rwy'n Gymro
To say I am Welsh in Welsh, say rwy'n Gymro, which literally means I am a Welshman.
rwy'n Gymro is how a man says he is Welsh, using the word for a Welshman.
What does it mean word for word?
rwy'n means I am. It is a contraction of a longer form that literally means I am. Gymro is the word for a Welshman.
Which one should you use?
Dwi'n is another contracted way to say I am, common in everyday speech, so you will also hear it at the start of this sentence.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In North Wales, people may say Dwi'n Gog to say they are from North Wales, since Gog is a term for someone from the north. Canolbarthwr is a term for someone from Mid Wales.
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form of the word is Cymro. After the particle that is contracted in rwy'n, it takes a soft mutation, so the first letter changes and it becomes Gymro.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not say the unmutated Cymro right after rwy'n. The mutation to Gymro is required here.
Did you know?
- The word Gymro comes from Cymru, the name for Wales, which is derived from a word meaning 'compatriots'. This reflects an ancient identity based on shared kinship rather than just a geographic location.
- While Gymro is the term for a Welshman, a woman identifying herself as Welsh would use the word Gymraes.
- The word Cymru shares the same root as the word Cymry, which was used by the ancient Britons to distinguish themselves from the Anglo-Saxons.
Examples in context
- Rwy'n Gymro o Aberystwyth.I am a Welsh man from Aberystwyth.
Example conversation
Two people meeting for the first time at a cultural event.
- ElowenShwmae! Wyt ti'n Gymreig?Hello! Are you Welsh?
- DylanYdw, rwy'n Gymro.Yes, I am Welsh.
- ElowenDa iawn, Dylan!Very good, Dylan!
- DylanDiolch, Elowen.Thanks, Elowen.
