If you don’t speak Welsh but do want to know how to pronounce the Welsh place names in the book or on this website, here are the answers! This is a full list of all of the Welsh words from the book:

The Welsh language has 29 letters in the alphabet, some of which “letters” are made of two characters. Here’s roughly how to say some of them:

How to say ‘ll’

Do an open-mouthed smile, put the tip of your tongue on the back of your top front teeth, and blow a little spitty air around the edges of your tongue to make a lisping noise.

How to say ‘dd’

This is exactly the same noise as the ‘th’ in this or that. Easy.

How to say ‘ff’

Ff is like the English ‘f’, while a single f is like the English ‘v’.

Pronunciation guide

Here are all of the Welsh words in the book, in order. It’s a companion guide for the sort of person who likes to read the word right, in their heads.

Gw-boi – goo-boy, good boy in a Welsh accent

Mali the donkey – rhymes with Sally

The Dyfi river and estuary – Dovey in English, and sounds the same in both

Talybont – Tal (like pal) y (like urgh) bont (rhymes with font)

Bontgoch – Bont (rhymes with font) gor (like in gorgeous) ch (like in a Scottish loch)

Tarranau – Tarran-aye

Tal y Gareg – Tal (like pal) y (like urgh) Gareg (Gar as in garret and eg like egg)

Mawddach – Maw (like Chairman Mao) tha (like in that) ch (like the ch in loch)

Lleyn – See ‘how to say ll’, then add een (rhymes with mean)

Meirionnydd – Mei (like the month of May) rion (rhymes with Leon) ydd (like the ith in dither)

Dwyrhyd – Dwy is like doo-ee, but said as one syllable, and rhyd like reed

Glaslyn – Glas like Glasgow with a short a, + lin

Llandecwyn – See ‘how to say ll’, then add an and dec (Ant and Dec!) and win

Penrhyndeudraeth – Pen-rin-day-dry-th (with a th like in thug)

Pwllheli – Pu like pudding, ll from ‘how to say ll’, and heli like helicopter

Ela – The Welsh version of the English name Ella, with the a said like the short a in cat

Tomos – A Welsh spelling of Thomas

Iona – Yon + a as in cat – a girl’s name

Lowri – Low as in ‘swing low, sweet chariot’ + ree – another girl’s name

Felin Uchaf – Velin Ich-av, means the upper mill

Dafydd – Dav + ydd (like the ith in dither)

Mynydd Rhiw – Mun + ydd (like the ith in dither) Riw, rhymes with dew

Tyddyn – Tydd, like the t’oth from a Northern t’other + in

Tai’n Lôn – Tyne (like the river in Newcastle) + lawn

Sai’n gwybod – Sign and then gwib (as in damp squib) + odd

Sarn Mellteyrn – Like sarn in sarnie, but with a short a + me as in mess + ll from ‘how to say ll’ + tay + rn

Porth Dinllaen – po from porridge + rth, and din + ll from ‘how to say ll’ + ine

Nefyn – nev like Neville + in

Nant Gwrtheyrn – nant to rhyme with pant, gw + ydd (like the ith in dither), ey to rhyme with hay + rn

Heno – hen + o with a short ‘o’, like at the beginning of orange

Môn: Mam Cymru – morn from morning, then mam and come + ree. Means ‘Anglesey: Mother of Wales’

Porth Eilian – po from porridge + rth, and ey + lee + ann

Moelyci – moel to rhyme with boil + y (like urgh) + key

Cae Mabon – ki like in kite, and ma + bon

Penmaenmawr – pen + mine + maw (like Chairman Mao) + r (and roll the ‘r’ if you can)

Conwy – con + wy (a tricky one-syllable noise that rhymes with puy lentils!)

Llandudno – see ‘how to say ll’, then add an, then did, and no with a short ‘o’, like at the beginning of orange

Prestatyn – press + tat + tin

Mynydd Llandygai – Mun + ydd (like the ith in dither), then see ‘how to say ll’, then add an, then dug + aye

Siwgr aur! – shu (like should) + a one-syllable gr, then eye + r

Abergwyngregyn – aber + gwin + greg + in

Penmaenfach – pen + mine + va (like va va voom)+ch (like the ch in loch)

Deganwy – de (like in dentist) + gan + wy (a tricky one-syllable noise that rhymes with puy lentils!)

Igam ogam – ee + gam, then a short ‘o’, like at the beginning of orange + gam

Ffynnongroyw – fur + non + groi + you

Eisteddfod – ey (like in hay) + ste + dd (like the th in that) + vod

Llangollen – see ‘how to say ll’, then add an, then go (from golf) + ll + en

Glyn Ceiriog – glin (to rhyme with pin), and kay + ree + og (roll the ‘r’ if you can)

Berwyn – ber (short, like in berry) + win

Diolch yn fawr – dee + ol (like olive) +ch (like the ch in loch), un, and vow (like wedding vows) + r

Siarad Cymraeg – sha + rad, and come + rye + g

Llanfyllin – see ‘how to say ll’, then add an, vuh + ll + in

Ebbw Vale – ebb-oo + vale

Blaenau – blane + eye

Ewyas Harold – you + us, Harold

Ysgol y Ffin – us + gol, then y (like urgh), then feen (like in fiendish)

Cachu – ka +ch (like the ch in loch) + ee

Baw – bow (as in taking a bow)

Pwll Uffern – pu like pudding, ll from ‘how to say ll’, and then if + fare + n

Sion – shorn (Welsh for John)

Pant-y-Sais – pant + y (like urgh) + sice to rhyme with mice

Llanmadoc Hill – see ‘how to say ll’, then add an, then madock + hill

Llangennith – see ‘how to say ll’, then add an,  then gen + ith

Loughor – luch + ur

Cefn Bryn – kevn (like kevin without the i) + brin

Penclawdd – pen + clou (as in cloud) + th (as in then)

Llanelli – see ‘how to say ll’, then add an, + ell (with a proper Welsh ‘ll’ though) + ee

Llanstephan – see ‘how to say ll’, then add an, and steph + ann

Towy – tuh + wee

Taf – tav

Laugharne – larne

Pant Dwfn – pant and doo-vn

Cwtch – coo (as in cook) + tsh

Abereiddi – aber + ay (as in hay) + thee (as in thee and thou)

Porthgain – po from porridge + rth, and gine (to rhyme with wine)

Trefin – tre + vin

Abermawr – aber + maw (like Chairman Mao) + r (and roll the ‘r’ if you can)

Garn Fawr – ga (like gammon) + rn + vow + r

Teifi – tey + vee

Tresaith – tre (like in Trevor) + sigh + th (hard as in thin)

Cei Bach – kay, then ba (as in bag) +ch (like the ch in loch)