Learning the Welsh alphabet is a fascinating journey into the unique sounds and letters of the Welsh language. With its enchanting pronunciation and distinctive characters, the Welsh alphabet may seem intimidating at first, but fear not! In this guide, we will walk you through the formal and informal ways of saying the Welsh alphabet, offering tips, examples, and insights along the way. So, let’s dive in!
Formal Way of Saying the Welsh Alphabet
When it comes to the formal pronunciation of the Welsh alphabet, it is important to pay attention to the specific sounds each letter represents. Here is a detailed breakdown:
A – “ah”
The letter A in Welsh is pronounced like the “ah” sound you make when going to the doctor. It is an open vowel sound.
B – “buh”
The letter B is simply pronounced as “buh,” just like in English. It is a voiced bilabial plosive sound.
C – “ck”
The letter C in Welsh is pronounced as a hard “ck” sound, similar to the English “cat.” It is an unvoiced velar plosive sound.
D – “duh”
D is pronounced like the English “duh.” It is a voiced alveolar stop sound.
E – “eh”
The letter E in Welsh is pronounced like the short “eh” sound you make when you see something slightly surprising. It is an open-mid vowel sound.
F – “v”
F is pronounced as a “v” sound in Welsh, unlike the English “f” sound. It is a voiced labiodental fricative sound.
G – “guh”
The letter G is pronounced as “guh,” similar to the English “goat.” It is a voiced velar stop sound.
H – “h”
In Welsh, H is pronounced as an “h” sound, just like in English. It is an unvoiced glottal fricative sound.
I – “ee”
I is pronounced as a long “ee” sound, similar to the English word “tree.” It is a close front unrounded vowel sound.
Ll – “hl”
The letter Ll is one of the most unique sounds in Welsh. It is pronounced as a voiceless lateral fricative sound, which is a prolonged “hl” sound.
M – “m”
M is pronounced as “m” in Welsh, just like in English. It is a voiced bilabial nasal sound.
N – “n”
The letter N is pronounced as “n,” similar to the English “name.” It is a voiced alveolar nasal sound.
O – “oh”
O is pronounced like a long “oh” sound, similar to the English word “no.” It is a close-mid back rounded vowel sound.
P – “p”
P is pronounced as “p” in Welsh, just like in English. It is an unvoiced bilabial plosive sound.
R – rolled “r”
R in Welsh is pronounced as a rolled “r,” producing a trill sound. It is a voiced alveolar trill sound.
Rh – “rrh”
The combination of Rh creates a unique sound in Welsh that is difficult to describe. It’s akin to a voiceless alveolar trill, almost as if you are gargling. It is a voiceless “rrh” sound.
S – “s”
S is pronounced as “s” in Welsh, just like in English. It is an unvoiced alveolar fricative sound.
T – “t”
The letter T is pronounced as “t” in Welsh, similar to the English “tap.” It is an unvoiced alveolar stop sound.
U – “i”
The letter U in Welsh is pronounced as an “i” sound, similar to the long “ee” sound. It is a close close back rounded vowel sound.
W – “oo”
W is pronounced like a long “oo” sound in Welsh, similar to the English word “food.” It is a close back rounded semi-vowel sound.
Y – “uh”
Y is pronounced as a short “uh” sound in Welsh, similar to the English word “cup.” It is a close central unrounded vowel sound.
