These frequency lists are based on work conducted by Ellis, N. C., O'Dochartaigh, C., Hicks, W., Morgan, M., & Laporte, N. (2001). The list comprises of an analysis of 1,079,032 words of written, everyday Welsh. It is based on 500 samples of approximately 2000 words each, selected from a representative range of text types to illustrate modern (mainly post 1970) Welsh writing.
The sample included materials from the fields of novels and short stories, religious writing, children's literature (both factual and fiction), non-fiction materials in the fields of education, science, business, leisure activities, etc., public lectures, newspapers and magazines, both national and local, reminiscences, academic writing, and general administrative materials (letters, reports, minutes of meetings).
The resultant corpus was analysed to produce frequency counts of words both in their raw form and as counts of lemmas where each token is demutated and tagged to its root. This analysis also derives basic information concerning the frequencies of different word classes, inflections, mutations, and other grammatical features.[1]
| Amlder/Frequency |
Y gair Cymraeg/Welsh word |
Cyfieithiad Saesneg/English translation
|
| 55588 |
yn |
in (though more often seen as a particle before a verb, noun, or adjective, the predicative "yn")
|
| 45945 |
y |
the
|
| 33327 |
i |
to; me
|
| 33231 |
a |
and
|
| 32573 |
'r |
the
|
| 26927 |
o |
from; of
|
| 15888 |
ar |
on
|
| 14990 |
ei |
his/her
|
| 14845 |
'n |
a particle used before a verb, noun, or adjective; see "yn"
|
| 14523 |
yr |
the
|
| 11785 |
ac |
and
|
| 9922 |
oedd |
was; were
|
| 9338 |
bod |
to be
|
| 9056 |
mae |
there is; there are
|
| 7751 |
am |
at; for; of
|
| 7093 |
wedi |
past; post (used before a verb to create the perfect tense)
|
| 6118 |
ond |
but
|
| 5568 |
un |
one
|
| 5415 |
'i |
his/her (attached to the end of another word that ends in a Welsh vowel)
|
| 5294 |
eu |
their
|
| 4991 |
gan |
by
|
| 4988 |
fel |
like; such as
|
| 4578 |
mewn |
in a
|
| 4149 |
â |
with
|
| 4142 |
roedd |
there was; there were
|
| 3821 |
cael |
to get
|
| 3754 |
yw |
is (a conjugated form of "bod", to be)
|
| 3546 |
wrth |
near; by
|
| 3545 |
ni |
us; we
|
| 3463 |
hyn |
this
|
| 3023 |
na |
than
|
| 2870 |
ôl |
post; behind
|
| 2721 |
hynny |
then; these
|
| 2646 |
fe |
he; him
|
| 2613 |
er |
though
|
| 2594 |
neu |
or
|
| 2585 |
nid |
no; not (used at the start of a sentence when forming the negative is any tense)
|
| 2542 |
at |
at
|
| 2511 |
sy |
that is; which is
|
| 2417 |
'w |
his/her (attached to the end of another word that ends in a Welsh vowel)
|
| 2401 |
hi |
her; she
|
| 2360 |
dim |
not; nothing; any
|
| 2278 |
mynd |
to go
|
| 2240 |
byddai |
he/she/it would be
|
| 2160 |
gyda |
with
|
| 2137 |
yng |
in (nasally mutated)
|
| 2110 |
iawn |
very; OK
|
| 2066 |
pob |
every
|
| 2065 |
lle |
place
|
| 2027 |
pan |
