tylluan
/təˈɬɨ̞ː.an/feminine
The Welsh word for owl is tylluan. Wiktionary also lists gwdihŵ.
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Welsh | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tylluan | /təˈɬɨ̞ː.an/ (North Wales) /təˈɬiː.an/ (South Wales) |
feminine |
| gwdihŵ | /ɡʊdɪˈhuː/ | feminine |
Both tylluan and gwdihŵ are nouns used to refer to the bird known as an owl.
Which one should you use?
tylluan is the default form, while gwdihŵ is an alternative word for the same bird.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both tylluan and gwdihŵ are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /təˈɬɨ̞ː.an/.
Did you know?
- In Welsh folklore, the owl is often seen as a messenger of death or a harbinger of bad luck, mirroring similar superstitions found in other Celtic cultures.
- The word gwdihŵ is an example of onomatopoeia, meaning it was created to mimic the specific call of the male tawny owl.
- The word tylluan contains the letter ll, a voiceless alveolar lateral fricative that does not exist in English and requires placing the tongue against the roof of the mouth.
Examples in context
- Aethon ni i weld y gwdihŵ yn yr ardd.We went to see the owl in the garden.
- Mae'r tylluan yn swnllyd.The owl is noisy.
Example conversation
Dylan and Catrin are walking in the woods at night.
- DylanWrando, ydych chi'n clywed tylluan?Listen, do you hear an owl?
- CatrinYdw, mae'n swnio yn bell.Yes, it sounds far away.
- DylanDyma'i tylluan yn yr offael!There is the owl in the tree!
- CatrinMae hi'n edrych yn hyfrydol.It looks lovely.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “owl” translations and entries tylluan, gwdihŵ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gwdihŵ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
