Welsh Words and Phrases on Gravestones
Listed below are the meanings of the most common Welsh language words and phrases found on gravestones in Wales.
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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 words and phrases
(Welsh spelling variants in brackets)
| 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 |
Calendar Months
(common abbreviations in brackets)
| 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 |
| Now test your skills! Translate this authentic monumental inscription, taken from the tombstone (right) in the graveyard of Capel Seion Newydd - Eglwys y Bedyddwyr Treforys (New Zion Chapel - Morriston Baptist Church) in Morriston, Swansea, Glamorgan.
Er cof/ am/ EDWARD DAVIES/ Treforis/ a fu farw Mai 21, 1896/ yn 34 mlwydd oed./ Hefyd SARAH HANNAH, ei ferch/ a fu farw Ion. 26, 1894, yn 15 mis oed./ Hefyd MARY ANN, ei ferch/ a fu farw Chwef. 14, 1895 yn 11 mis oed./ Hefyd WILLIE EDWARD, ei fab/ a fu farw Chwef. 1, 1896/ yn 5 mlwydd oed./ Hefyd SARAH, priod yr uchod/ a fu farw Chwef. 24, 1938/ yn 72 mlwydd oed./ "Hedd perffaith hedd"./
Note: The "/" forward slash symbol is used in transcriptions of monumental inscriptions as an end-of-line marker.
A rough translation follows: |
 |
In memory/ of/ EDWARD DAVIES/ Treforis (Morriston)/ who died May 21, 1896/ aged 34 years./ Also SARAH HANNAH, his daughter/ who died January 26, 1894, aged 15 months./ Also MARY ANN, his daughter/ who died February 14, 1895 aged 11 months./ Also WILLIE EDWARD, his son/ who died February 1, 1896/ aged 5 years./ Also SARAH, wife of the above/ who died February 24, 1938/ aged 72 years./ "Peace perfect peace"./
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