when (used in the middle of a sentence; compare with "pryd", the interrogative "when")
|
| 2004 |
bu |
a form of "bod", to be
|
| 1973 |
gwaith |
work
|
| 1972 |
mawr |
big
|
| 1971 |
rhai |
some
|
| 1958 |
ym |
in (nasally mutated)
|
| 1904 |
fy |
my
|
| 1881 |
bydd |
he/she/it will be
|
| 1871 |
gwneud |
to do
|
| 1864 |
Cymru |
Wales
|
| 1852 |
hyd |
length; duration; time; until
|
| 1838 |
hefyd |
also; too; as well
|
| 1827 |
mi |
me; I
|
| 1809 |
mai |
that is; which is (used with "yw/ydy" when forming an emphatic sentence); the month of May
|
| 1786 |
sydd |
that is; which is
|
| 1662 |
gweld |
to see
|
| 1637 |
trwy |
through
|
| 1608 |
Cymraeg |
Welsh (language)
|
| 1606 |
iddo |
to him; for him
|
| 1577 |
arall |
another; other
|
| 1576 |
yna |
that; then
|
| 1552 |
'u |
their (attached to the end of another word that ends in a Welsh vowel)
|
| 1541 |
mwy |
more
|
| 1512 |
nhw |
they; them
|
| 1510 |
ein |
our
|
| 1499 |
hwn |
this (masculine)
|
| 1486 |
hen |
old
|
| 1484 |
mor |
as; so
|
| 1468 |
yma |
here
|
| 1465 |
cyn |
before
|
| 1465 |
rhaid |
must
|
| 1464 |
nad |
no; not (used in the middle of a sentence when forming the negative is any tense)
|
| 1440 |
pobl |
people
|
| 1423 |
ef |
he; him
|
| 1399 |
dau |
two
|
| 1399 |
rhan |
part
|
| 1396 |
llawer |
lots; a lot; much
|
| 1375 |
chi |
you (formal)
|
| 1352 |
os |
if
|
| 1336 |
rhoi |
to give; to put
|
| 1290 |
daeth |
he/she/it came
|
| 1286 |
hun |
self
|
| 1283 |
cyntaf |
first
|
| 1283 |
newydd |
new; just (having done something)
|
| 1273 |
felly |
so; therefore
|
| 1262 |
tros |
over
|
| 1231 |
rhyw |
some
|
| 1222 |
pen |
head
|
| 1213 |
meddai |
he/she/it said
|
| 1200 |
byd |
world
|
| 1192 |
yno |
there
|
| Amlder/Frequency |
Y gair Cymraeg/Welsh word |
Cyfieithiad Saesneg/English translation
|
| 1183 |
dod |
to come
|
| 1175 |
ag |
with (used before a Welsh vowel; â used before a Welsh consonant and causes a soft mutation)
|
| 1175 |
heb |
without
|
| 1158 |
erbyn |
by
|
| 1140 |
beth |
what; thing
|
| 1080 |
iaith |
language
|
| 1078 |
cyfer |
usually seen in its mutated form "ar gyfer", meaning "for"
|
| 1075 |
ddim |
nothing; no
|
| 1047 |
plant |
children
|
| 1045 |
dweud |
to say
|
| 1045 |
rhwng |
between
|
| 1039 |
tro |
turn; time
|
| 1034 |
byw |
to live
|
| 1022 |
eraill |
others
|
| 1013 |
peth |
some; thing
|
| 1009 |
da |
good
|
| 1009 |
math |
type; kind
|
| 1006 |
oes |
yes, there is; is there?
|
| 988 |
bach |
little; small
|
| 987 |
ffordd |
way; road
|
| 979 |
ysgol |
school; ladder
|
| 969 |
meddwl |
to think
|
| 956 |
dyn |
man
|
| 945 |
oed |
age
|
| 935 |
hwnnw |
that (masculine)
|
| 928 |
amser |
time
|
| 927 |
digon |
enough
|
| 919 |
allan |
out
|
| 913 |
eto |
yet; again
|
| 904 |
hon |
this (feminine)
|
| 896 |
dan |
under (usually seen with "o", "o dan")
|
| 893 |
dechrau |
to start; begin
|
| 875 |
unrhyw |
any
|
| 870 |
Jones |
a popular surname in Wales!
