Welsh exonyms
The modern Welsh language contains names for many towns and other geographical features in Great Britain and elsewhere. Names of places outside Wales are exonyms.
In some cases, these derive from the Brythonic names which were used during or before the Roman occupation: for example, Llundain (London), Cernyw (Cornwall), Dyfnaint (Devon), and Ebrauc / Efrog (York). In Britain, towns were a Roman innovation. Many English county towns, founded as Roman castra and now having the English suffix "-c(h)ester", have Welsh names, in most cases using the prefix Caer-. Examples include Caer or Caerlleon (for Chester), Caerloyw (Gloucester), Caerwrangon (Worcester), Caergrawnt (Cambridge), and Caerwynt (Winchester). In some other cases, Welsh names are translations of the English name, often influenced by the Welsh poetic tradition — for example, Rhydychen (literally, "oxen ford") for Oxford, and Gwlad-yr-haf ("land of summer") for Somerset. Some English cities which have developed more recently, but with which Welsh people have had commercial links through trading or other economic associations such as through population migration, have developed Welsh forms of their English names. Examples are Bryste (Bristol) and Lerpwl (Liverpool). A final set of Welsh placenames are those for settlements in England which lie close to the modern border with Wales. In some cases, such as Ross-on-Wye (Rhosan-ar-Wy) and probably Leominster (Llanllieni), the English name seems to have derived from the Welsh name. In other cases, such as Llwydlo (Ludlow) and Henffordd (Hereford), the Welsh name derived from the English name of the settlement.
Below are lists of Welsh exonyms.
Continents and Oceans
Welsh name | English name |
---|---|
Affrica | Africa |
Antarctica/Yr Antarctig | Antarctica |
Asia | Asia |
Awstralasia/Oceania | Australia/Oceania |
Gogledd America | North America |
De America | South America |
Ewrop | Europe |
Cefnfor Tawel | Pacific Ocean |
Cefnfor Yr Iwerydd | Atlantic Ocean |
Cefnfor India | Indian Ocean |
Cefnfor Antarctig/Deheuol | Antarctic/Southern Ocean |
Cefnfor Arctig | Arctic Ocean |
England
Welsh name | English name |
---|---|
Lloegr | England |
Môr Udd | English Channel |
Caerfaddon | Bath |
Rhydweli | Bedford |
Penbedw | Birkenhead |
Trefesgob | Bishop's Castle (Shropshire) |
Bryste (historically Caerodor) |
Bristol |
Catraeth | Catterick |
Caergaint | Canterbury |
Caerliwelydd | Carlisle |
Caergrawnt | Cambridge |
Swydd Gaerlleon | Cheshire |
Caer (historically Caerlleon Fawr and Caerllion-ar-Dyfrdwy) |
Chester |
Caerfuddai | Chichester |
Llanffynhonwen | Chirbury |
Cernyw | Cornwall |
Caercolyn | Colchester |
Cryw (also Criw) |
Crewe |
Dyfnaint | Devon |
Twmpyn Glori[1] | Dewsbury |
Dofr[2] | Dover |
Caerwysg | Exeter |
Aberfal | Falmouth |
Ynys Wydrin | Glastonbury |
Caerloyw | Gloucester |
Henffordd | Hereford |
Ynys Wyth | Isle of Wight |
Afon Hwmbr | River Humber |
Caint | Kent |
Ceintun | Kington (Herefordshire) |
Caerhirfryn | Lancaster |
Caerlŷr | Leicester |
Llanllieni | Leominster (Herefordshire) |
Caerlwytgoed | Lichfield |
Lerpwl (historically Llynlleifiad) |
Liverpool |
Llundain | London |
Llwydlo | Ludlow (Shropshire) |
Ynys Wair | Lundey Island |
Manceinion | Manchester |
Afon Merswy | River Mersey |
Yr Heledd Wen | Nantwich |
Yr Heledd Ddu | Northwich |
Môr y Gogledd | North Sea |
Croesoswallt | Oswestry (Shropshire) |
Rhydychen | Oxford |
Pencrug | Penkridge (Staffordshire) |
Penrhudd | Penrith |
Aberplym | Plymouth |
Llongborth | Portsmouth |
Rhosan-ar-Wy | Ross-on-Wye (Herefordshire) |
Sain Helen | St Helens |
Caersallog (historically Caercaradog and Caergradwg) |
Salisbury |
Gwlad-yr-haf | Somerset |
Amwythig | Shrewsbury |
