To tell someone what to do, add '-wch' to the verb stem for a stranger or a group, or '-a' (often just the bare stem) for a friend: 'Ewch' / 'Cer' (go), 'Trowch' / 'Tro' (turn), 'Cymerwch' / 'Cymer' (take). In directions, a feminine singular noun takes the soft mutation after the definite article 'y' / 'yr' / ''r' — so 'de' (right) becomes 'ar y dde', 'pont' becomes 'y bont', 'cornel' becomes 'y gornel'. It is the article, not the preposition, that causes this; 'i'r chwith' shows no visible change simply because 'ch' has no soft-mutation form.
Examples
- Trowch i'r chwith wrth yr eglwys.
- Turn left by the church.
- Trowch ar y dde ar ôl y bont.
- Turn right after the bridge.
- Ewch dros y bont ac yna'n syth ymlaen.
- Go over the bridge and then straight on.
- Cymerwch y gornel gyntaf ar y chwith.
- Take the first corner on the left.
The mistake to avoid
Using the friendly '-a' form with a stranger — in a shop or on the street use '-wch'.
Where this fits in
Dinas, cymdeithas a barn, Welsh B1: Get around the city, discuss society, and express opinions.