|
| 870 |
mwyaf |
most
|
| 868 |
pryd |
when (used at the start of a sentence; compare with "pan", the non-interrogative "when" used in a middle of a sentence)
|
| 861 |
gwlad |
country
|
| 855 |
gwir |
true; truth
|
| 837 |
dyna |
that is; there is
|
| 835 |
arbennig |
special
|
| 805 |
dwy |
two (feminine)
|
| 803 |
dyma |
this is
|
| 796 |
cyfnod |
period (of time)
|
| 796 |
unig |
only
|
| 783 |
bywyd |
life
|
| 771 |
hanes |
history
|
| 771 |
holl |
all
|
| 771 |
ti |
you; thee
|
| 765 |
mwyn |
usually seen as "er mwyn", meaning "for the sake of; in order that"
|
| 764 |
oddi |
from her/it
|
| 762 |
honno |
that (feminine)
|
| 742 |
blaen |
top; tip
|
| 735 |
ystod |
range
|
| 729 |
aeth |
he/she/it went
|
| 725 |
pawb |
everyone
|
| 724 |
dydd |
day
|
| 720 |
addysg |
education
|
| 718 |
eich |
your (formal, plural)
|
| 718 |
iddi |
to her; to it
|
| 717 |
e |
he; it
|
| 715 |
oherwydd |
because
|
| 710 |
blwyddyn |
year
|
| 691 |
tad |
father
|
| 679 |
cafodd |
he/she/it got
|
| 675 |
gwahanol |
different
|
| 669 |
enw |
name; noun
|
| 667 |
tu |
side, edge; one of two sides; usually seen with other words, such as "tu allan" meaning "out" and "tu ôl" meaning "behind"
|
| 665 |
dal |
still; continuing to be
|
| 664 |
sef |
namely
|
| 657 |
cadw |
to keep
|
| 655 |
codi |
to raise; to lift
|
| 647 |
edrych |
to look
|
| 646 |
modd |
means; mode; a way of doing something
|
| 644 |
angen |
need
|
| 643 |
mam |
mother
|
| 640 |
llaw |
hand
|
| 639 |
dy |
your (informal, singular)
|
| 633 |
nifer |
number (of)
|
| 631 |
doedd |
he/she/it was not
|
| 630 |
cymdeithas |
society
|
| 630 |
John |
a popular forname in Wales!
|
| 629 |
neb |
nobody, no one
|
| 627 |
defnyddio |
to use
|
| 627 |
tebyg |
similar
|
| 624 |
diwedd |
end
|
| 621 |
ychydig |
a little
|
| 619 |
blynyddoedd |
years
|
| 616 |
canrif |
century
|
| 616 |
wedyn |
then; afterwards
|
| 614 |
gallai |
he/she/it could
|
| 611 |
cwrs |
course
|
| 611 |
pethau |
things
|
| 607 |
canol |
middle
|
| 604 |
dysgu |
to learn (used also as "to teach")
|
| 603 |
iddynt |
to them
|
| 602 |
ymlaen |
forwards; onwards
|
| 599 |
cyngor |
council; councel; advice
|
| 597 |
prif |
main; head; chief
|
| 596 |
cynnwys |
content
|
| 594 |
eglwys |
church
|
| Amlder/Frequency |
Y gair Cymraeg/Welsh word |
Cyfieithiad Saesneg/English translation
|
| 590 |
cilydd |
reciprocal, usually seen in the form of "gyda'i gilydd", meaning "together"
|
| 583 |
Williams |
a popular surname in Wales!
|
| 581 |
troi |
to turn
|
| 579 |
r |
the, added on to a Welsh vowel at the end of a word
|
| 571 |
tŷ |
house
|
| 570 |
sut |
how
|
| 560 |
cyd |
co-; joint
|
| 560 |
hanner |
half
|
| 558 |
nos |
night
|
| 556 |
man |
place
|
| 550 |
ceir |
cars; there is/are
|
| 547 |
ceisio |
try
|
| 543 |
arno |
on him/it
|
| 541 |
cyrraedd |
to arrived
|
| 538 |
drwy |
through
|
| 537 |
gall |
he/she/it can
|
| 536 |
gellir |
it can (be done)
|
| 534 |
unwaith |
once
|
| 533 |
