MISCELLANEOUS
WALES
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MISCELLANEOUS
WALES
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MISCELLANEOUS WALES |
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MISCELLANEOUS WALES |
Welsh Words and Phrases on Gravestones
The inscriptions on gravestones in Welsh churchyards, cemeteries and chapel burial yards are frequently written in the Welsh language, as in the example quoted here. At first sight, this may confound non Welsh-speaking family historians, but checking through the lists of Welsh words and phrases provided below should enable most such inscriptions to be understood. When you've studied the lists, scroll down the page and test your skills on an authentic Welsh monumental inscription.
| Welsh word or phrase | English equivalent |
|---|---|
| Er cof am | In memory of |
| Er cof an(n)wyl am | In loving memory of |
| Er parchus cof am | In respectful memory of |
| Er serchus cof am | In loving (affectionate) memory of |
| Yma gorphwys (gorffwys) rhan farwol | Here lie the mortal remains of |
| (g)wraig | wife (of) |
| priod (briod) | spouse (male or female) |
| an(n)wyl wraig | beloved wife (of) |
| an(n)wyl briod | beloved wife/husband (of) |
| chwaer | sister (of) |
| ŵyr | grandson (of) |
| a fu farw (bu farw) | who died |
| yn 34 mlwydd oed | aged 34 years |
| yn 15 mis oed | aged 15 months |
| hefyd | also |
| eto / etto | also |
| yr uchod | the above |
| y rhag grybwylledig | the aforementioned |
| y rhagenwyd / rhagddywededig | the aforementioned |
| ei ferch / ei merch / eu merch | his/her/their daughter |
| ei fab / ei mab / eu mab | his/her/their son |
| (yr hwn) a hunodd | who fell asleep (i.e. died) |
| hunodd yn yr Iesu | asleep in Jesus (i.e. died) |
| aeth attynt | joined them (the ancestors; i.e. died) |
| o'r lle hwn | of this place |
| o'r plwyf hwn | of this parish |
| yn y plwyf hwn | in this parish |
| dau o blant | two children |
| yn eu mabandod | in infancy |
| hedd perffaith hedd | peace perfect peace |
| corffwys (yn gorffwys) mewn hedd | rest in peace |
| yn hyn a allodd hon hi a'i gwnaeth | she did all that was expected of her |
| coffadwriaeth y cyfiawn sydd fendigaid | blessed is the memory of the righteous |
| Gogoniant i Dduw yn y Goruchaf | Glory to God in the Highest |
| Welsh | English | Welsh | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awst | August | Mai | May |
| Chwefror (Chwe.) | February | Mawrth (Maw.) | March |
| Ebrill (Ebr.) | April | Medi | September |
| Gorffenaf/Gorphenaf (Gor.) | July | Mehefin (Meh.) | June |
| Hydref/Hedref (Hyd./Hed.) | October | Rhagfyr (Rhag.) | December |
| Ionawr (Ion.) | January | Tachwedd (Tach.) | November |