tlws
/tluːs/
The Welsh word for "pretty" is tlws.
The word tlws is an adjective used to describe someone or something as pleasant or attractive. It is most commonly used when referring to women and children.
Meaning: especially of women and children: pleasant, attractive (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
/tluːs/
Did you know?
- The word tlws is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'treasure', as both share roots connected to the idea of something valuable or precious.
- Because tlws is primarily used for women and children, using it to describe a man in Welsh can be perceived as a deliberate attempt to call him 'feminine' or 'cute'.
- The phonetic sound of tlws begins with a 'tl' cluster, a sound that is common in Celtic languages but rare or non-existent as a starting sound in native English words.
Example conversation
Owain and Rhiannon are looking at a photo of a niece.
- OwainPa mor tlws yw hi!How pretty she is!
- RhiannonYdw, mae hi'n edrych yn union fel ti.Yes, she looks exactly like you.
- OwainDiolch, Rhiannon.Thank you, Rhiannon.
- RhiannonMae hi'n dŵr tlws mewn gwennyl.She is very pretty in a dress.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tlws, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tlws, CC BY-SA 4.0.
