Shwmae
casual, south Wales
Siwmae is a spelling of the Welsh greeting usually written Shwmae, a short form of Sut mae meaning "how is it". It works as hello and as a quick "how are you". It is also called Helo.
Meaning: informal greeting, "how are you" (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Welsh | Note |
|---|---|
| Shwmae | casual, south Wales |
| Sut mae | standard |
| Helo | everyday |
Say Shwmae when you meet someone and expect a short reply. A common answer is Iawn, diolch, meaning "fine, thanks".
Which one should you use?
Sut mae is the fuller form that is easy to find in courses. Helo is a plain hello borrowed from English and is understood everywhere.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Shwmae is the south Wales form, and in the north people often say S'mae. Both come from Sut mae.
How do you pronounce it?
Shwmae is said close to "SHOO-my", with the ae sounding like "eye".
Did you know?
- Welsh has a day called Dydd Shwmae, a day in October when speakers are encouraged to greet everyone in Welsh.
Examples in context
- Shwmae, sut wyt ti?Hello, how are you?
- Shwmae! Iawn, diolch.Hello! Fine, thanks.
- Helo, sut mae?Hello, how is it?
Example conversation
Gwen meets her neighbor Dylan at the shop in Cardiff.
- GwenShwmae, Dylan!Hello, Dylan!
- DylanShwmae, Gwen. Sut wyt ti?Hello, Gwen. How are you?
- GwenIawn, diolch. A ti?Fine, thanks. And you?
