Welsh Words and Phrases to Learn Before the Eisteddfod

At the National Eisteddfod, Welsh is everywhere: on signs, in cafés, on stages and in conversations across y Maes.

You do not need to speak fluent Welsh to join in. A few friendly words can help you find your way, order food and start a conversation. This guide gives you the most useful Welsh words and phrases to learn before your visit.

Plan your day with the official Eisteddfod app

The free Eisteddfod app has been updated for Eisteddfod y Garreg Las 2026. It is one of the easiest ways to plan your day and find your way around the Maes.

You can use it to:

• explore a detailed interactive map of the Maes;
• check daily activities, competitions and the latest results;
• save favourite events to create your own timetable;
• find travel and contact information; and
• read the latest news from the festival.

Download it free from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It is worth downloading before you travel, then saving the competitions and events you do not want to miss.

1. Welsh greetings

A simple greeting is one of the easiest ways to begin using Welsh. You can use these with staff, stallholders and people you meet around the Maes.

2. Say that you are learning Welsh

Telling someone that you are learning Welsh can take the pressure away. Most speakers will appreciate the effort and may slow down or help you with a word.

3. Ask someone to repeat or slow down

These phrases are useful when a conversation moves faster than expected.

4. Find your way around the Maes

The festival site can feel like a temporary town. Start a question with Ble mae...? and add the place you need.

5. Order food and go shopping

You will find Welsh food, books, gifts and local products across the Maes. These phrases will help at cafés and stalls.

Language note: Hwn is the masculine form of “this”, while hon is the feminine form. You may therefore hear either Faint yw hwn? or Faint yw hon?, depending on the gender of the Welsh noun.

There is no single rule that tells you whether every Welsh noun is masculine or feminine, although there are a few clues that can help. In some related words, y is associated with the masculine form and e with the feminine form. However, this is only a helpful pattern and not a rule that applies to every Welsh word.

You will gradually build up your repertoire of masculine and feminine nouns by hearing and using them over time, which is how most Welsh speakers learn them anyway. For example, eisteddfod, siwmper, cadair and ffenestr are feminine, while bwrdd, llyfr, car and tŷ are masculine.

Do not let grammatical gender put you off speaking Welsh. When you are pointing at an item, your meaning will normally be clear from the context. If you are unsure, simply default to hwn for “this”. Nobody will judge you for getting it wrong.

6. Talk about performances

Use these phrases while discussing a concert, competition or show.

7. Welsh words you will see on signs and programmes

Recognising a few key nouns will make the map and programme easier to follow.

8. Try the five-phrase Eisteddfod challenge

You do not need to memorise every phrase in this guide. Choose five that suit your plans and use each one once during your visit.

1. Greet someone in Welsh.
2. Order one drink or snack.
3. Ask where something is.
4. Tell someone that you are learning Welsh.
5. Thank someone before you leave.

The most important phrase may be the simplest: diolch. Use the Welsh you know, switch to English when you need to and enjoy hearing the language all around you.