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Cymraeg
Cymraeg

Glossary

Acknowledgement

The Royal Commission is grateful to both the Ordnance Survey and Bangor University for permission to reproduce this glossary, an expanded version of which can be viewed on the Ordnance Survey website. Particular acknowledgement must be given to Professor Hywel Wyn Owen, Dr Geraint Wyn Jones and Gruffudd Prys of Bangor University who worked with the Ordnance Survey to develop their 'Glossary of Welsh place-name elements'.

adj = adjective nf = noun feminine
adv = adverb nm = noun masculine
f = feminine np = noun plural
m = masculine pr = preposition
pl = plural num = number

Glossary of place-name elements

Element English Translation Examples Sound
caban nm cottage, cabin Caban-coch SN9163 Caban SH3938
Listen to caban
cadair nf seat, stronghold Cadair SJ0060 Penacader SN4436
Listen to cadair
cadarn adj strong, powerful Crucadarn SO0942 Twyn Cerrig-cadarn SN9438
Listen to cadarn
cadno nm fox Carreg Cadno SN8715 Clo Cadno SO1116
Listen to cadno
cadw nm preserve, spinney Maes-cadw SJ0147 Coed Cadw SH5978
Listen to cadw
cae nm , caeau pl field, enclosure Pen-y-cae SJ2845 Rhes-y-cae SJ1870
Listen to cae
Listen to caeau
caer nf , caerau pl stronghold, fort Caernarfon SH4862 Caerdydd ST1876
Listen to caer
Listen to caerau
caeth adj & nm/f , caith pl captive Cricieth SH5038 Caethle SN6099
Listen to caeth
Listen to caith
cafn nm ferry-boat Tal-y-cafn SH7871 Nant-y-cafn SN8107
Listen to cafn
cain adj fine, fair, beautiful; ridge Cilcain SJ1765 Pistyll Cain SH7327
Listen to cain
calch nm lime, chalk Pen Cerrig-calch SO2122 Twyn Calch ST2699
Listen to calch
caled adj & nm hard Sarn-y-bryn-caled SJ2105 Cae Caled SH4069
Listen to caled
cam adj crooked, bent Pengam ST1597 Camros SM9220
Listen to cam
camfa nf stile Nant Maes y gamfa SH8112 Camfa Derw SH6744
Listen to camfa
canol nm middle Y Felin Ganol SM8025 Tircanol SS6798
Listen to canol
cantref nm hundred (territorial division) Cantref SO0525 Cantref ST2815
Listen to cantref
capel nm chapel Capel Curig SH7258 Capel Bangor SN6580
Listen to capel
carn nf , carnau pl heap of stones, tumulus Pen-y-garn SN5731 Aber-carn SN5731
Listen to carn
Listen to carnau
carnedd nf/m , carneddau pl , carneddi heap of stones, tumulus Penygarnedd SJ1023 Bryncarnedd SN6082
Listen to carnedd
Listen to carneddau
Listen to carneddi
carreg nf , cerrig pl stone, rock Llanbadarn y Garreg SO1148 Cerrigceinwen SH4273
Listen to carreg
Listen to cerrig
carrog nf brook Carrog SJ1143 Carrog SH7647
Listen to carrog
carrog nf torrent, fast-flowing stream Carrog SH7647 Dolgarrog SH7767
Listen to carrog
carw nm stag Gallt-y-carw SH7521 Cilcarw SN4912
Listen to carw
cas nm castle Cas-bach ST2583 Croes Cas-lai SM9125
Listen to cas
caseg nf , cesig pl mare Afon Caseg SH6566 Llyn Caseg-fraith SH6758
Listen to caseg
Listen to cesig
castell nm , cestyll pl castle; small stronghold; fortified residence Castell Nedd SS7597 Castell-Paen SO1646
Listen to castell
Listen to cestyll
