Counting to ten in Welsh
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers. 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
- Uneen
- One
- Dau / Dwydie / doo-ee
- Two
- Tri / Tairtree / tire
- Three
- PedwarPED-war
- Four
- Pumppimp
- Five
- Chwechkhwekh
- Six
- Saithsithe
- Seven
- Wythweeth
- Eight
- Nawnow
- Nine
- Degdeg
- Ten
Welsh numbers are straightforward up to ten and then build on a vigesimal (base-twenty) system beyond that. "Un" is the same for both genders, which makes it easy.
"Dau" is used with masculine nouns and "dwy" with feminine nouns. For counting out loud or ordering, "dau" is the default. Welsh does have grammatical gender, but nobody will mind if you mix them up.
Like two, three has masculine "tri" and feminine "tair." When counting abstractly or saying a price, use "tri." The "ai" sound in "tair" rhymes with English "fire."
The feminine form is "pedair" but "pedwar" is safe for general use. Welsh prices are quoted in pounds sterling, exactly as in England, so the numbers work the same way in shops.
Pronounced more like "pimp" than the English word "pump." Before a noun it often softens to "pum" (pim). Do not be surprised by the pronunciation difference.