wyneb

Welsh

Alternative forms

• gwyneb

Wyneb

Etymology

From Proto-Brythonic *eneb, from Proto-Celtic *enīkʷom (“face”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁enih₃kʷos (“face”), from *h₁én and *h₃ókʷs (“eye”). Cognate with Breton eneb (“face”), Cornish enep (“face”), and Old Irish enech (“face”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈwɨnɛb/
  • (North Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈwɨnab/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈʊi̯nɛb/, /ˈwɪnɛb/

• South Wales:

  (file)

Noun

wyneb m (plural wynebau)

1. face (part of head)
2. face, surface
3. front
4. cheek, effrontery

   A phwy ond efe sydd wedi cael digon o wyneb a haerllugrwydd i daflu llaid arno?

   And who but he has had enough cheek and impudence to sling mud at him?

Derived terms

• arwyneb (“surface”)
• dauwynebog (“two-faced”)
• wyneb ar wyneb (“face to face”)
• wyneb i waered (“upside down”)
• wynebu (“to face”)
• wynepryd (“countenance, visage”)
• wynebwerth (“face value”)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	h-prothesis
wyneb	unchanged	unchanged	hwyneb
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “wyneb”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies