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]

First 100 most common words [ edit ]

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 [ edit ]

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 for "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 county; Wales 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 o 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 [ edit ]

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 area 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 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 [ edit ]

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 [ edit ]

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 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 Purely, J doesn't exist in the Welsh language, but is often used in borrowed words. 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 [ edit ]

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

References [ edit ]