Introduction - Cyflwyniad
In Welsh, the first letter of a word can sometimes change depending on the word that comes before it. These changes are called mutations.
One type of mutation is the nasal mutation. It is called the nasal mutation because the change often involves a nasal sound, which is made using the nose when we speak.
Video 1: Nasal Mutations - Treigladau Trwynol
An introduction to nasal mutations and when to use them.
'Nasal mutations' sounds better in Welsh – 'treigladau trwynol'. And they're great fun, honest!
They're used after 'yn' with place names that start with these letters.
The six nasal changes are:
p → mh
t → nh
c → ngh
b → m
d → n
g → ng
Told you they were fun!
'Treorci' becomes 'Nhreorci' after 'yn':
'Dw i'n byw yn Nhreorci.'
But the 'yn' can change too, like this:
Pontypridd → 'Dw i'n byw ym Mhontypridd.'
Caerdydd → 'Dw i'n byw yng Nghaerdydd.'
There's also a nasal mutation after 'fy' ('my').
'Brawd' becomes 'mrawd':
'Fy mrawd'
'Ci' becomes 'nghi':
'Fy nghi'
'Tad' becomes 'nhad':
'Fy nhad'
And that's a short introduction to the treigladau trwynol.
Knowing when to use nasal mutation is important because:
It helps your Welsh sound more natural and fluent.
It helps you become more confident when speaking and writing Welsh.
It improves the accuracy of your work and shows your understanding of the language.
Be aware! Not all words will mutate. Look carefully at the letter at the beginning of the word before making any changes!
Six letters
The nasal mutation affects six letters of the Welsh alphabet.
Below are the letters affected and which letter they change into:
| Words beginning with: | Change into… | |
|---|---|---|
| P | → | Mh |
| T | → | Nh |
| C | → | Ngh |
| B | → | M |
| D | → | N |
| G | → | Ng |
Words that begin with any other letter, apart from the six listed above, do not change.
When do words mutate?
Mutations happen when certain words or patterns causes a change in the first letter of the word that follows.
In this section, we will focus on some of the most common causes of the nasal mutation you will need to know. These are:
- yn (when followed by a place name)
- fy
1. ‘yn’ (when followed by a place name)
When a place name comes diectly after ‘yn’, it will have a nasal mutation.
Be aware, sometimes the ‘yn’ will also change:
| Words beginning with: | ‘yn’ changes into… | before beginning of words change into… |
|---|---|---|
| P | ym | Mh |
| T | Nh | |
| C | yng | Ngh |
| B | ym | M |
| D | N | |
| G | yng | Ng |
Notice that the n in ‘yn’ changes to match the first sound of the new word after nasal mutation:
p / b → yn + m… → ymm…
t / d → yn + n… → ynn… (no change to ‘yn’)
c / g → yn + ng… → yngng…
This is a great way to remember if you need to change the ‘yn’ before a nasal mutation.
For example:
- yn + Penfro → ymMhenfro
- yn + Tonypandy → ynNhonypandy
- yn + Caernarfon → yngNghaernarfon
- yn + Bangor → ymMangor
- yn + Dolgellau → ynNolgellau
- yn + Gresffordd → yngNgresffordd
But, no mutation is needed here:
yn + Llanelwedd → yn Llanelwedd
because ‘Ll’ is not affected by the nasal mutation.
2. ‘fy’ (my)
The word ‘fy’ (my) causes a nasal mutation in the word that follows it.
This happens when we talk about things that belong to us.
For example:
- fy + tegan → fy nhegan(my toy)
- fy + pen-blwydd → fy mhen-blwydd(my birthday)
But, no mutation is needed here:
fy + ysgol → fy ysgol(my school)
because ‘Y’ is not affected by the nasal mutation.
Tip:
Scan your work for words that causes a nasal mutation, then check that the first letter of the word that follows has been changed correctly.
Video 2: Walking my dog - Cerdded fy nghi
Jeia takes her energetic dog Mabel for a run in the park.
Bore da! Jeia dw i, ac mae fy nghi i eisiau mynd am dro!
Dyma hi - Mabel! Ydy, mae hi’n fawr.
Dw i’n mynd â hi i’r parc.
Bant a ni.
Dyma fy hoff barc yng Nghymru.
Aros, Mabel! Gwylia fy nhraed i!
Ble mae fy mhêl i?
Barod, Mabel?
Ydy, mae fy nghi i’n hoffi rhedeg.
Mae Mabel’n fy nghadw i’n ffit.
Dw i’n ei charu hi, ond mae hi’n fy mlino i hefyd.
Mae’n barc mawr iawn. Mae fel byw yng nghefn gwlad!
Mabel! Adre nawr fy nghi boncyrs i. Dw i angen fy mhaned.
Activity: Tap & Find - Gweithgaredd
Video 3: Athletics - Athletau
Mia talks about her love for sports and her journey as a para-athlete.
Helo! Mia dw i, a dw i’n byw ym Mhenparc, pentref wrth ymyl Aberteifi.
Ond yng Nghaerdydd dw i’n hyfforddi i daflu disgen, a dw i’n eitha da.
Dyma fy medalau i.
Dw i’n bencampwr Cymru dan do dros 60 metr.
A dw i wedi bod yn nhîm Cymru hefyd, yn cystadlu yn Trinidad a Tobago.
Roedd e’n brofiad anhygoel. Dyna oedd fy mreuddwyd i, cael cynrychioli fy ngwlad.
Dw i bob amser wedi mwynhau gwneud chwaraeon gyda fy nhad a fy mrawd.
Ces i ganser pan oeddwn i’n ddeg oed. Collais i fy nghoes.
Ond ces i goes newydd a dw i’n gallu gwneud fy hoff bethau: dringo, chwarae golff, sgïo a seiclo. Ac wrth gwrs, dw i’n caru taflu disgen.
Dw i’n gweithio’n galed ar fy mreichiau, fy nghefn a fy nghoesau.
Mae’r hyfforddi yn galed, ond dw i’n mwynhau. Chwaraeon ydy fy mywyd i.
Flashcards - Cardiau fflach
Video 4: Two cities - Dwy ddinas
Macsen and Mia compare lives in London and Cardiff.
MACSEN: Helo! Macsen dw i, a dw i’n byw yn Llundain gyda fy nheulu. A dyma Mia.
MIA: Shwmae! Ond yn wahanol i ti, Macsen, yng Nghaerdydd dw i’n byw. Fy mhrofiad i o deithio i Lundain ydy teimlo fy mod i mewn lle mawr iawn!
MACSEN: Rwyt ti’n iawn. Yn Llundain dw i yng nghanol pobl, yng nghanol sŵn.
MIA: Yng Nghaerdydd mae hi’n hawdd bod yng nghanol pobl ond mae hi’n hawdd bod yng nghanol natur hefyd. Mae Parc Bute, yng nghanol Caerdydd. Mae yna goed ac adar.
MACSEN: Mae hi’n hawdd gweld natur yng nghanol Llundain hefyd, cofia! Ym Mharc Hyde mae yna lyn mawr ac mae’n le gwych i gael picnic.
MIA: Bydda i’n mynd ar fy ngwyliau i Lundain yn yr haf.
MACSEN: Yn yr haf? Fy nghas beth i yw bod yng nghanol dinas yn yr haf!
MIA: O Macsen! Fy mreuddwyd i ydy mwynhau Llundain yn yr haul.
MACSEN: Yng Nghymru fydda i ym mis Awst, ond nid yng nghanol dinas, ar fy mol ar draeth fydda i!
Quiz - Cwis
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