haf
/haːv/
The Welsh word for summer is haf.
haf is the noun used to refer to the hottest season of the year. You can also use the related verb hafota when you want to describe spending the summer season away, typically in the context of going on a holiday or vacation.
Meaning: hottest season (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/haːv/
Did you know?
- Ancient Welsh culture divided the year into two main halves rather than four seasons, often contrasting haf with gaeaf to represent the fundamental cycle of light and dark.
- While haf means 'summer', the Welsh language has a separate, dedicated word for 'summer-time' known as hafod, which historically referred to upland pastures used for grazing during the season.
- In Welsh poetry, the concept of haf is often used as a metaphor for a peak period of life or strength, rather than just a weather pattern.
Examples in context
- Mae Tom wedi bod yn tyfu barf trwy'r haf.Tom has been growing a beard all summer.This sentence shows how to use haf to describe an action occurring throughout the duration of the season.Tatoeba #1963944 by Sisial, translation #1093695 by CK
- Mae'r haf yn dod yn fuan.Summer is coming soon.
- Mae'n braf yn y haf.It is nice in the summer.
Example conversation
Rhiannon and Gareth are talking about their holiday plans.
- RhiannonYdych chi'n mynd i Spania yn y haf?Are you going to Spain in the summer?
- GarethYdw, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at y haf.Yes, I am looking forward to the summer.
- RhiannonMae'n gwerth i chi gael haul.It is worth it for you to get some sun.
- GarethYdy, mae'r haf yn wych.It is, the summer is great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “summer” translations and entries haf, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
