siwmae

Welsh

Welsh phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

Alternative forms

• sh'mae, shwmae (South Wales)
• sumae, s'mae (North Wales)

Etymology

A contraction of sut mae hi? (“how is it?”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /sɨˈmaːɨ̯/, /ʃɨˈmaːɨ̯/, /ˈsmaːɨ̯/
• (South Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ʃʊˈmai̯/, /ˈʃmai̯/

Interjection

siwmae

1. (informal) hi! what's up? how goes it? (an informal greeting recognized throughout Wales)

References

• Modern Welsh dictionary: a guide to the living language, by Gareth King.