Talk:sarff

Can anyone explain what the difference is between sarff, neidr, and gwiber? An example of how each word is used would be particularly helpful. My impression is that sarff, which is almost always translated "serpent," tends to be used for mythical snakes or snakey creatures (like the serpent in Genesis, dragons in European and Asian legends, and the various serpent gods who have been worshipped by people all over the world), while neidr is a more appropriate term to use when referring to a real snake. (I've actually run across neidr while reading something in Welsh.) But can sarff be used for an actual living snake too? . I have never encountered gwiber, although it's translated "viper" and is obviously cognate with "viper" (Latin vipera, and perhaps it has a closer connexion to French guivre (wurm, dragon) — I don't know how much Gaulish made it into French). Is this the usual word used in Welsh when referring specifically to the Eurasian Adder (Vipera berus, the UK's only native venomous snake), and if not, what is the typical common name for this snake in Welsh?

Diolch fawr! Mia229 (talk) 17:48, 31 July 2012 (UTC)