gaerdydd. The bus is going to Cardiff. Maen nhwn chwarae dros dîm yr ysgol. They play for the school team. Certain words which come before a feminine noun: y and r the un one Mae castell yn y dref. Theres a castle in town. Maer ddinas wedi gwella. The city has improved. Dim ond un broblem sydd ar ôl. Theres only one problem left. Any feminine noun which has an adjective immediately after it: merch dda a good girlCOMMON WORDS CAUSING NASAL MUTATION TREIGLAD TRWYNOL
fy my yn inCOMMON WORDS CAUSING ASPIRATE MUTATION TREIGLAD LLAES
a and â as/to/with chwe six ei her gyda with tri three tua approximatelyABBREVIATIONSBYRFODDAU abbreviation abbr byrfodd adjective adj ansoddair anatomy Anat anatomeg automobile Aut moduro auxiliary verb aux vb berf atodol British English BRIT Saesneg Prydain collective noun coll n enw torfol computing Comput cyfrifiadureg conjunction conj cysylltiad contraction contr cywasgiad cookery Culin coginio definite article def art bannod bendant demonstrative dem dangosol emphatic emphat pwyslais exclamation excl ebychiad formal form ffurfiol (phrasal verb) where fus (berf ymadroddol) the particle is lle na all y inseparable rhangymeriad gael ei wahanu imperative imper gorchmynnol indefinite article indef art bannod amhendant indeterminate indeter amhenderfynadwy colloquial usage inf(!) defnydd llafar (offensive) (anweddus) grammar, Ling gramadeg, linguistics ieithyddiaeth masculine m gwrywaidd mathematics Math mathemateg medical term Med term meddygol modal auxiliary verb mod aux vb berf atodol moddol music Mus cerddoriaeth noun n enw noun dual nd enw deuol number num rhif old-fashioned old hen ffasiwn derogatory, pej difrïol pejorative plural pl lluosog past participle pp rhangymeriad gorffennol politics Pol gwleidyddiaeth prefix pref rhagddodiad preposition prep arddodiad pronoun pron rhagenw past tense pt amser gorffennol relative rel perthynol singular sing unigol Telecommunications Tel Telathrebu American English US Saesneg America verb vb berf impersonal verb vb imper berf amhersonol intransitive verb vi berf gyflawn transitive verb vt berf anghyflawnWELSHENGLISH