Welsh, a Celtic language spoken primarily in Wales, has a unique alphabet that forms the foundation of its pronunciation and orthography. Learning the Welsh alphabet is essential for understanding its phonetic structure, spelling, and pronunciation.

Overview of the Welsh Alphabet

• Script Type: Latin-based
• Number of Letters: 28 (including 8 digraphs)
• Unique Features: The Welsh alphabet includes several digraphs (two letters representing one sound) and excludes some letters commonly found in the English alphabet.

Detailed Breakdown of the Welsh Alphabet

Single Letters

The Welsh alphabet consists of 20 single letters. Some letters not used in the English alphabet include “ff”, “ll”, and “rh”.

1. A, a

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘a’ in “sat” or ‘a’ in “father.”
   • Example Word: “Afon” – meaning “River”

2. B, b

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘b’ in “bat.”
   • Example Word: “Bara” – meaning “Bread”

3. C, c

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘c’ in “cat,” never soft.
   • Example Word: “Cath” – meaning “Cat”

4. D, d

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘d’ in “dog.”
   • Example Word: “Draig” – meaning “Dragon”

5. E, e

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘e’ in “bet.”
   • Example Word: “Eglwys” – meaning “Church”

6. F, f

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘v’ in “vase.”
   • Example Word: “Ffenestr” – meaning “Window”

7. G, g

   • Pronunciation: Always hard like ‘g’ in “go.”
   • Example Word: “Gardd” – meaning “Garden”

8. H, h

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘h’ in “hat.”
   • Example Word: “Haul” – meaning “Sun”

9. I, i

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘i’ in ‘bit” or ‘ee’ in “see.”
   • Example Word: “Ifor” – a common Welsh name

10. L, l

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘l’ in “like.”
    • Example Word: “Llyn” – meaning “Lake”

11. M, m

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘m’ in “man.”
    • Example Word: “Mynydd” – meaning “Mountain”

12. N, n

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘n’ in “no.”
    • Example Word: “Nos” – meaning “Night”

13. O, o

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘o’ in “cot” or ‘o’ in “more.”
    • Example Word: “Oren” – meaning “Orange”

14. P, p

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘p’ in “pen.”
    • Example Word: “Papur” – meaning “Paper”

15. R, r

    • Pronunciation: Rolled ‘r’ as in Spanish.
    • Example Word: “Rhosyn” – meaning “Rose”

16. S, s

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘s’ in “so.”
    • Example Word: “Seren” – meaning “Star”

17. T, t

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘t’ in “top.”
    • Example Word: “Tân” – meaning “Fire”

18. U, u

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘i’ in “tin.”
    • Example Word: “Cwmwl” – meaning “Cloud”

19. W, w

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘oo’ in “took,” ‘oo’ in “food,” or ‘w’ in “wind.”
    • Example Word: “Gwenyn” – meaning “Bee”

20. Y, y

    • Pronunciation: Like ‘i’ in “sit” or ‘ee’ in “seen,” depending on position.
    • Example Word: “Dwyn” – meaning “To Steal”

Digraphs

Welsh uses several digraphs, which are unique combinations of two letters that create a single sound.

1. Ch, ch

   • Pronunciation: A throaty ‘kh’, like ‘ch’ in the Scottish “loch.”
   • Example Word: “Bach” – meaning “Small”

2. Dd, dd

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘th’ in “this.”
   • Example Word: “Gwlad” – meaning “Country”

3. Ff, ff

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘f’ in “far.”
   • Example Word: “Ffenestr” – meaning “Window”

4. Ng, ng

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘ng’ in “singer.” At the start of words, it sounds like ‘ng’ in “finger.”
   • Example Word: “Llong” – meaning “Ship”

5. Ll, ll

   • Pronunciation: A voiceless alveolar lateral fricative, no direct English equivalent. Place the tongue as if to say ‘l’, and blow air gently around the sides of the tongue.
   • Example Word: “Llan” – a common place name prefix

6. Ph, ph

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘ph’ in “phone.”
   • Example Word: “Pharot” – meaning “Beacon”

7. Rh, rh

   • Pronunciation: An aspirated ‘r.’ The ‘h’ denotes more forceful expulsion of breath.
   • Example Word: “Rhwyd” – meaning “Net”

8. Th, th

   • Pronunciation: Like ‘th’ in “think.”
   • Example Word: “Bathodyn” – meaning “Badge”

Pronunciation Tips

• Vowels: Welsh vowels can have short and long pronunciations, which can change the meaning of a word.
• Consonants: Some consonants like ‘c’ and ‘g’ have hard sounds, unlike in English.
• Stress: In Welsh words, stress is typically on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable.

Practice Exercises

• Listening and Speaking: Practice with audio resources to get the pronunciation of letters and digraphs right.
• Writing Practice: Write each letter and digraph, focusing on unique Welsh characters.
• Reading Practice: Start with simple texts to familiarize yourself with the alphabet in context.

Additional Resources

• Language Learning Apps: Explore apps offering Welsh language courses.
• Online Tutorials: Websites and YouTube channels can be excellent resources for learning Welsh.
• Language Exchange: Practice speaking with native speakers to improve pronunciation and fluency.

Conclusion

Understanding the Welsh alphabet is a fundamental step in learning the language. Regular practice in speaking, listening, reading, and writing will lead to proficiency in Welsh and an appreciation for its rich linguistic heritage.