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Long and short forms

Rydw i or Dw i? Roeddwn i or O'n i? They mean exactly the same. The long forms are how "to be" is written; the short forms are how it's said, by everyone, all over Wales. And on official notices and in the news you'll meet a third, more formal set: Rydym, Maent (see Formal Welsh).

So this isn't a North and South difference (for those, see North and South Welsh). Most courses teach the short forms first, because they're what you'll hear and say every day.

Present: I am, we are

Mae (he / she is) and Maen nhw (they are) are the same in both. Add 'n before a verb or a description: Rydw i'n dysgu Cymraeg, Dw i'n dysgu Cymraeg (I'm learning Welsh).

Negative: I'm not, we're not

In speech, Dydw i shortens to Dw i, the same as "I am", and ddim (not) does the work: Dw i ddim yn hoffi coffi (I don't like coffee).

Past: I was, we were

Roedd (he / she / it was) stays the same. The short forms all sound alike (O'n i, O'n ni, O'n nhw), so the i, ni or nhw after them tells you who.

Formal Welsh: rydym, maent

Official notices, statements, council and government websites, and the news use a more formal set again. You'll read these far more than you'll say them: Rydym yn sefyll gyda... (We stand with...), Nid ydym yn derbyn arian parod (We don't accept cash).

Three things to look out for:

• No ni or nhw. The ending already says who: -ym is "we", -ent and -ant are "they". So Rydym on its own means "we are".
• yn in full. Before a verb, yn shrinks to 'n only after a vowel (Rydw i'n). After a consonant it stays whole: Rydym yn sefyll, Maent yn dweud. If you see Rydym sefyll without it, it's a slip or a squashed headline.
• Nid for "not". Formal Welsh puts Nid at the front instead of ddim after: Nid ydym yn derbyn... (We don't accept...)

In older and very formal writing you may also see Yr wyf and Yr ydym: the same again, with yr in front. You don't need to write any of these unless your course asks for formal Welsh; just recognise them when you read.

Which should I use?

• Speaking, messages, everyday writing: the short forms. They're natural, and nobody will think them wrong.
• Formal writing (letters, reports, some exam answers): the long forms. Your teacher will tell you when they're expected.
• Reading: learn to recognise all three. Books use the long forms more; signs, official notices and the news often use the formal ones.

In parts of the South you'll also hear even shorter forms: Rwy'n (I am), Ni'n (we are), Chi'n (you are). Your course or tutor will tell you which forms they'd like you to use.

Common questions

What's the difference between Rydw i and Dw i?

They mean the same thing: "I am". Rydw i is the long form, used in formal writing; Dw i is the short form, used in speech and in most courses. Both are correct, and both are used all over Wales.

Is Dw i North Wales or South Wales Welsh?

Neither. It's spoken Welsh, used all over Wales. The difference between Rydw i and Dw i is about writing and speech, not about region.

What does rydym mean?

"We are". It's the formal written form of Rydyn ni (spoken: Dyn ni), used in official notices, statements and the news. The ending -ym already means "we", so ni is left out: Rydym yn sefyll gyda... (We stand with...)