Geiriadur Idiomau

A Dictionary of Welsh and English Idiomatic Phrases

Compiled by Alun Rhys Cownie
Associate editor: Wyn G. Roberts

Cymraeg

This brand new dictionary, containing some 12,000 Welsh and English idiomatic phrases, is sure to be of interest to both Welsh speakers and learners.

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‘ . . . a representative compilation on notably sound foundations . . . the most comprehensive and most thorough dictionary of its type currently available . . . a reference work and learning tool which will be of great value to all students of Welsh at all levels, to translators, and to first-language Welsh speakers wishing to improve their command of both languages . . . essential stock, to all academic, reference and lending libraries in Wales, and to libraries anywhere with an interest in Wales, Celtic Studies, Linguistics.’ (Reference Reviews)

‘ . . . Cownie’s compilation contains around 12,000 Welsh and English idiomatic phrases and is likely to prove invaluable to Welsh speakers and learners . . . a dictionary that will enable speakers of all abilities to add flavour and depth to their speech.’ (South Wales Argus)

The phrases included range from those which are true idioms in both languages and cannot be translated literally – such as chwerthin yn ei dwrn: to laugh up her sleeve – to those where only the use of a preposition is different or peculiar – such as amneidio ar rywun: to beckon to somone. Many of the other phrases contain a peculiarity of vocabulary, word order or tense, which means that they cannot be translated word for word.

This is a dictionary which will allow you to look up such diverse Welsh phrases as achub y blaen arnyn nhw, blwyddyn gron, corff yr eglwys, dan ei sang, elwa ar ..., Gorau oll!, mewn bri, siarad fel pwll y môr or wedi chwythu ei phlwc; or to see how to translate such English idioms as all and sundry, cat’s whiskers, get a fair crack of the whip, in the nick of time, Mum’s the word!, on the off chance, stick out like a sore thumb or throw down the gauntlet.

An important aim of this dictionary is to help those learning Welsh to make the difficult transition from idiomatic usage in English to idiomatic usage in Welsh, and it will very quickly earn its place as an invaluable tool in that learning process. However, there is little doubt that it will be of great value to many whose first language is Welsh and to those who are studying in universities, colleges and Welsh-medium schools.

Alun Rhys Cownie is a retired university lecturer. He was born in Cardiff and now lives in Pwllheli, where he has learnt Welsh. Wyn G. Roberts is a retired primary school headteacher now living in Pwllheli.

Geiriadur newydd sbon yn cynnwys 12,000 o ymadroddion idiomatig Cymraeg a Saesneg.

• Cyfeirlyfr anhepgor i Gymry iaith gyntaf yn ogystal â dysgwyr.

‘ . . . nid oes amheuaeth y bydd o gryn werth i ddysgwyr o bob gradd . . . y bydd yn gaffaeliad arbennig i ddysgwyr a fydd yn ei ddefnyddio yn llusern i’w goleuo am ddywediadau dieithr.’ (Llais Llên)

‘Yn sicr bydd y geiriadur hwn yn ddefnyddiol iawn i ddisgyblion, myfyrwyr, athrawon a darlithwyr – sydd â Chymraeg yn iaith gyntaf iddyn nhw neu’n ail iaith.’ (Yr Athro)

‘ . . . yn gyfeirlyfr hynod o ddefnyddiol.’ (Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald)

‘ . . . Geiriadur Cymraeg–Saesneg, Saesneg–Gymraeg swmpus yw hwn nid rhestr o eiriau. Mae yn yr un diwyg â Geiriadur yr Academi a Gramadeg y Gymraeg ac yn ychwanegiad teilwng at y gyfres.’ (Y Wawr)

Mae’r term ‘idiomatic phrase’ yn cael ei ddefnyddio yma i ddisgrifio ymadrodd y mae angen rhywbeth mwy na chyfieithu’r geiriau unigol er mwyn ei drosi’n effeithiol a chywir i’r iaith arall. Bwriad yr adran Gymraeg–Saesneg yw gadael i’r darllenydd chwilio am ymadrodd ar ôl ei glywed neu’i ddarllen mewn cyd-destun naturiol. Bydd yr adran Saesneg–Cymraeg o gymorth i’r darllenydd fynegi’i hun mewn modd priodol a chywir; cynhwysir brawddegau enghreifftiol ychwanegol weithiau i esbonio ystyron amwys neu rai pwyntiau gramadegol.

Bydd y geiriadur hwn yn ennill ei le yn gyflym iawn fel cyfeirlyfr anhepgor ar gyfer nid yn unig y rhai sy’n dysgu Cymraeg ond hefyd y Cymry Cymraeg iaith gyntaf, yn ogystal ag mewn ysgolion Cymraeg.

Bu Alun Rhys Cownie’n ddarlithydd prifysgol cyn iddo ymddeol. Cafodd ei eni yng Nghaerdydd ac erbyn hyn mae’n byw ym Mhwllheli lle mae wedi dysgu Cymraeg. Bu Wyn G. Roberts, sydd erbyn hyn yn byw ym Mhwllheli, yn brifathro ysgol gynradd cyn ymddeol.