S’mae ffrindiau!
Learning Welsh is full of treasures and one of the best parts is discovering those colourful, quirky phrases that make you sound like a real Cymro neu Gymraes.
These are the idioms, the sayings, the expressions that don’t always translate literally, but they’re packed with personality, humour, and cultural flavour. Use these when you’re chatting to your Nain, texting a friend, or just showing off a bit in class, and add a sprinkle of fun to your Welsh.
I’ve gathered ten of my favourites here, complete with literal translations and their closest English equivalents. Some are useful, some are daft, and some are just beautifully Welsh.
Scroll down for the full table and then keep reading for tips on using them in real life!
| Cymraeg | Literal English translation | Similar English phrase |
| Roedd hi’n bwrw hen wragedd a ffyn! | It was raining old women and sticks | It was raining cats and dogs |
| Fel pìn mewn papur | Like a pin in paper | Spick and span |
| Dim gobaith caneri | Not a canary’s hope | Fat chance! |
| Yn ysu am baned | Itching for a cuppa | Dying for a cup of tea |
| Rhoi’r ffidil yn y to | Put the fiddle in the roof | To throw in the towel/to give up |
| Fel ci gyda dau gynffon | Like a dog with two tails | Happy as Larry! |
| A’i wynt yn ei ddwrn | With his wind in his fist | Out of breath |
| Mae’n hen bryd | It’s old time | It’s high time |
| Ar gefn ei geffyl gwyn | On the back of his white horse | On his high horse |
| Chwarae teg | Fair play | Fair enough/Good for you |
Practice with these mini dialogues!
Yn ysu am baned
Aled: Wyt ti isio paned?
Ceri: Yn ysu am baned! Dw i heb gael un ers bore ‘ma.
(“Itching for a cuppa! I haven’t had one since this morning.”)
Rhoi’r ffidil yn y to
Guto: Wyt ti’n dal i drio datrys y broblem ‘na?
Llinos: Na, dwi wedi rhoi’r ffidil yn y to. Ddim syniad beth sy’n bod!
(“Nope, I’ve thrown in the towel. No idea what’s wrong!”)
Fel ci gyda dau gynffon
Mam: Sut oedd hi pan welodd e’i nain?
Twm: O, fel ci gyda dau gynffon!
(“Oh, he was over the moon!”)
Roedd hi’n bwrw hen wragedd a ffyn
Sara: Wyt ti’n siŵr ti eisiau cerdded?
Elen: Wel… roedd hi’n bwrw hen wragedd a ffyn ddoe. Mae’n well heddiw!
(“Well… it was raining cats and dogs yesterday. It’s better today!”)
Fel pin mewn papur
Dafydd: Ti ‘di glanhau’r tŷ?
Nia: Fel pin mewn papur!
(“Spick and span!”)
Dim gobaith caneri
Tomos: Wyt ti’n meddwl wnawn ni gyrraedd y trên?
Bethan: Dim gobaith caneri! Mae’n gadael mewn dau funud.
(“Not a snowball’s chance! It leaves in two minutes.”)
A’i wynt yn ei ddwrn
Ioan: Sut oedd y ras?
Rhys: Dw i’n a’i wynt yn fy nwrn!
(“I’m out of puff!”)
Mae’n hen bryd
Carys: Ti’n meddwl bod ni’n barod i fynd?
Steffan: Oes – mae’n hen bryd!
(“Yes – it’s about time!”)
Ar gefn ei geffyl gwyn
Sioned: Wyt ti wedi gweld beth ddywedodd o ar y grŵp WhatsApp?
Mari: Ie – ar gefn ei geffyl gwyn fel arfer. Ddim un peth heb bregeth!
(“Yeah – on his high horse as usual. Can’t say a thing without a lecture!”
Chwarae teg
Efa: Mi wnaeth o gael y swydd!
Siôn: O, chwarae teg iddo fo!
(“Ah, fair play to him!”)
So there you are, ten brilliant Welsh phrases to tuck into your conversations and surprise your tutor with next time!
Remember, language isn’t just grammar and vocabulary – it’s meant to be fun and creative too. Idioms like these help you connect with real Welsh speakers and feel the heartbeat of the language.
Why not pick your favourite and try using it this week?
Or even better make up a silly sentence and share it with me! I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or find me on Ko-Fi, Instagram, Threads, X, Facebook or YouTube!
Hop over to my Ko-fi page for loads more fun Welsh resources and daily learning inspiration.
cariad,
