Mutations – soft, nasal, aspirate – WJECThe nasal mutation

Being able to mutate is important when speaking and writing Welsh accurately. Learn when each type of mutation is needed and how the beginning of words change when using each one.

Part of Welsh Second Language (WJEC)Grammar

The nasal mutation

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Open Transcript

The following grid shows how the nasal mutation works.

Original letterMutated letter
cngh
pmh
tnh
gng
bm
dn
Original letterc
Mutated letterngh
Original letterp
Mutated lettermh
Original lettert
Mutated letternh
Original letterg
Mutated letterng
Original letterb
Mutated letterm
Original letterd
Mutated lettern

So, where is the nasal mutation used?

after fy – my, eg:

  • fy + parot > fy mharot
  • fy + tarantwla > fy nharantwla
  • fy + cath > fy nghath
  • fy + beic > fy meic
  • fy + dosbarth > fy nosbarth
  • fy + gêm > fy ngêm

with place names and places that start with p, t, c, b, d and g, but be careful as the yn also changes sometimes, eg:

  • yn + Porthmadog > ym Mhorthmadog
  • yn + Trefynwy > yn Nhrefynwy
  • yn + Caerdydd > yng Nghaerdydd
  • yn + Brynaman > ym Mrynaman
  • yn + Dolgellau > yn Nolgellau
  • yn + Glynebwy > yng Nglynebwy

Question

Fill in the gaps in these sentences. You will need to mutate the word in brackets each time.

  1. Corgi ydy fy _________ (ci) i.
  2. Mae fy _________ (pysgod aur) i’n hen iawn.
  3. Mae fy _________ (brawd) i’n canu mewn band. Maen nhw’n ofnadwy!
  4. Mae parti yng _________ (canolfan hamdden) y pentref nos Sadwrn.
  5. Roedd parti yn _________ (tŷ) John nos Sadwrn.
  6. Bydd y gêm yn Stadiwm y Mileniwm yng _________ (Caerdydd) ym mis Ionawr.

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The aspirate mutation
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The soft mutation

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