helo, sut wyt ti?
The phrase helo, sut wyt ti? is how you say "hello, how are you?" in Welsh.
This phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone about their well-being.
Which one should you use?
The word ti in the phrase sut wyt ti? is the informal second-person singular pronoun. In contrast, the pronoun chi is used for formal address or when addressing multiple people.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In South Wales, the informal phrase Shwmae, be' 'nhad ti? is more commonly used.
How does it change in a sentence?
When asking "how are you?", use sut wyt ti? for an informal singular person. If you are addressing someone formally or addressing a group, use helo, sut ydych chi? Additionally, Bore da, sut wyt ti? can be used informally to mean "Good morning, how are you?"
When do people say it?
When someone asks sut wyt ti?, a common response is Da iawn, diolch, which means "Very well, thanks."
Did you know?
- The pronoun ti in sut wyt ti? shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'thou', which was used as the informal 'you' in Early Modern English.
- The word sut shares an unexpected historical connection to the English word 'suit', as both evolved from the concept of 'fitting' or 'being in a certain state'.
- In some Welsh-speaking communities, the greeting is less about a literal inquiry into health and more of a rhythmic social ritual than a real question.
Examples in context
- Helo, sut wyt ti?Hello, how are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries helo, sut, ti, CC BY-SA 4.0.
