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On this page :::Relationships:::Inscriptions and Documents:::Newspaper Obituaries

- Welsh -

Although for four-and-a-half centuries after the Act of Annexation in 1536 English was the official language of government, Welsh remained the language of the people throughout much of the country. The aim of the Act of Annexation was to obliterate the language and this philosophy was followed down the centuries. The tongue survived, however, and you will come across it in Church records, monumental inscriptions and elsewhere. Here are a few helpful words and phrases.


Days of the Week
Dydd Sul
Dydd Llun
Dydd Mawrth
Dydd Mercher
Dydd Iau
Dydd Gwener
Dydd Sadwrn
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Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Months
Mis Ionawr
Mis Chwefror
Mis Mawrth
Mis Ebrill
Mis Mai
Mis Mehefin
Mis Gorffennaf
Mis Awst
Mis Medi
Mis Hydref
Mis Tachwedd
Mis Rhagfyr
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January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

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Relationships

brawd (pl: brodyr) brother
caifn (pl: ceifnaint) third cousin
cefnder (pl: cefndyr – see note) male cousin.[Note. Although cefndyr is the usual plural the following are also met from time to time: cefndryd, cefndyr, cefnderoedd, cefnderon, cefnderwydd, cefnderwyr]
chwaer (pl: chwiorydd) sister
cyfnither (pl: cyfnitheroedd) female cousin
cyfyrder (pl: cyfyrderon) second cousin
cyfyrderes (pl: cyfyrderesau) female second cousin
ewythr (pl: ewythrodd or ewythred) uncle
gorchaifn (pl:gorchaifnaint) fourth cousin
gorchaw (pl: gorchawon) fifth cousin
gor-wyr great-grandson
gor-wyres great-granddaughter
gwr husband (can also mean man)
gwraig wife (can also mean woman)
hen daid great grandfather
hen ewythr great uncle
hen fodryb great aunt
hen nain great grandmother
mab (pl: meibion) son (the plural can be used to mean lads or fellows)
mamgu grandmother (South Wales)
merch (pl: merched) daughter (can also mean girl or woman)
modryb (pl: modrybedd) aunt
nain grandmother (North Wales)
perthynas a relation, (pl: perthynasau)kin, kinfolk
tadcu grandfather (South Wales)
taid grandfather (North Wales)
teulu (pl: teuluoedd) family
tylwyth family, ancestry;(tylwyth teg = fairy folk)
wyr(pl: wyrion) grandson
wyres (pl:wyresau) granddaughter
wyrion (pl) grandchildren
yng nghyfraith in-law [as in chwaer yng nghyfraith = sister-in-law]

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Inscriptions and Documents
A anwyd who was born
Bu farw / a fu farw has died
Daeth o came from
Er cof am In memorium, In memory of
Gaeth ei eni / Gaeth ei geni he / she was born
Yn enigodol o by birth from
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Typical notices from local newspapers

Sometimes in English, sometimes in Welsh or bilingual, as in these examples, notices in the personal columns of local newspapers usually follow the same pattern. Older examples of reports of funerals are often very detailed.

JONES - JOHN (Jaci Lectric) Mai 6, 2004 yn dawel ar ol salwch byr a ddioddefodd yn ddewr yn Ysbyty Gwynedd Bangor yn 74 mlwydd oed. Tad annwyl Gwenno a Dafydd, cymar cariadus Sali. Taid balcri Rhiannon. Brawd hynaf gwerthfawr Wil ac Eirwen. Bu hiraeth mawr gap ei deulu a'i holl ffrindiau. Gwasanaeth yng Nghapel Salem, Porthmadog dydd Gwener-, Mai 13 am 1.30 o'r gloch ac i ddilyn ym Mynwent Bangor. Blodau'r teulu yn unig ond derbynnir rhoddion, pe dymunir, tuag at Ward Cybi (Gofal Agos) Ysbyty Gwynedd trwy law yr Ymgymerwyr, Hughes a Griffiths, Huslan (01222) ====.

JONES - JOHN (Jackie Electric) Mai 6, 2004 peacefully after a short illness bravely borne at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor aged 74 years. Dearly loved father of Gwenno and Dafydd, loving partner of Sali. Proud grandfather of Rhiannon,. Treasured elder brother of Will and Eirwen. Will be sadly missed by all his family and many friends. Service at Salem Chapel, Porthmadog on Friday, Mai 13 at 1.30 p.m.. followed by interment at Bangor Cemetery. Family flowers only but donations gratefully accepted towards Cybi Ward (Immediate Care) Ysbyty Gwynedd through the Funeral Directors, Hughes and Griffiths, Huslan (01222) =====.

EVANS- MAIR , April 28, 2004, peacefully at Llandudno Hospital, Mair, much loved wife of the late Bryn, adored mother of Tomos, caring mother-in-law of Bethan, precious Nain to Robert, Marc and Huw, faithful sister to Gwilym and a loving aunt and sister-in-law. Funeral service takes place at Bethel Chapel, Deganwy on Monday 30th April at 1 1.00 a.m. followed by private internment. Flowers or donations if so desired towards Aberconwy Ward, Llandudno Hospital may be sent c/o J Evans and Son Funeral Directors,Llandudno Road, Conwy. Tel: 01492 ----.

EVANS- MAIR, Ebrill 28, 2004, yn dawel yn Ysbyty Llandudno, Mair, priod annwyl y diweddar Bryn, mam gariadus Tomos, mam-yng-nghyfraith barchus Bethan, Nain dyner Robert, Marc a Huw, chwaer ffyddlon Gwilym a modryb a chwaer-yng-nghyfraith hoffus. Gwasanaeth cyhoeddus yng Nghapel Bethel, Deganwy Ddydd Llun Ebrill 30 am 11.00 o'r gloch ac i ddilyn ym mynwent i'r teulu yn unig. Blodau, neu os dymunir, rhoddion er cof am Mair tuag at Ward Aberconwy, Ysbyty Llandudno trwy law J Evans a'i Fab Trefnwyr Angladdau, 69 Ffordd Llandudno, Conwy. Ffon: 01492 ===.

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