Getting around in Welsh
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. Play the ten Welsh words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Welsh phrases in this lesson
- Ble mae'r toiled?bleh myer TOY-led
- Where is the toilet?
- Sut mae cyrraedd...?sit my KUR-ithe
- How do I get to...?
- Chwithkhwith
- To the left
- Dedeh
- To the right
- Yn syth ymlaenun seeth um-LYNE
- Straight ahead
- YmaUH-ma
- Here
- Gorsaf drenauGOR-sav DREN-eye
- Train station
- Bwsboos
- Bus
- Maes awyrmice AH-weer
- Airport
- Un tocyn, os gwelwch yn ddaeen TOK-in, os GWEL-okh un tha
- One ticket, please
"Toiled" is borrowed from English "toilet." Public toilets in Welsh towns often have bilingual signs: "Dynion" (men) and "Merched" (women). Knowing these two words saves embarrassment.
The "chw" cluster is unique to Welsh: say the "ch" rasp immediately followed by "w." Road signs in Wales are fully bilingual, so you may see "chwith" on roundabout signs in Welsh-speaking areas.
Also means "south" in Welsh, which can be confusing on a map. Context makes it clear. On a bilingual signpost "de" will appear alongside the English "right" or "south."
"Syth" means straight and "ymlaen" means forward or ahead. You will also see "ymlaen" used to mean "on" or "continuing" in many other contexts. A pointing gesture doubles the clarity.
"Dewch yma" (dewkh UH-ma) is come here. "Fan hyn" (van hin) means the same and is common in South Wales.
"Tocyn" is the Welsh word for ticket. For a return add "dwyffordd" (doo-FORTH), meaning two-way. Train and bus staff across Wales are fully accustomed to serving Welsh speakers.