ail |
second
|
| 533 |
cwbl |
total; whole
|
| 533 |
lawr |
down
|
| 530 |
nag |
not (used in the middle of a sentence, compare with "nid")
|
| 529 |
gwybod |
to know (a fact)
|
| 526 |
derbyn |
to accept
|
| 523 |
nes |
until
|
| 523 |
pa |
which (interrogative)
|
| 518 |
awr |
hour
|
| 515 |
tua |
about; around about (time)
|
| 506 |
mis |
month
|
| 505 |
blynedd |
year (feminine)
|
| 505 |
Mr |
contraction of "Mister"
|
| 504 |
gweithio |
to work
|
| 499 |
gallu |
be able to
|
| 499 |
marw |
to die
|
| 497 |
gair |
word
|
| 496 |
bynnag |
ever, used in the sense of "beth bynnag", meaning "whatever" or "pryd bynnag", meaning "whenever"
|
| 494 |
cyfarfod |
meeting
|
| 494 |
hir |
long
|
| 492 |
ardal |
district
|
| 485 |
heddiw |
today
|
| 483 |
llawn |
full
|
| 482 |
cefn |
back; ridge
|
| 479 |
amlwg |
apparent; distinct; obvious
|
| 478 |
duw |
god
|
| 475 |
rhywbeth |
something
|
| 474 |
gwybodaeth |
information
|
| 474 |
teulu |
family
|
| 473 |
fo |
he; him (compare with 'fe', 'e', 'ef', and 'o')
|
| 472 |
llyfr |
book
|
| 470 |
ohonynt |
of them
|
| 469 |
cenedlaethol |
national
|
| 467 |
golwg |
sight
|
| 462 |
hwy |
they; them (compare with "nhw")
|
| 462 |
tri |
three
|
| 461 |
pwyllgor |
committee
|
| 459 |
byth |
ever; never
|
| 459 |
gwell |
better
|
| 458 |
bore |
morning
|
| 458 |
digwydd |
to happen
|
| 456 |
lleol |
local
|
| 454 |
gadael |
to leave; depart
|
| 450 |
gŵr |
husband
|
| 449 |
dangos |
to show
|
| 447 |
ochr |
side
|
| 446 |
wyneb |
face
|
| 445 |
siarad |
to talk; speak
|
| 443 |
cyfle |
opportunity; chance
|
| 440 |
datblygu |
to develop
|
| 436 |
efallai |
perhaps; maybe
|
| 436 |
fewn |
usually seen with 'o', "o fewn", meaning 'inside, within'
|
| 436 |
gwraig |
wife
|
| 435 |
cofio |
to remember
|
| 435 |
darllen |
to read
|
| 435 |
tir |
land
|
| 431 |
rhag |
lest; pre-, anti-, fore; usually seen as "rhag ofn", meaning "in case, just in case"
|
| 430 |
newid |
to change
|
| 429 |
cyfan |
whole
|
| 427 |
cymryd |
to take
|
| 425 |
aelodau |
members
|
| 425 |
bob |
every
|
| 425 |
ganddo |
he has; by him
|
| 425 |
maes |
field; pitch; ground
|
| 425 |
Saesneg |
English (language)
|
| 424 |
achos |
reason; cause (o achos = because. See also "oherwydd")
|
| 422 |
'm |
contraction of "fy", meaning my; added to vowels at the end of a word, though usually single letters
|
| 422 |
gorau |
best
|
| 422 |
pwysig |
important
|
| 421 |
clywed |
to hear
|
| 421 |
pe |
if (conditional; compare with "os")
|
| 420 |
adroddiad |
report
|
| 420 |
yntau |
he; him
|
| 419 |
Thomas |
a popular surname in Wales!
|
| 418 |
gofyn |
to ask
|
| 414 |
diwrnod |
day (compare with "dydd")
|
| 412 |
Mrs |
Mrs
|
| 412 |
stori |
story
|
| 412 |
ysgolion |
schools; ladders
|
| 410 |
aros |
to wait; stay
|
| 410 |
cymaint |
as much as; so many
|
| 406 |
drws |
door
|
Note that this frequency list is made up of verbs as they appear in the original research, and not as pure verbnouns.