cath nf cat Carreg-y-gath SH5765 Rhyd-y-gath SN2131
Listen to cath
cau adj hollow; enclosed Caubwll SJ0171 Cwm Cou SN6264
Listen to cau
cawl nm sea-kale (soup) Porthcawl SS8277 Heol-y-cawl ST0887
Listen to cawl
cawr nm , ceiri pl , cewri , -es f giant Castell Cawr SH9376 Barclodiad y Gawres SH3270
Listen to cawr
Listen to ceiri
Listen to cewri
caws nm cheese Nant-y-caws SN4518 Cerrig Caws SH9556
Listen to caws
ceffyl nm , ceffylau horse Bryn Ceffyl SH7837 Allt y Ceffylau SH6747
Listen to ceffyl
Listen to ceffylau
cefn nm , cefnydd r idge Cefn-brith SH9350 Cefn-coch SJ1351
Listen to cefn
Listen to cefnydd
cefnen nf ridge Cefnen SH8776 Cefnen Wen SH8854
Listen to cefnen
cegid np hemlock Cegidfa SJ2211 Bryniau Ystumcegid SH5041
Listen to cegid
cegin nf kitchen Abercegin SH5972 Gegin SJ2752
Listen to cegin
cegyr np hemlock Cwm-cegyr SO2517 Dolycegyr SN9054
Listen to cegyr
cei nm quay Ceinewydd SN3859 Cei Ystagbwll SR9995
Listen to cei
ceiliog nm cock Caergeiliog SH3078 Croesyceiliog SN4016
Listen to ceiliog
ceirch nm , cyrch oats Bryn-ceirch SN4739 Cae-ceirch SH7719
Listen to ceirch
Listen to cyrch
ceisiad nm , ceisiaid pl bailiff Nant-y-ceisiad ST2089 Llain Ceisiad SN1728
Listen to ceisiad
Listen to ceisiaid
cell nf , cellau , celloedd pl cell Gell-fain SN8432 Dolgellau SH7217
Listen to cell
Listen to cellau
Listen to celloedd
celli nf grove Y Gelli Gandryll SO2242 Pencelli SO0925
Listen to celli
celyn pl , celynnen nf holly tree Llwyncelyn SN4459 Trecelyn ST2197
Listen to celyn
Listen to celynnen
celynnog nf , clynnog holly grove Clynnog SH4149 Ffridd Celynnog SH8019
Listen to celynnog
Listen to clynnog
cemaes , cemais nm (from np) bend in river or coastline Cemaes SH3693 Cemais Comawndwr SO3404
Listen to cemaes
Listen to cemais
cennin np leeks Llanbedrycennin SH7569 Cilcennin SN5260
Listen to cennin
cerddin , cerddinen nf , cerdin , cerdinen pl mountain-ash Blaencerdinfach SN3748 Bryn-Cerdin SN3848
Listen to cerddin
Listen to cerddinen
Listen to cerdin
Listen to cerdinen
cerwyn nf vat, pot-hole Foel Cwmcerwyn SN0931 Cwmcerwyn SS8390
Listen to cerwyn
cesail nf hollow Cesailgwm SH6921 Coed y Gesail SH8210
Listen to cesail
cest nf belly, swelling Porth-y-gest SH5637 Brongest SN3245
Listen to cest
ceulan nf river bank Cwm Ceulan SN7090 Fforch Ceulan SN7520
Listen to ceulan
ceunant nm ravine, gorge Pen-y-ceunant SJ0823 Mynydd Ty'n-y-ceunant SH7308
Listen to ceunant
ch- A word starting ch may be a mutated form of a word starting c
chwaen nf piece of land, breezy, windy place Chwaen Bach SH3983 Chwaen-wen SH3682
Listen to chwaen
chwilog nf land infested with beetles Chwilog SH4338 Chwilog Fawr SH4438
Listen to chwilog
ci nm , cwn pI dog Tre-cwn SM9632 Carnedd y Ci SJ0534
Listen to ci
cigfrain pl , cigfran nf raven Craig Nyth-y-gigfran SH6845 Cwmgigfran SN4519
Listen to cigfrain
Listen to cigfran
cil nm , ciliau pl retreat, recess, corner Llanycil SH9134 Ciliau Aeron SN5058
Listen to cil
Listen to ciliau
cilfach nf nook Gilfachreda SN4058 Y Gilfach-goch SS9889