Côr y Cewri | Stonehenge |
Afon Tafwys | River Thames |
San Steffan | Westminster |
Yr Eglwys Wen | Whitchurch (Shropshire) |
Caerwynt | Winchester |
Cilgwri | Wirral |
Caerwrangon | Worcester |
Caerwrygion | Wroxeter |
Efrog/Caerefrog | York |
Yr Cefn | The Chevin |
Scotland
Welsh name | Scottish Gaelic name | English name |
---|---|---|
Yr Alban | Alba | Scotland |
Aeron | Inbhir Air | Ayr |
Afon Clud | Abhainn Chluaidh | River Clyde |
Caeredin | Dùn Èideann | Edinburgh |
Moryd Gweryd | Linne Foirthe | Firth of Forth |
Ynysoedd Heledd | Na h-Innse Gall | Hebrides |
Llyn Llumonwy | Loch Laomainn | Loch Lomond |
Lleuddiniawn | Lodainn/Labhdaidh | Lothian |
Ynysoedd Erch | Árcaibh | Orkney |
Yr Ynys Hir | An t-Eilean Sgiathanach | The Isle of Skye |
Merin Rheged | Linne Salmhaigh | Solway Firth |
Ystrad Clud | Srath Chluaidh | Strathclyde |
Ireland
Welsh name | Irish name | English name |
---|---|---|
Y Môr Celtaidd | An Mhuir Cheilteach | Celtic Sea |
Iwerddon | Éire | Ireland |
Gweriniaeth Iwerddon | Poblacht na hÉireann/Éire | Republic of Ireland / Ireland |
Gogledd Iwerddon | Tuaisceart Éireann | Northern Ireland |
Wlster (also Wledd, Wlaidd, or Wleth) |
Ulaidh | Ulster |
Dulyn | Baile Átha Cliath | Dublin |
Belffast | Béal Feirste | Belfast |
Corc | Corcaigh | Cork |
British Islands
Welsh name | Native name | English name |
---|---|---|
Ynys Manaw | Ellan Vannin | Isle of Man |
Ynysoedd y Sianal | Îles Normandes | Channel Islands |
Ynys y Garn | Guernesey | Guernsey |
Sarc | Sèr or Cerq | Sark |
British overseas territories
Welsh name | English name |
---|---|
Tiriogaeth tramor y Deyrnas Unedig | British overseas territory |
Tiriogaeth Brydeinig yr Antarctig | British Antarctic Territory |
Tiriogaeth Brydeinig Cefnfor India | British Indian Ocean Territory |
Ynysoedd Virgin Prydeinig | British Virgin Islands |
Ynysoedd Cayman | Cayman Islands |
Ynysoedd y Falklands | Falkland Islands |
Ynysoedd Pitcairn | Pitcairn Islands |
De Georgia ac Ynysoedd Sandwich y De | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |
Saint Helena, Ynys Ascension a Tristan da Cunha | Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cuhna |
Ynysoedd Turks a Caicos | Turks and Caicos Islands |
Europe and the Mediterranean
Welsh name | Native name | English name |
---|---|---|
Y Môr Adria | Deti Adriatik, Јадранско Море, Jadransko More, Jadransko Morje, Mare Adriatico | Adriatic Sea |
Y Môr Aegeaidd | Αιγαίο Πέλαγος, Ege Denizi | Aegean Sea |
Alpau (historically Mynydd Mynnau) |
Alp, Alpe, Alpen, Alpes, Alpi, Alps, Arpes, Aups | Alps |
Athen | Αθήνα | Athens |
Awstria | Österreich | Austria |
Yr Ynysoedd Balearig | Islas Baleares, Illes Balears | The Balearic Islands |
Y Môr Baltig | Балтийское Море, Baltijas jūra, Baltijos jūra, Itämeri, Läänemeri, Morze Bałtyckie, Ostsee, Østersøen, Östersjön | Baltic Sea |
Bafaria | Bayern | Bavaria |
Gwlad Belg | België, Belgique | Belgium |
Y Môr Du | Karadeniz, Marea Negră, Чёрное Море, Черно Море,Чорне Море,შავი ზღვა | Black Sea |
Llydaw | Bertaèyn, Breizh, Bretagne | Brittany |
Bwlgaria | България | Bulgaria |
Bwrgwyn | Bourgogne | Burgundy |
Yr Ynysoedd Dedwydd | Islas Canarias | The Canary Islands |
Carpatiau | Carpați, Karpaty, Карпати | Carpathians |
Caergystennin | Κωνσταντινούπολις, Konstantiniyye | Istanbul (Constantinople) |
Cwlen | Köln | Cologne |
Creta | Κρήτη | Crete |
Afon Donaw | Donau, Duna, Dunaj, Dunav, Дунав, Дунай, Dunărea, Tuna | River Danube |
Denmarc | Danmark | Denmark |
Yr Aifft | مصر | Egypt |
Y Ffindir | Finland, Suomi | Finland |
Fflandrys | Flandre, Vlaanderen | Flanders |
Fflorens | Firenze | Florence |
Ffrainc | France | France |
Galilea | הגליל, الجلݐل | Galilee |
Gwasgwyn | Gascogne, Gasconha | Gascony |
