Shwmae Su'mae Day: 15 Easy Ways to Start Speaking Welsh
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Diwrnod Shwmae Su'mae, or Shwmae Su'mae Day, is celebrated on 15 October each year. Its central idea is wonderfully small: begin a conversation in Welsh with shwmae, su'mae or another Welsh greeting, whatever your level of fluency.
The day began in 2013 to show that Welsh belongs to fluent speakers, learners and people who feel shy about using what they know. You do not need a speech, a polished accent or a themed event. One greeting followed by one honest sentence is enough to take part.
What is Shwmae Su'mae Day?
The first day was held on 15 October 2013. The official campaign says its purpose is to encourage people to start every conversation in Welsh and to make the language more visible in ordinary life. Schools, shops, workplaces, restaurants, broadcasters and community groups have all taken part.
Since 2024, Mentrau Iaith Cymru has coordinated the campaign through the network of 22 local language initiatives across Wales. That local structure suits the idea. Welsh does not grow only through national messages. It grows when somebody uses it with a neighbour, customer, colleague or friend.
The campaign's strongest message is permission. Fluent speakers do not own the first word, and learners do not have to wait until they can manage the tenth. A greeting creates a low-risk test: is Welsh welcome in this conversation?
What is the difference between shwmae and su'mae?
Both are friendly Welsh greetings. The Welsh Government describes shwmae as associated with the south and su'mae with the north, while noting that both can be heard across Wales. You may also hear shwd i, particularly in parts of south-west Wales.
The forms are connected to the idea of asking how things are. In daily use, treat them as warm hellos rather than pausing to translate every part. Choose the version used around you or the one taught by your course. Recognition of the others will come with listening.
Pronunciation is best learned from a real speaker or a reliable recording, because regional accents and natural speech vary. Listen, copy a short model, and use the same greeting repeatedly. A confident rhythm grows from contact, not from an elaborate English spelling.
15 easy Welsh conversation starters
You do not need to memorise all fifteen. Choose one greeting, one line about yourself and one question. That creates a usable pathway through the table.
| Welsh | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Shwmae? | Hello, how are things? | A friendly greeting often associated with south Wales |
| Su'mae? | Hello, how are things? | A friendly greeting often associated with north Wales |
| Bore da | Good morning | A clear start to any morning exchange |
| Prynhawn da | Good afternoon | For greetings later in the day |
| Sut wyt ti? | How are you? | Informal singular, for a friend, child or someone you know well |
| Sut dych chi? / Sut dach chi? | How are you? | Polite or plural forms commonly taught in south and north Wales |
| Fy enw i yw... | My name is... | To introduce yourself |
| Dw i'n dysgu Cymraeg | I am learning Welsh | To invite a supportive pace |
| O ble wyt ti? | Where are you from? | An informal question after introductions |
| Dw i'n byw yn... | I live in... | A simple way to add personal context |
| Beth wyt ti'n hoffi? | What do you like? | An informal route towards shared interests |
| Ga i ymarfer fy Nghymraeg gyda chi? | May I practise my Welsh with you? | To ask clearly for a short practice conversation |
| Allwch chi ddweud hynny eto, os gwelwch yn dda? | Can you say that again, please? | When you want the conversation to continue more slowly |
| Beth yw ystyr...? | What does ... mean? | To turn a missed word into learning |
| Braf cwrdd â chi | Nice to meet you | A warm line after a first exchange |
Build a three-turn Welsh conversation
Reading a list can create recognition without retrieval. A three-turn ladder gives the phrases an order your memory can use.
Turn 1, greet:
Shwmae?
Turn 2, give context:
Dw i'n dysgu Cymraeg.
Turn 3, invite help:
Ga i ymarfer fy Nghymraeg gyda chi?
Practise those turns as one unit. Then prepare two repair phrases: Allwch chi ddweud hynny eto?, meaning "Can you say that again?", and Diolch am helpu, meaning "Thank you for helping".
This works because the conversation has a visible boundary. You are not promising unlimited fluency. You are asking for a small, cooperative exchange. Each successful use makes the next attempt less unfamiliar.
How can you take part at home, work or in public?
At home
Attach bore da to the first drink of the morning or the first message in a family chat. The routine becomes the reminder. If another person joins you, agree that one reply is enough.
At work or school
Start a meeting, lesson or team message with one Welsh greeting, then continue in the language appropriate for everyone present. Invite participation without testing people. A short voluntary exchange builds confidence more effectively than putting a learner on display.
In a shop or cafe
Look for bilingual signs or a Hapus i Siarad marker. Greet first and follow the other person's lead. If the conversation moves into English, your Welsh still counted. The purpose is to make Welsh possible, not to trap anybody in a performance.
Online
Record a short greeting only if sharing feels enjoyable. The official campaign suggests videos and social posts, but public participation is optional. A private voice note to yourself or a friend can provide the same rehearsal without turning learning into content.
What should you do on 15 October?
Pick one person and one setting. Decide in advance: "When I enter the cafe, open the call or send the morning message, I will begin with shwmae." That if-then plan removes the need to make a brave decision in the moment.
If you are new to Welsh, begin with our ten easy Welsh words for beginners. For a longer route into regular learning, use our guide to starting a Welsh course and finding practice. The seven-place habit plan can help the greeting survive after the date has passed.
The day succeeds when Welsh feels slightly easier to begin on 16 October than it did on the 14th. Choose your first word, give it somewhere to happen, and let one real conversation do the teaching.
Sources, further reading and image credits
Official sources and learning links
- Official Diwrnod Shwmae Su'mae explanation
- Official 2026 campaign homepage
- Mentrau Iaith Cymru: Diwrnod Shwmae Su'mae
Image credits
- Feature image of Siop Sglods and its Croeso sign by Stefanik, via Wikimedia Commons, dedicated to the public domain under CC0.
- Source: Jaggery via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
- Source: Alan Hughes via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
- Source: نعم البدل via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