Listen to cilfach
cist nf chest Cist Cerrig SH5438 Gist Wen SO0621
Listen to cist
cistfaen nm stone-chest Cistfaen SN8677 Cistfaen SH9938
Listen to cistfaen
clafdy nm hospital Clafdy SH3569 Rhyd-y-clafdy SH3234
Listen to clafdy
clawdd nm , cloddiau pl ditch, hedge Penclawdd SS5495 Clawddnewydd SJ0852
Listen to clawdd
Listen to cloddiau
clegyr nm rock, cliff Clegyr-mawr SJ0549 Penclegyr SM7629
Listen to clegyr
clip nm , -iau pl precipice, crag, steep slope Clip SH6532 Clipiau SH4146
Listen to clip
cloch nf bell Maenclochog SN0827 Clochfaen SN9078
Listen to cloch
clochydd nm sexton, parish clerk Dôl-y-clochydd SH7321 Bryn-y-clochydd SH8760
Listen to clochydd
clog nf , clogau pl crag, precipice Clogfryn SN4462 Carn Pen-y-clogau SN7118
Listen to clog
Listen to clogau
clogwyn nm precipice, steep rock hanging on one side Clogwyn SH7217 Clogwynygarreg SH5553
Listen to clogwyn
clos nm yard before a house Clos SN1840 Closglas SN6424
Listen to clos
clun nm meadow, moor Clunderwen SN1219 Cluncoch SN3732
Listen to clun
clwt nm , clwtyn pl , clytiau patch Clwt-y-bont SH5762 Clwt SJ3245
Listen to clwt
Listen to clwtyn
Listen to clytiau
clwyd nf , clwydydd pl hurdle, gate Clwydygraig SO1624 Pentreclwydau SN8405
Listen to clwyd
Listen to clwydydd
clyd adj sheltered Cwm-clyd SN6273 Lletty-clyd SN2737
Listen to clyd
cnap nm , cnepyn top, summit of hill, short sharp ascent Pen-y-cnap SN5121 Bryn-cnap SH9465
Listen to cnap
Listen to cnepyn
cnol nf hillock, knoll Twyn-y-gnol ST2296 Cnol Wen SN8260
Listen to cnol
cnwc nm hillock Cefn Cnwc SN7759 Pencnwc SN2222
Listen to cnwc
cnwch nm hillock Cnwch-coch SN6775 Cefn Cnwcheithinog SN7549
Listen to cnwch
coc nm , cociau np , cocyn pl tump, hillock Bryn-cocyn SH9968 Ffridd Cocyn SH6204
Listen to coc
Listen to cociau
Listen to cocyn
coch adj , cochion pl red Penrhyn-coch SN6484 Bryn-coch SS7499
Listen to coch
Listen to cochion
coed pl , coeden nf tree Coed-elái ST0185 Coed-duon ST1797
Listen to coed
Listen to coeden
coedlan nf copse, coppice, woodland glade, grove Coedlannau SN4648 Llannerch Coedlan SO0940
Listen to coedlan
coetan nf quoit Carreg Coetan SN0639 Coetan Arthur SH3981
Listen to coetan
coetgae nm woodfield, field recovered from forest; palisaded enclosure Coetgae Du SO0316 Panwaun Pen-y-coetgae SN9000
Listen to coetgae
coll , collen nf , cyll pl hazel Cwrt y Gollen SO2317 Cyll SN9788
Listen to coll
Listen to collen
Listen to cyll
colomen nf , colomennod pl dove Colomendy SJ3045 Moel Golomen SN7087
Listen to colomen
Listen to colomennod
colwyn nm whelp Bae Colwyn SH8678 Tregolwyn SS9475
Listen to colwyn
comin nm , comins pl common Comins-coch SN6182 Comin-y-garth SN9854
Listen to comin
Listen to comins
congl nf corner Congl-y-cae SH2133 Gongl-gam SH3471
Listen to congl
copa nf crest, summit Copa Ceiliog SH8748 Copa Shôn SN7899
Listen to copa
cored nf weir Pant-y-cored SO0432 Gored Goch SH5471
Listen to cored
corlan nf sheep-fold Corlan Fraith SH6300 Corlannau SS7690
Listen to corlan
corn nf stall, crib Llanfihangel Rhos-y-corn SN5534 Corn y Fan SN9835
