Wyt ti'n siarad Saesneg?
The English phrase "do you speak english?" is translated into Welsh as Wyt ti'n siarad Saesneg?
This phrase is a question used to ask if someone has the ability to communicate in the English language. You may also encounter the shorter, more informal version Ti'n siarad Saesneg?
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "Are you speaking English?" because the Welsh present continuous construction is used for habitual actions like speaking a language. In this phrase, siarad is the Welsh word for "speak" and Saesneg is the Welsh word for "English".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ti'n in the phrase is a contraction of ti (you) and yn (a particle used to form the continuous aspect).
When do people say it?
When answering "yes" to a question starting with Wyt…, the appropriate response begins with Ydw (I am), as in Ydw, dw i'n siarad Saesneg. (Yes, I speak English.).
Did you know?
- Some linguists believe the word siarad for 'speak' may have been borrowed from the English word 'charade' or the Occitan charrar, meaning 'to chat'.
- Because Welsh is a VSO (Verb-Subject-Object) language, the question begins with the verb Wyt rather than a subject like 'you'.
- In Wales, asking Wyt ti'n siarad Saesneg? can be a sensitive social gesture, as the use of the informal ti is generally reserved for friends or children.
Examples in context
- Sori, wyt ti'n siarad Saesneg?Sorry, do you speak English?
Example conversation
Rhiannon meets a tourist in a small town.
- RhiannonHelo! Wyt ti'n siarad Saesneg?Hello! Do you speak English?
- DylanYdw, rwy'n siarad Saesneg.Yes, I speak English.
- RhiannonDa iawn. Ga i gymhel help?Very good. Can I help?
- DylanIe, diolch yn fawr, Rhiannon.Yes, thank you very much, Rhiannon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Saesneg, siarad, CC BY-SA 4.0.
