mam-gu a thad-cu
The English phrase "grandma and grandpa" is translated into Welsh as mam-gu a thad-cu.
This phrase is used to refer to one's grandmother and grandfather.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
mam-gu a thad-cu is an informal way to refer to grandparents, functioning much like the English terms "grandma and grandpa".
How does it change in a sentence?
The conjunction a is used to join the two nouns in this phrase.
Did you know?
- The term cu in mam-gu and thad-cu means 'dear' or 'beloved'. Rather than using a specific word for 'grand', Welsh conceptually refers to these grandparents as 'dear mother' and 'dear father'.
- In Welsh, the word for father, tad, is the root for thad-cu, but the 't' changes to a 'th' sound due to a grammatical process called mutation.
- The word mam is an example of a nursing word, which are sounds that are similar across many unrelated world languages because they are among the first sounds infants make.
Examples in context
- Rwy'n mynd i weld mam-gu a thad-cu.I am going to see grandma and grandpa.
- Mae mam-gu a thad-cu yn dysgu canu.Grandma and grandpa are learning to sing.
Example conversation
Catrin and Dylan are talking about their weekend plans.
- CatrinPwy sy'n dod i wisgit heno?Who is coming to visit tonight?
- DylanMae mam-gu a thad-cu yn deffro'n hwyr.Grandma and grandpa are waking up late.
- CatrinDa, rydw i'n dyfyn eu tea.Good, I am making their tea.
- DylanDiolch, Catrin.Thanks, Catrin.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, mam-gu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
