Every culture has its own distinct hallmarks. Customs, crafts and music are a few of these. But language has always been one of the most prolific avenues for people to express themselves. In Wales, language is a very integral part of the culture and heritage. The Welsh culture is dotted with proverbs that are wise and whimsical and a great insight into the Welsh mindset.
Old proverbs have a way of giving us a new spin on an old problem. Sometimes proverbs are wise with the wisdom of the ages; sometimes they are whimsical to reflect the humor of an era gone by. But to whatever end, they are truly words to live by. The proverbs are in both English and Welsh. Go ahead and try and pronounce some of the Welsh! I hope you enjoy!
Y cyntaf I’r felin gaiff falu. The first to the mill will be the first to grind
Taro’r post I’r pared gael clywed. To strike the post so that the partition hears
Gwell swllt da na sofren ddrwg. Better a good shilling than a dud sovereign.
Gwr diethr yw yfory. Tomorrow is a stranger
Allwedd arian a egyr pob clo. Money is the key that opens all locks.
Gorau cam, cam cyntaf. The best step, the first step
Gelyn I ddyn yw ei dda. A man’s wealth is his enemy.
Segurdod yw clod y cledd. A sword’s honor is its idleness.
Gwin yn y bol, twrw yn y pen. Wine in the belly, tumult in the head
Hir y byddir yn cnoi tamaid chwerw. A bitter morsel will be chewed a long time
Hawdd cynnau tan ar hen aelwyd. It is easy to kindle a fire on a familiar hearth
Digon yw ychydig yn fwy nag sydd gennyt. Enough is a little more than you already have
Hir y bydd y mud wrth borth y byddar. The mute will tarry long at the gate of the deaf
Addo teg a una ynfyd yn llawen. Fair promises will make a fool happy
Pe gwisgid coron am ben pob ffol, ni a fyddem bawb yn frenhinoedd. If a crown were to be placed on every fool’s head, we would all be kings
A fynno glod bid farw. He who desires to be praised, let him die
Amynedd yw mam pob doethineb. Patience is the mother of all wisdom
Cam dros y trothwy, hammer y daith. A step over the threshold is half the journey
A heuo ddrain, na fid droednoeth. He who sows thorns, let him not go barefooted
Call gwr a ddyco ei elyn yn gar iddo. Wise is the man who makes a friend of his enemy
Cwsg gwir ar ddrain, ni chwsg anwir ar blu. Truth will sleep on thorns, lies will not sleep on feathers
Enyn cannwyll I chwilio am haul canolddydd. Lighting a candle to search for the midday sun
Yr euog a ffy heb ei erlid. The guilty one will flee without being pursued
Chwynnwch eich gardd hun yn gyntaf. Weed your own garden first
Y neb a anwyd I rot nid eiff byth I bum ceiniog. Whoever is born to fourpence will never achieve fivepence
Y mae dau du I bob tudalen. There are two sides to every page
Cyd bo hirddydd, daw ucher. Though the day be long, evening will come
Dau drwg dalu – talu ‘mlaen a pheodio a thalu. Two bad payments – to pay beforehand and not to pay at all
Cwsg galar ond ni chwsg gofid. Grief will sleep but anxiety will not
Deuparth gwaith ei ddechrau. A job started is two parts done
Nid yn y bore mae canmol diwrnod teg. The morning is not the time to praise a fine day
Utgorn angau yw peswch sych. A dry cough is death’s trumpet
Gan y gwirion ceir y gwir. One gets the truth form the simple
Henaint ni ddaw wi hunan. Old age comes not alone
Ymryson a doeth, ti fyddi ddoethach. Contend with the wise, you will be the wiser
Ni waeth beth fo lliw’r delyn os da’r gainc. It matters not what is the color of the harp is if the melody is sweet
Canmol dy ulad a thrig ynddi. Praise you country and live in it
Mae tan yn gyfaill da ond yn elyn drwg. Fire is a good friend but a bad enemy
Dianc rhag y mwg a syrthio I’r tan. To escape from the smoke and fall into the fire
A unelir liw nos a welir liw dydd. What us done by night will be seen by day
