Wiktionary:Frequency lists/Welsh/Top 500

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.

First 100 most common words

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

Second 100 most common words

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

Third 100 most common words

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

Fourth 100 most common words

Amlder/Frequency	Y gair Cymraeg/Welsh word	Cyfieithiad Saesneg/English translation
406	sylw	to notice
405	dilyn	to follow
404	dosbarth	class
404	symud	to move
401	plaid	(political) party
398	erioed	ever
398	ifanc	young
397	tai	houses
396	bellach	farther; further
394	rhyfel	war
393	galw	to call
392	ynglŷn	in connection with
390	bron	breast; almost
389	gwnaeth	(he/she/it) did; made
388	fi	me
388	geiriau	words
387	ers	since (time)
387	tra	whilst
387	tynnu	to pull
385	sir	county
384	dynion	men
382	coleg	college
382	Cymry	Welsh (people)
380	merch	girl; daughter
379	megis	as
378	cwmpas	surroundings
377	parod	ready; willing; prepared
377	rhywun	someone ; somebody
375	llyfrau	books
372	efo	with
371	Cymreig	Welsh (things / style)
371	môr	sea
368	cynnig	to offer
367	cynnal	to support; to hold (an event)
367	tipyn	a little bit
366	afon	river
363	gosod	to place; to lay
363	ydi	alternative spelling of ydy = yes he/she/it is; ydy? =is he/she/it?
362	cwmni	company
361	arian	silver; money
357	sôn	to mention
356	ateb	answer
355	enghraifft	example
352	bwyd	food
351	di
351	sicrhau	to ensure
350	dyddiau	days
350	trafod	to handle
349	canu	to sing
347	adran	department
347	tuag	towards
346	hunain	-selves
345	capel	chapel
345	sefyllfa	situation
344	Davies
343	chwarae	play
342	cartref	home
341	c
341	cynllun	plan
339	aml	often
339	daw	(I/he/she/it) will come
339	union	direct
338	nesaf	next
337	creu	to create
337	de	southern; right (side / direction)
337	llai	less
335	tref	town
335	wythnos	week
334	dywedodd	(he/she) said
334	gwyn	white
334	Lloegr	England
334	noson	evening
333	Lewis
333	Owen
333	sawl	many; sawl? = how many?
331	llygaid	eyes
331	tair	three (f)
329	profiad	experience
328	natur	nature
326	deg	ten; mutated form of teg = fair
325	cafwyd	was obtained
325	disgwyl	to wait
324	corff	body
324	prin	scarce; rare
321	merched	girls; daughters
321	ogystal	yn ogystal = as well as; in addition to
318	fyny	up
317	'ch	contraction of eich = your
317	cyffredinol	common
317	t
316	ambell	a few
316	does	contraction of "nid oes" = there isn't/aren't
315	arfer	to be used/accustomed to
315	diweddar	lately
315	trefn	arrangement; order; system
314	Roberts
313	barn	opinion; judgement
313	cynnar	early
312	arni	on her
311	ai	Is it...? (placed before an assertion to turn it into a question); ai...ai... = either...or...

Fifth 100 most common words

Amlder/Frequency	Y gair Cymraeg/Welsh word	Cyfieithiad Saesneg/English translation
310	pam	contraction of "paham" = why
308	mab	son
308	peidio	to cease
308	rhy	too (extreme)
307	dewis	choice; to choose
305	gwasanaeth	service
303	llall	other
302	cerdded	to walk
302	gwerth	worth; value
301	swyddfa	office
300	anodd	difficult
299	dylid	should
298	torri	to break; to cut
297	cymorth	assistance; aid
297	deall	to understand
297	hytrach	yn hytrach = rather than
297	olaf	last / remaining
296	colli	to lose
296	credu	to believe
296	ystyried	to consider
294	athrawon	teachers
293	adeg	era / epoch
293	disgyblion	disciples; pupils
293	n
291	cyffredin	common
290	coed	trees
289	llywodraeth	government
288	athro	teacher
287	bai	blame
287	gwely	bed
287	ymhlith	among
285	cymdeithasol	social
285	dechreuodd	(he/she/it) began
285	gellid	could be
285	tan	under
283	cenedl	nation
283	uchel	high
282	cynllunio	to plan
282	William
281	b
281	cychwyn	to start
278	swyddog	official (person)
277	diwethaf	last one
275	gydag	with
275	ymateb	response
273	bwrdd	board / table
273	cyflwyno	to introduce
272	cyfeiriad	direction; address
272	oeddwn	(I) was; Yes I was
272	plentyn	child
272	pwy	who
271	car	car
271	cyhoeddi	announce / publicise
271	eisteddfod	eisteddfod (music, poetry and art contest)
271	imi	that I
271	wel	Well! (colloquialism)
270	lleiaf	smallest
270	teimlo	to feel
269	du	black
268	amdano	about him/it
268	heibio	past (direction)
268	popeth	everything
267	dylai	should
267	haf	summer
267	llais	voice
267	llun	picture; photo
267	Sul	dydd Sul = Sunday
266	ati	to her; ag ati = and so on
266	sicr	secure
266	taith	voyage
263	ynddo	in it
262	coch	red
262	diddordeb	interest
262	diolch	thanks / thank you
262	eisoes	already
261	inni	for us
261	papur	paper
261	rhaglen	programme
261	rhain	these
261	ystafell	room (in a building)
260	bwyta	to eat
260	ofn	fear
258	sefyll	to stand
257	gweithredu	to go into action; to do a deed
257	perthynas	relative
256	draw	over(there)
255	j	Letterform
253	dŵr	water
252	agos	nearby
252	nac	no
251	Evans
250	go	rather / somewhat
250	Prydain	Britain
249	gogledd	north
249	posibl	possible
249	traed	feet
248	daear	earth
248	the
247	talu	to pay
246	buasai	(he/she/it) would be

100 most common verbs

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