Welsh Weather Words and Phrases for Everyday Conversations

Talking about the weather is one of the easiest ways to begin a real conversation in Welsh. These Welsh weather words and phrases cover the expressions you are most likely to need when looking out of the window, planning a walk or making everyday small talk.

The basic pattern is reassuringly regular. Welsh commonly treats the weather as hi (“she” or “it”), so many descriptions begin Mae hi’n…. Once you know that frame, you can change the final word to describe sun, cloud, wind, warmth or cold.

How to ask about the weather in Welsh

A useful standard question is:

Tywydd means “weather” and heddiw means “today”. You may hear regional alternatives, particularly in everyday speech, but this form is clear and widely useful for learners.

For most descriptions, begin with Mae hi’n, followed by an adjective. In quick conversation you may also hear Mae’n…. Both patterns can occur, but keeping Mae hi’n… as your first learner frame makes the examples easy to remember.

Essential Welsh weather words and phrases

To talk about what may happen next, try Mae’n edrych fel glaw (“It looks like rain”) or Dw i’n gobeithio y bydd hi’n sych (“I hope it will be dry”). These are useful complete phrases rather than isolated vocabulary.

Why do some weather words change?

After the linking word yn, adjectives can undergo a soft mutation. That is why the dictionary form and the form inside the sentence are sometimes different:

• cymylog becomes gymylog;
• gwyntog becomes wyntog;
• cynnes becomes gynnes;
• poeth becomes boeth.

Not every first letter changes. Words beginning with vowels, h, n or s remain visibly the same in these examples. Braf is a useful exception to learn as a complete phrase: say Mae hi’n braf, not *Mae hi’n fraf.

TermCymru’s official search guidance notes that its search can find both mutated and unmutated forms. That is helpful when a word you hear does not look exactly like the headword in a dictionary.

A short Welsh weather conversation

Notice that the second adjective can follow another yn: yn gymylog ac yn wyntog. Learn the whole rhythm aloud. It is more useful than trying to translate each word separately while you are speaking.

A few pronunciation reminders

• dd, as in heddiw, sounds like the “th” in “this”.
• ch, as in sych, is the sound heard in Scottish “loch”, not the “ch” in “chair”.
• w can work as a vowel in Welsh, including in gwyntog.

Pronunciation varies naturally by region. Aim first for a clear, consistent form and listen to fluent speakers whenever possible.

Practise the phrases

Look outside and choose three descriptions: one for the sky, one for the temperature and one for wind or rain. For example: Mae hi’n gymylog. Mae hi’n oer. Mae hi’n wyntog.