Pronunciations

B-lish ye groesch

Don't forget the flegm 8)

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

Don't forget the flegm 8)

...that would be phlegm (and that's not even Welsh, though the spelling could be!)

Bwlch y Groes literally means the Pass of the Cross, sounds good in French - Col de la Croix. You'd be proud of climbing something named that on the L'Etape or Marmotte...

First of all you need to know a few 'tips'. In Welsh you say every letter and 99% of the time there is only one way of saying that letter. Most of the sounds of Welsh are used somewhere in English but English has no standard way of writing them because of the French influence thrown on top of it's Fresian/Germanic roots.

The problem letters (I guess) for monoglot English speakers are the 'w' 'ch' 'y' and 'e'.

'w' is always said as 'oo' like the 'w' in 'which', ' wood' 'wow' etc... So English does actually use the same letter for the same sound a lot (if not most) of the time.

'ch' is always pronounced as the 'ch' in the Gaeilic/Scottish word 'Loch' or the German surprise sound 'Ach!'. This is a tough one because although most English speakers can say the word Loch properly for some reason they don't make seem to be able to make the 'ch' sound in other contexts - just try it, the sound is not as guttral and phlegmy as the steryotype - it's actually relativley soft and smooth.

'y' sounds like the 'u' in 'un', 'undone' and 'under' and many other words. :? this is one of those letters that is illogical for people trying to learn English because you say the letter is called 'you' but it is normally used as a 'uh' sound :?

'e' always sounds like the 'e' in 'eddy', 'every', end etc. Basically one of the standard English usages of 'e' even though the letter on its own is called 'ee' - :? again not very logical or consistent use of the letter for non English speakers :?

So! - bearing in mind the unique nature of the 'ch' sound- my best attempt at transliterating it in to English would be: Bool-CH uh Gro-es. 8)

What a palava, no wonder it didnt catch on

igamogam wrote:

So! - bearing in mind the unique nature of the 'ch' sound- my best attempt at transliterating it in to English would be: Bool-CH uh Gro-es. 8)

Thanks for the guide. But still, from me, it sounded like a mix of Geordie and Pakistani

redddraggon wrote:

bulk ee groys is how everyone I know says it

I know that’s how non-natives say it but it's not right. It sounds more like "bwlc i grois" which is gobbledegook. Folk usually make allowances when it's not their mother tongue but It's nice to help people learn how to say it properly and it also gives them confidence to learn more.

It's simple thing, for example, when you are having a post-ride "rehydration" in the pub with your Welsh mates you say 'iechid da' (good health). Most English speakers pronounce it "ia ci da" or "yakee da" which means "yes you're a good dog". When you translate it - it gets a laugh but most folk are happy to know how to say it properly and it gives you an excuse to try a few more 'iechid da's and have a few more pints.

The problem letters (I guess) for monoglot English speakers are the 'w' 'ch' 'y' and 'e'.

Don't forget 'll' and 'dd' which are the ones that usually provide amusement. Add to that the fact there is no 'v' but an 'f' makes the equivalent sound whereas 'ff' makes an English 'f' sound. I don't know why people find it confusing to be honest :?

When I started trying to learn it (typical south Wallian, can't speak my mother tongue sorry :oops: but at least I sound proper tidy Welsh ) it was the mutations changing spellings at the start of a word that finished me off!

Well A friend was there a few days ago training, lucky sod. Better than work. As far a s pronunciation goes, it is all based on how many pints of Brains you've had whilst at the rugby.