teisen
/ˈtei̯sɛn/feminine
The Welsh word for cake is teisen. Wiktionary also lists cacen.
Meaning: type of sweet dessert (noun)
Ways to say it
| Welsh | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| teisen | /ˈtei̯sɛn/ (North Wales, standard) /ˈtei̯ʃɛn/ (North Wales, colloquial) |
feminine |
| cacen | /ˈkakɛn/ (North Wales, colloquial, standard) /ˈkakan/ (North Wales, colloquial) |
The term refers to a type of sweet dessert.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean cake, teisen is the more common, standard term, whereas cacen is often used in specific contexts or as a loanword adaptation.
How does it change in a sentence?
teisen is a feminine noun, which affects the form of any accompanying adjectives or articles.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtei̯sɛn/
Did you know?
- The word teisen shares a distant root with the word for 'bread' in several other Celtic languages, linking the concept of cakes to basic staples.
- In some Welsh dialects, teisen can refer to a savory pancake or a flatbread, moving beyond the English definition of a sweet dessert.
- The word cacen is actually a linguistic fossil from Middle English, specifically following the pattern of adding '-en' to create a singular noun.
Examples in context
- Mae gen i gacen blasus ar gyfer y cyfarfod.I have a delicious cake for the meeting.
- Mae angen teisen arna i.I need a cake.
- Wyt ti eisiau teisen?Do you want cake?
- Mae'r teisen yn wych.The cake is great.
Example conversation
Rhys and Rhiannon are in the kitchen.
- RhysWyt ti'n gwneud teisen, Rhiannon?Are you making a cake, Rhiannon?
- RhiannonYdw, mae'n teisen gârô.Yes, it is a carrot cake.
- RhysMae'n aroglu'n dda iawn.It smells very good.
- RhiannonGallwn ni ei bwylo yn nes agor.We can eat it soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cake” translations and entries teisen, cacen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cacen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
