BBC HomeExplore the BBC
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

16 October 2014
the Big Welsh Challenge

BBC Homepage
Wales Home

Contact Us

Helpful Notes

Unit 05: Discussing What You Want

Scene 1:
Remember saying simple things like I live somewhere - Dw i'n byw yn... or I work somewhere - Dw i'n gweithio yn... ?
The first part Dw i... is linked with an 'n to the verb. However, if you're using eisiau, you don't use an 'n' as a link.
So, Dw i eisiau mynd, Dw i ddim eisiau coffi. This is something that Welsh learners often forget. Remember: no 'n' before eisiau.


Scene 2:

When you want someone else to do something, you use an 'i', as in Dw i eisiau i chi fynd i'r ysgol.
You notice the letter change here. Mynd (to go) has become fynd. Generally, any verb directly after a noun or pronoun will mutate. Look at these examples:
darllen (to read) - Dw i eisiau i chi ddarllen
gweithio (to work) - Dw i eisiau i chi weithio
cofio (to remember) - Dw i eisiau i chi gofio

We can change chi to the familiar ti, e.g.
mynd i'r ysgol - Dw i eisiau i ti fynd i'r ysgol


Scene 3:
1. Remember eisiau is one of those rare words which is pronounced rather differently to how it's usually spelt. In South Wales, people say ISHE. You might well hear a similar word MOYN, which means exactly the same thing. If someone asks you Beth wyt ti moyn? they want to know what you want!

2. Using a negative. The key word is ddim but you need to change the start of the sentence as well. So a sentence like Mae Siân eisiau car newydd, then changes to:
Dyw Siân ddim eisiau car newydd

3. There are lots of ways of saying yes in Welsh, and the trick is to listen out for the start of the sentence. A sentence beginning with Ydy.... will usually have Ydy as an answer, e.g.
Ydy Siân eisiau car newydd? YDY
Ydy John eisiau mynd adre? YDY
The negative is usually said Na'dy - this is an abbreviation of NAC YDY, which you may also come across. It's ok to say the full version as well.


link to unit videos helpful notes link vocabulary link mp3 and downloads link



About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy