Wales (Cymru) is a country that is a part of Great Britain, and although it is adjacent to England, it has a unique culture of its own. The Welsh language (Cymraeg) is the oldest language in Europe, with the oldest surviving Welsh manuscripts dating back to the 8th century A.D. Believe it or not, the longest word in the Welsh language is the name of a town in North Wales called Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysyliogogogoch, which is actually several Welsh words run together. The English translation is as follows: St. Mary's (Church) by the white aspen over the Whirlpool and St. Tysilio's (Church) by the red cave. Because it is such a mouthful, the town is usually referred to as simply Llanfair. The Welsh language is still very much alive today, being spoken by nearly 600,000 people in Wales, including my mother, who grew up speaking it as her first language.

My mother grew up in Ceredigion, West Wales, which I have had the wonderful opportunity of visiting several times, the most recently being in the summer of 1998. I took the Cwrs Wlpan, which is a course designed for Welsh learners, at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Through this course, I was able to master some of the basics of the Welsh language. In between my studies, I spent some time enjoying the beautiful countryside.

(A picture of me with a Cwrs Wlpan classmate in 1998.)

On this page, I have assembled a collection of simple Welsh phrases for those of you interested in learning a little bit of the language, as well as some pictures of Wales for all my visitors who have not yet traveled to this picturesque country. I encourage you to spend some time in Wales if you are ever given the opportunity. It is a country of rich culture and history. CYMRU AM BYTH! (WALES FOREVER!)

Cardigan Bay borders the coast of West Wales.

Sut dych chi?/How are you? (formal)

Sut wyt ti?/How are you? (informal)

Iawn, diolch/Fine, thank you

Bore da/Good morning

Prynhawn da/Good afternoon

Noswaith dda/Good evening

Nos da/Good night

Hwyl/Bye

Pob lwc/Good luck

Diolch/Thank you

Beth yw eich enw chi?/What is your name?

Dych chi yn siarad Cymraeg?/Do you speak Welsh?

Wyt ti yn siarad Cymraeg?/Do you speak Welsh? (informal)

Ble dych chi yn byw?/Where do you live? (formal)

Ble wyt ti yn byw?/Where do you live? (informal)

Aberaeron is my mother's hometown.

Wales on Britannia--contains an endless amount of information on Wales

Aberaeron--the web site of my mother's hometown

History and Status of the Welsh Language--gives a very thorough history of Wales and the Welsh language

An Online Course in the Welsh Language--a way to learn Welsh without leaving the comforts of your home

West Wales Photo Album--contains hundreds of pictures of Wales