Language/Welsh/Grammar/Personal-Pronouns
Welsh personal pronouns are a key element of Welsh grammar. They are used to refer to people, places, things, and ideas. In this lesson, you will learn the Welsh personal pronouns and their usage.
Welsh Personal Pronouns
Welsh personal pronouns have different forms depending on the number, gender, and case of the noun they represent, as well as their function in the sentence. Personal pronouns are usually placed before the verb in Welsh, except in some cases where they appear after the verb for emphasis or clarity.
Here is a table with the most common Welsh personal pronouns and their English translation:
| Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Fi | Vee | I |
| Ti | Tee | You (singular informal) |
| Fe/ E | Veh/ E | He/ Him |
| Hi | Hee | She/ Her |
| Wnaeth/ Fe/ E/ Hi | Wnayth/ Veh/ E/ Hee | It |
| Ni | Nee | We |
| Chwi | Hwee | You (plural or formal) |
| NHw | N-hoo | They (masculine or mixed) |
| _Hi | _Hee | They (feminine) |
Note: The forms "Fe" and "E" are used in North Wales, whereas "E" is more common in South Wales. "Hwi" and "NhW" are used instead of "Chwi" and "Hwy" respectively in many dialects of Welsh.
Here are some examples of the use of Welsh personal pronouns:
- Fi yw'r athro. (I am the teacher.)
- Ti hoffi coffi? (Do you like coffee?)
- Mae fe'n iaith Saesneg. (He speaks English.)
- Hi'n canu'n dda. (She sings well.)
- Wnaeth y gath fywilydd. (The cat caused the annoyance.)
- Ni ydym yn mynd i'r dref. (We are going to town.)
- Chwi'n hoffi bwyd Cymraeg? (Do you like Welsh food?)
- NHw'n byw yno ers blynyddoedd. (They have been living there for years.)
- _Hi'n astudio yng Nghaerdydd. (They [feminine] are studying in Cardiff.)
Verbs and Personal Pronouns
In Welsh, the form of the verb changes depending on the personal pronoun and tense. The personal pronouns also represent the subject of the sentence, and this affects the form of the verb.
Here is an example of how to form a simple sentence using a personal pronoun and a verb:
- Fe ddysgais i Gymraeg. (I learned Welsh.)
In this example, "Fe" represents the personal pronoun "I", and "ddysgais" is the verb "learned" in the past tense. The verb form "ddysgais" changes depending on the subject of the sentence.
Another example:
- Dw i'n hoffi coffi. (I like coffee.)
In this example, "Dw i'n" is the present tense form of "I am", and "hoffi" means "like". Again, the verb form "hoffi" does not change depending on the subject, but the personal pronoun "Dw i'n" represents "I".
Here are some more examples of how personal pronouns are used in Welsh sentences:
- Ti sy'n siarad Cymraeg? (Are you [singular informal] speaking Welsh?)
- Mae fe wedi gwneud pethau da. (He has done good things.)
- Hi fydd yn ôl yn fuan. (She will be back soon.)
- Ni ddeallwn yr hyn roedd e'n ei ddweud. (We did not understand what he was saying.)
- Chwi sy'n meddwl bod e'n iawn. (You [plural or formal] think it's okay.)
- NHw'n cerdded i'r parc. (They [masculine or mixed] are walking to the park.)
- _Hi'n yfed bara a chaws. (They [feminine] are eating bread and cheese.)
Emphatic Personal Pronouns
In Welsh, personal pronouns can be used for emphasis. This is particularly common in spoken Welsh, and is often used to clarify the subject of a sentence. Emphatic pronouns are usually placed after the verb in Welsh.
Here are some examples of how to use emphatic personal pronouns:
- Dwi'n siarad Cymraeg fi! (I'm speaking Welsh!)
- Dw i'n caru coffi iawn iawn iawn iawn fi! (I really really really really love coffee!)
- Mae e wedi mynd i'r sine maes o lawer o weithiau. (He has gone to the cinema many times.)
- Mae hi wastad yn wynebu heriau newydd. (She always faces new challenges.)
Possessive Pronouns
In Welsh, possessive pronouns are formed by adding "-ad" or "-iad" to the stem of the personal pronoun, depending on the context. This is similar to the English "-s" or "'s".
Here is a table with the most common Welsh possessive pronouns and their English translation:
| Welsh | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| fy | vee | my |
| dy | dee | your (singular informal) |
| ei | ay | his/ her/ its |
| ein | ine | our |
| eich | aykh | your (plural or formal) |
| eu | ay | their (masculine or mixed) |
| eu | ay | their (feminine) |
Here are some examples of the use of Welsh possessive pronouns:
- Mae fy nghath i'n barod am bwyd. (My cat is ready for food.)
- Dy friw dy hun ydy hwn. (This is your own doing.)
- Mae ei iaith hi'n flodeuo. (Her language is flourishing.)
- Ein teulu ni ydy'r gorau. (Our family is the best.)
- Eich ty chi ydy'r mwyaf hardd. (Your house [plural or formal] is the most beautiful.)
- Eu rhieni nhw yw'r gorau. (Their parents are the best.)
- Mae eu hiaith nhw'n deg. (Their [feminine] language is fair.)
Summary
Welsh personal pronouns are essential for understanding and speaking Welsh. In this lesson, you have learned the Welsh personal pronouns for I, you, he, she, it, we, and they, as well as their different forms and usage. You have also learned how personal pronouns affect the form of Welsh verbs, and how to use emphatic and possessive pronouns in Welsh sentences. Keep practicing and using these pronouns every day, and you will soon become comfortable with them.