| Amlder/Frequency |
Y gair Cymraeg/Welsh word |
Cyfieithiad Saesneg/English translation
|
| 9922 |
oedd |
he/she/it was; was he/she/it
|
| 9338 |
bod |
to be
|
| 9056 |
mae |
there is, there are
|
| 4142 |
roedd |
he/she/it was
|
| 3821 |
cael |
to get, receive
|
| 3754 |
yw |
is (compare with ydy, ydi)
|
| 2511 |
sy |
that is, which is
|
| 2278 |
mynd |
to go
|
| 2240 |
byddai |
he/she/it would be
|
| 2004 |
bu |
was (depending on the next verb; bu rhaid imi - I had to)
|
| 1881 |
bydd |
he/she/it will be
|
| 1871 |
gwneud |
to do, make
|
| 1786 |
sydd |
that is, which is
|
| 1662 |
gweld |
to see
|
| 1465 |
rhaid |
must
|
| 1336 |
rhoi |
to give, put
|
| 1290 |
daeth |
he/she/it came
|
| 1213 |
meddai |
he/she/it said
|
| 1183 |
dod |
to come
|
| 1045 |
dweud |
to say
|
| 1034 |
byw |
to live
|
| 969 |
meddwl |
to think, to believe
|
| 893 |
dechrau |
to start, to begin
|
| 729 |
aeth |
he/she/it went
|
| 679 |
cafodd |
he/she/it got
|
| 657 |
cadw |
to keep, preserve
|
| 655 |
codi |
to get up, raise
|
| 647 |
edrych |
to look
|
| 644 |
angen |
need
|
| 631 |
doedd |
he/she/it was not
|
| 627 |
defnyddio |
to use
|
| 614 |
gallai |
he/she/it could
|
| 604 |
dysgu |
to learn, teach
|
| 596 |
cynnwys |
to include
|
| 581 |
troi |
to turn
|
| 547 |
ceisio |
to try
|
| 541 |
cyrraedd |
to arrive, get to
|
| 537 |
gall |
he/she/it can
|
| 536 |
gellir |
it could
|
| 529 |
gwybod |
to know (a fact)
|
| 526 |
derbyn |
to accept
|
| 504 |
gweithio |
to work
|
| 499 |
gallu |
be able to
|
| 499 |
marw |
to die
|
| 458 |
digwydd |
to happen
|
| 454 |
gadael |
to leave, depart
|
| 449 |
dangos |
to show
|
| 445 |
siarad |
to speak, talk
|
| 440 |
datblygu |
to develop
|
| 435 |
cofio |
to remember
|
| 435 |
darllen |
to read
|
| 430 |
newid |
to change
|
| 427 |
cymryd |
to take
|
| 421 |
clywed |
to hear
|
| 418 |
gofyn |
to ask
|
| 410 |
aros |
to wait, remain
|
| 405 |
dilyn |
to follow
|
| 404 |
symud |
to move
|
| 393 |
galw |
to call
|
| 389 |
gwnaeth |
he/she/it did
|
| 387 |
tynnu |
to pull
|
| 368 |
cynnig |
to offer
|
| 367 |
cynnal |
to hold, keep, support, maintain
|
| 363 |
gosod |
to let, lay, put down
|
| 357 |
sôn |
to mention
|
| 356 |
ateb |
to answer
|
| 351 |
sicrhau |
to ensure
|
| 350 |
trafod |
to discuss
|
| 349 |
canu |
to sing
|
| 343 |
chwarae |
to play
|
| 337 |
creu |
to create
|
| 334 |
dywedodd |
he/she/it said (compare with "meddai")
|
| 325 |
cafwyd |
he/she/it got
|
| 325 |
disgwyl |
to expect
|
| 308 |
peidio |
to cease, stop
|
| 307 |
dewis |
to choose
|
| 302 |
cerdded |
to walk
|
| 299 |
dylid |
it should
|
| 298 |
torri |
to break
|
| 297 |
deall |
to understand
|
| 296 |
colli |
to lose, miss
|
| 296 |
credu |
to believe
|
| 296 |
ystyried |
to consider
|
| 285 |
dechreuodd |
he/she/it started, began
|
| 285 |
gellid |
it could
|
| 282 |
cynllunio |
to plan
|
| 281 |
cychwyn |
to start
|
| 275 |
ymateb |
to respond
|
| 273 |
cyflwyno |
to introduce
|
| 272 |
oeddwn |
was I; I was
|
| 271 |
cyhoeddi |
to announce
|
| 270 |
teimlo |
to feel
|
| 267 |
dylai |
he/she/it should
|
| 260 |
bwyta |
to eat
|
| 258 |
sefyll |
to stand
|
| 257 |
gweithredu |
to implement
|
| 246 |
buasai |
he/she/it would be
|
| 246 |
chwilio |
to search
|
| 246 |
ennill |
to win
|
| 239 |
sefydlu |
to establish
|
- ^ Ellis, N. C., O'Dochartaigh, C., Hicks, W., Morgan, M., & Laporte, N. (2001). Cronfa Electroneg o Gymraeg (CEG): A 1 million word lexical database and frequency count for Welsh. [On-line] Available: www.bangor.ac.uk/canolfanbedwyr/ceg.php.en
