Ways to say it
| Welsh | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ti | /tiː/ | familiar |
| chi | /χiː/ | polite |
| chwi | /χwiː/ | polite |
The term is used as a subject pronoun to identify the person being addressed.
Which one should you use?
The form ti is used for a single person in an informal or familiar context, such as a friend or a child. The form chi is used to address a single person in a formal or polite manner. The form chwi is used when addressing more than one person.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ti is the informal form used for people you know well or children. In contrast, chi is the formal or polite form. Using ti with a stranger or a superior, such as a teacher or a boss, can be perceived as disrespectful or overly blunt.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of South Wales, such as Cardiff, the pronoun di might be used instead of ti.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many Welsh dialects, chi serves as both the formal singular 'you' and the plural 'you'.
How do you pronounce it?
{/tiː/}
Did you know?
- The informal 'you', ti, shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'thou', which is the archaic version of 'you' used in Shakespearean English.
Examples in context
- Wyt ti'n byw yma?Do you live here?This sentence is useful for asking about where someone lives using ti.Tatoeba #3138752 by SteCymru14, translation #15882 by CK
- Wyt ti’n hoffi caws?Do you like cheese?This sentence is useful for asking about preferences using ti.Tatoeba #8109603 by SteCymru14, translation #3825773 by CK
- Beth wyt ti'n wneud?What are you doing?This sentence is useful for asking about current actions using ti.Tatoeba #8118109 by SteCymru14, translation #16492 by CK
- Chi ydy'r athro sy'n dysgu Cymraeg?Are you the teacher who teaches Welsh?
- Sut wyt ti yn teimlo heddiw?How are you feeling today?
- Ble wyt di wedi bod?Where have you been?
- 231 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rhiannon and Dylan are talking about a movie.
- RhiannonWyt ti'n dod i'r sinema?Are you coming to the cinema?
- DylanYdw, ond dwi'n hwyr.Yes, but I am late.
- RhiannonGa i weld ti yno?Can I see you there?
- DylanYdw, byddaf yno yn fuan.Yes, I will be there soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “you” translations and entries ti, chi, chwi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chi, chwi, ti, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