Yr Almaen | Deutschland | Germany |
(Gwlad) Groeg | Ελλάδα | Greece |
Gweriniaeth Tsiec | Česká republika | Czech Republic |
Gwlad Iorddonen | الأردنّ | Jordan |
Hwngari | Magyarország | Hungary |
Ynys yr Iâ | Ísland | Iceland |
Yr Ynysoedd Ionaidd | Ιόνια Νισιά | Ionian Islands |
Y Môr Ionia | Deti Jon, Ιόνιο Πέλαγος, Mare Ionio | Ionian Sea |
Yr Eidal | Italia | Italy |
Yr Iseldiroedd | Nederland | Netherlands |
Jeriwsalem (historically Caersalem) |
ירושלם, القدس | Jerusalem |
Latfia | Latvija | Latvia |
Libanus | لبنان | Lebanon |
Lithwania | Lietuva | Lithuania |
Moscfa | Москва | Moscow |
Normandi (historically Norddmandi) |
Normandie | Normandy |
Norwy | Noreg, Norge, Norga | Norway |
Llychlyn | Skandinavia, Skandinavien | Scandinavia |
Lwcsembwrg | Lëtzebuerg, Luxembourg, Luxemburg | Luxembourg |
Gwlad Pwyl | Polska | Poland |
Portiwgal | Portugal | Portugal |
Pyreneau | Pyrénées, Pirineos, Pirenèus, Pirineus, Pirinioak | Pyrenees |
Afon Rhein | Rain, Reno, Rhein, Rhin, Rijn | River Rhine |
Rhufain | Roma | Rome |
Rwmania | România | Romania |
Rwsia | Россия | Russia |
Sisili | Sicilia | Sicily |
Slofacia | Slovensko | Slovakia |
Slofenia | Slovenija | Slovenia |
Sbaen | España | Spain |
Y Swistir | Schweiz, Suisse, Svizra, Svizzera | Switzerland |
Thessaloníci | Θεσσαλονίκη | Thessaloniki |
Twrci | Türkiye | Turkey |
Y Môr Tirrenia | Mare Tirreno, Mare Tirrenu, Mari Tirrenu, Mer Tyrrhénienne | Tyrrhenian Sea |
Wcráin | Україна | Ukraine |
Fenis | Venezia | Venice |
The Americas
Argentina
Welsh name | Spanish name |
---|---|
Yr Ariannin | Argentina |
Lle Cul | La Angostura |
Nant y Pysgod | Arroyo Pescado |
Cwm Hyfryd/Bro Hydref | Colonia 16 de Octubre |
Caer Antur | Fuerte Aventura |
Rhyd yr Indiaid | Paso de Indios |
Dôl y Plu | Las Plumas |
Porth Madryn | Puerto Madryn |
Trerawson | Rawson |
Afon Camwy | Río Chubut |
Aber Gyrants | Río Corrintos |
Dyffryn y Merthyron | Valle de los Mártires |
Dyffryn Oer | Valle Frío |
Tre Lew(is) | Trelew |
Dol Afon | Dolavon |
Tre Felin | Trevelin |
Welsh name | Native name | English name |
---|---|---|
Bolifia | Bolivia | Bolivia |
Brasil | Brasil | Brazil |
Ciwba | Cuba | Cuba |
Gweriniaeth Dominica | República Dominicana | Dominican Republic |
America Ladin | America Latina | Latin America |
Periw | Perú | Peru |
Yr Unol Daleithiau | United States | United States |
Dinas Efrog Newydd | New York City | New York City |
Australia and the Pacific
Australia
Welsh name | English name |
---|---|
Awstralia | Australia |
Tiriogaeth Prifddinas Awstralia | Australian Capital Territory |
Ynys y Nadolig | Christmas Island |
De Cymru Newydd | New South Wales |
Tiriogaeth y Gogledd | Northern Territory |
De Awstralia | South Australia |
Gorllewin Awstralia | Western Australia |
The Pacific
Welsh name | English name |
---|---|
Taleithiau Ffederal Micronesia | Federated States of Micronesia |
Caledonia Newydd | New Caledonia |
Seland Newydd | New Zealand |
Papua Guinea Newydd | Papua New Guinea |
The Rest of the World
Welsh name | Native name | English name |
---|---|---|
Gweriniaeth Canolbarth Affrica | République Centrafricaine | Central African Republic |
Tsieina | Zhōngguó | China |
De Affrica | Aforika(-)Borwa, Afrika Borwa, Afrika-Dzonga, Afurika Tshipembe, iNingizimu Afrika, South Africa, Suid-Afrika, uMzansi Afrika | South Africa |
Gwlad Thai | ประเทศไทย | Thailand |
Fietnam | Việt Nam | Vietnam |
Sources
- Collins-Longman, Yr Atlas Cymraeg Newydd, ISBN 1-86085-377-3 (1999)
See also
- List of European exonyms
- List of European regions with alternative names
- List of European rivers with alternative names
- Names of European cities in different languages
- Welsh placenames
- Welsh place names in other countries