llew
/ɬeːu̯/
The Welsh word for lion is llew.
llew is a noun used to refer to the big cat Panthera leo.
Meaning: big cat Panthera leo (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'the lion', you add the definite article y before the word, resulting in y llew.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɬeːu̯/
Did you know?
- If you see the word written as lleu in an older text, it may not be a misspelling of llew, but rather a reference to the brightness or light of the moon or a celestial body.
- Despite its different sound, the Welsh word llew is a direct descendant of the Latin word 'leo'.
- In Welsh heraldry, the llew is a frequent symbol of power and nobility, appearing on many historic coats of arms across Wales.
Examples in context
- Mae llew yna.There is a lion.
Example conversation
Sian and Dylan are visiting the zoo.
- SianEdrychwch ar y llew hwn!Look at this lion!
- DylanMae e'n edwedig, Sian.He is amazing, Sian.
- SianYdy'r llew yn cysgu?Is the lion sleeping?
- DylanYdy, mae'n gwisgo'n.Yes, he is resting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lion” translations and entries llew, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llew, CC BY-SA 4.0.