Listen to corn
cornant nf brook Pantycornant SS9688 Cornant SN4952
Listen to cornant
cornel nf corner Plas-yn-cornel SH9366 Pwllcornel SN3742
Listen to cornel
coron nf crown Goron SO1094 Goron-ddu SO1896
Listen to coron
cors nf , corsydd pl bog Llan-gors SO1327 Y Gors-las SN5713
Listen to cors
Listen to corsydd
craf nm garlic Aber-craf SN8112 Crafnant SH6129
Listen to craf
craig nf , creigiau pl rock Craig-y-nos SN8415 Graig SH8074
Listen to craig
Listen to creigiau
crau nm piggery, sty; stronghold Llanfihangel-y-creuddyn SN6676 Pont Creuddyn SN5552
Listen to crau
criafol pl , criafolen nf mountain-ash Waun y Griafolen SH8129 Pant-y-griafolen SH9149
Listen to criafol
Listen to criafolen
crib nf , cribau pl crest, summit Cribyn SN5251 Cefn Crib SO2300
Listen to crib
Listen to cribau
crin adj withered Cefn-crin SO0272 Cringoed SH8801
Listen to crin
crochan nm cauldron Foel Crochan SH7610 Maes-y-crochan ST2383
Listen to crochan
croes nf cross Pen-y-groes SN5813 Ty-croes SH3472
Listen to croes
croesffordd nf , croesheol , croeslon cross-roads Groesffordd SO0728 Ty'n-y-groesffordd SJ1359
Listen to croesffordd
Listen to croesheol
Listen to croeslon
crofft nf , crofftau pl croft Grofft SH8104 Bryn-y-crofftau SN7463
Listen to crofft
Listen to crofftau
crug nm , crugiau pl heap, tump Crug-y-bar SN6537 Yr Wyddgrug SJ2363
Listen to crug
Listen to crugiau
crwm adj crooked, bent Crymlyn ST2198 Crymych SN1833
Listen to crwm
crwth nm tump, hillock Cwmcrwth SN5724 Llwyn y Crwth SJ2000
Listen to crwth
cul adj narrow Cefn Cul SN8618 Esgair Gul SN8856
Listen to cul
cut nm , cutiau pl shed, sty Cutiau SH6317 Ffynnon Cut-y-geifr SH9833
Listen to cut
Listen to cutiau
cwar nm , cwarrau quarry Pen y Cwar SN6308 Cwarrau-mawr ST1489
Listen to cwar
Listen to cwarrau
cwm nm , cymau pl , cymoedd valley, dale Cwmcewydd SH8713 Cwmaman ST0099
Listen to cwm
Listen to cymau
Listen to cymoedd
cwmwd nm commote (territorial division) Mynydd Tir-y-cwmwd SH3230 Cefn Cwmwd SH4374
Listen to cwmwd
cwn
cwrn nm , cyrn , cyrnau stack, peak, point Pencyrn ST0077 Trecyrn SN2426
Listen to cwrn
Listen to cyrn
Listen to cyrnau
cwrt nm court, yard Cwrtnewydd SN4847 Cwrt Henry SN5522
Listen to cwrt
cwrw nm ale Pwll-y-cwrw SO0935 Bryn Cwrw SN0007
Listen to cwrw
cyff nm , cyffyll stock, stump Y Gyffylliog SJ0557 Pont Rhyd-y-cyff SS8789
Listen to cyff
Listen to cyffyll
cyffin nm boundary, frontier Gyffin SH7776 Penisacyffin SJ0513
Listen to cyffin
cyfrwy nm ridge between two summits (saddle) Pen y Cyfrwy SM7524 Carn Gyfrwy SN1432
Listen to cyfrwy
cyfylchi nf circular fortress Gyfylchi SS8195 Dwygyfylchi SH7377
Listen to cyfylchi
cyfyng adj narrow strait Cyfyng SH7753 Pont Gyfyng SH5245
Listen to cyfyng
collen , cyll
Listen to collen
Listen to cyll
cymer nm , cymerau pl confluence Rhydcymerau SN5738 Pentrellyncymer SH9752
Listen to cymer
Listen to cymerau
cythraul nm devil Craig y Cythraul SJ2347 Cadair y Cythraul SH3964
Listen to cythraul
cytir nm common Cytir SH8715 Cytir-bach SN2449
Listen to cytir