ystlum
/ˈəsdlɨ̞m/masculine
The Welsh word for a small flying mammal (bat) is ystlum.
ystlum is used to refer to the nocturnal mammal. It is a masculine noun.
Meaning: small flying mammal (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈəsdlɨ̞m/
Did you know?
- In Welsh, there is no single word that covers both the animal ystlum and a sporting bat, requiring different terms for each.
- The word ystlum is likely not originally from the Indo-European language family, meaning it may come from a mysterious prehistoric language spoken in Britain before the arrival of Celtic tongues.
Examples in context
- Mae'r ystlum yn dod allan yn y nos.The bat comes out at night.
Example conversation
Elowen and Gareth are walking outside at dusk.
- ElowenEdrychwch, Gareth! Mae ystlum yno.Look, Gareth! There is a bat there.
- GarethBle yw'n mynd?Where is it going?
- ElowenMae'r ystlum yn chwilio am bwyd.The bat is looking for food.
- GarethMae'n edrych yn gyflym iawn.It looks very fast.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bat” translations and entries ystlum, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ystlum, CC BY-SA 4.0.
