fy nghariad
The English phrase "my love" is translated into Welsh as fy nghariad.
fy nghariad is a term of endearment used to address a romantic partner or someone loved deeply.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression consists of fy, which means "my" and nghariad, which means "love" (referring to a person).
How does it change in a sentence?
The 'ng' in nghariad is a soft mutation (nasal mutation) triggered by the possessive adjective fy.
Did you know?
- Welsh culture is famous for its 'love spoons', traditional gifts given to a sweetheart, which have become a physical symbol of the affection expressed by phrases like fy nghariad.
- The word cariad is derived from the same root as the English word 'care', reflecting the idea that loving someone is fundamentally about caring for them.
- While fy nghariad is deeply romantic, Welsh speakers often use the word cariad as a general term of endearment for friends or strangers, similar to how 'love' or 'honey' is used in parts of England.
Examples in context
- Sut wyt ti, fy nghariad?How are you, my love?
- Mae diolch wrth ti, fy nghariad.Thank you, my love.
Example conversation
Rhiannon and Owain are having coffee in the morning.
- RhiannonBore da, fy nghariad.Good morning, my love.
- OwainBore da i ti, Rhiannon.Good morning to you, Rhiannon.
- RhiannonWyt ti eisiau coffi?Do you want coffee?
- OwainYdw, diolch yn fawr.Yes, thank you very much.
