In Welsh, "ab" (or "ap") means "son of," a shortened form of the word "mab," used in the traditional patronymic naming system where a son's surname was derived from his father's first name (e.g., David ab Owen meant David, son of Owen). The form "ab" was used before a vowel (like ab Owain), while "ap" was used before a consonant (like Dafydd ap Gwilym), and the prefix was often dropped over time, leading to modern surnames like Bowen (from ab Owen) or Powell (from ap Hywel).
Ap or ab, meaning “son of,” would be attached, making the son's name John ab Owen. Sometimes the prefix was dropped, and the name would be John Owen or Owens, using the “s” to signify “son of.” All of the children in the family may not use the same last name.
Pysgod (or pysgodyn) wibli wobli has unofficially become the Welsh favourite nickname for the Jellyfish. It's real translation is 'slefren-fôr and it is sometimes also referred to 'cont y môr'! Most of you will have also heard of 'popty-ping' as the microwave. What other Welsh nicknames make you chuckle?
The pre-Roman names for land features were quickly gathered up and used, now, as the names for settlements. As a result many of the towns in Wales begin with the prefix Aber which means “mouth of” – Aberystwyth meaning the mouth of the River Ystwyth, Abergele the mouth of the River Gele and so on.
The Welsh word for 'darling' is 'annwyl' and 'anwylyd' means 'dearest'. 'Annwyl' can also mean: dear, beloved and loved etc.
Pis(h)yn - "babe" / "sexy".
Welsh for Cheers: Iechyd Da: Good Health: Yaki Da - FelinFach.
Popular Welsh Names for Girls
Pandy is the Welsh word for a fulling-mill. The village was on a route used by the early railways; the Abergavenny to Hereford line still passes to the west.
While 'Cymru' is the Welsh word for Wales and means 'friends' or 'fellow countrymen', the word Wales, by which most people know the country, stems from a word used by the invading Anglo Saxons to mean 'foreigners' or 'outsiders', despite the Welsh being native to the land.
Welsh word of the day: Pysgod = Fish.
The Welsh word for Microwave is Meicrodon. It is a literal translation of microwave, meicro being the Welsh for Micro and Don is Welsh for wave.
Welsh Phrase of the Day: Bobol Bach! An expression of surprise akin to 'Good Grief!'
When you think of Welsh surnames, which names come to mind? Jones? Davies? Williams? Well, they are the three most popular surnames in Wales, with the remaining names in the top 10 being Evans, Thomas, Roberts, Lewis, Hughes, Morgan and Griffiths.
Jenny is an abbreviation for Jennifer. Jennifer is the Cornish version of the Welsh 'Gwenhwyfar' (Guinevere), which is formed from the parts 'gwen' (fair) and 'hwyfar' (smooth). Finally, Guinevere and Jennifer are thought to imply 'the fair one.' As a miniature version, Jenny would come to denote 'little pretty one.'
Meaning:hill, mount. Bryn is a gender-neutral name of Welsh origin. This name keeps it short and sweet but will remind baby daily of their strength. Meaning "hill" or "mount,” this name is perfect for the little one you just know is going to reach new heights!
The Swallow Falls Trail goes through woodland to a viewpoint over the waterfall - you get a great view from this side of the river so don't forget your camera. Ty'n Llwyn means “house in the grove” in Welsh and it is a great place to enjoy a picnic with a view at one of the tables around the car park.
Afon Mawddach (Welsh for 'River Mawddach'; Welsh pronunciation: [ˈmaʊ̯ðaχ]) is a river in Gwynedd, Wales, which has its source in a wide area ( SH820300) north of Dduallt in Snowdonia. Below Dolgellau it enters a wide estuary.
Princess in Welsh is 'tywysoges'.
Ieuan. Here's another Welsh form of a common boys' name. Pronounced YAY-an, Ieuan is the Welsh form of John, meaning 'God is gracious'.
Mair is the Welsh version of the biblical name Miryam/Mariam/Maria/Mary, so the Welsh name of the road is something like Marychurch Street. In the English version the church part is just assumed.
English pronunciation of Dafydd
The word for 'bread', bara, came to mean 'sustenance' generally in the poetry as the poets frequently noted that a patron had given them bara, i.e. patronised and supported them. It also became a word to be used so as to emphasise succinctly that the patron supplied meals at his court.
The Welsh for Welcome is, "Croeso".