blwyddyn newydd dda
/ˈblʊɨ̯ðɨ̞n ˈnɛu̯.ɨ̞ð ðaː/word by word
blwyddyn newydd dda is the Welsh way to say Happy New Year.
Meaning: Happy New Year (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Welsh | IPA |
|---|---|
| blwyddyn newydd dda | /ˈblʊɨ̯ðɨ̞n ˈnɛu̯.ɨ̞ð ðaː/ (North Wales, word by word) |
| Blwyddyn Newydd Dda | /ˈblʊiðɪn ˈnɛ.wɪð ðaː/ |
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally composed of the words for 'year' (blwyddyn), 'new' (newydd) and 'good' (da).
How does it change in a sentence?
In this specific greeting, the adjective da (good) is used to express the concept of 'happy'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈblʊɨ̯ðɨ̞n ˈnɛu̯.ɨ̞ð ðaː/. The first of three syllables is stressed.
Did you know?
- The word blwyddyn is nearly identical to the Cornish word bledhen and the Breton word blizen, as they all stem from the same Proto-Brythonic root.
- The word blwyddyn is a linguistic relative of the Welsh word blwydd, which refers to one's age or number of years lived.
Examples in context
- Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!Happy New Year!This example shows how to use blwyddyn newydd dda as an exclamation.Tatoeba #11572609 by deniko, translation #361350 by blay_paul
- Blwyddyn newydd dda.Happy new year.This example shows how to use blwyddyn newydd dda as a standard greeting.Tatoeba #11572611 by deniko, translation #7678233 by MessDjaaf
Example conversation
Sian and Owain meet in the street on January 1st.
- SianHelo Owain, blwyddyn newydd dda!Hello Owain, happy new year!
- OwainDiolch Sian, blwyddyn newydd dda i ti!Thanks Sian, happy new year to you!
- SianWyt ti'n iawn?Are you doing well?
- OwainYdw, diolch!Yes, thanks!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy new year” translations and entries Blwyddyn Newydd Dda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (blwyddyn, newydd, dda) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries blwyddyn, newydd, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
