Reading Welsh Gravestones

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Translating monumental inscriptions is not too demanding for a non-Welsh speaker, as they tend to be simple in style and most fit the same standard format.

Most will tend to start with an opening phrase such as:

Welsh	English
Er cof am	In memory of
Er cof annwyl am	In beloved memory of
Er serchog gof am	In loving memory of
Er serchus cof am	In loving memory of
Er coffadwriaeth am	In remembrance of
Er coffadwriaeth parchus am	In respectful remembrance of
Er coffadwriaeth serchog am	In loving remembrance of
Er coffadwriaeth serchus am	In loving remembrance of

• followed by the name of the deceased

• followed by a relationship to others

Relationships

Welsh	English
Baban	Baby
Brawd	Brother
Brawd yng nghyfraith	Brother in law
Brodyr	Brothers
Cefnder	Cousin (m)
Cyfnither	Cousin (f)
Cymydog	Neighbour
Chwaer	Sister
Chwaer yng nghyfraith	Sister in law
Chwiorydd	Sisters
Ewythr	Uncle
Gwr	Husband
Gwraig	Wife
Hen-	Great-
Mab	Son
Meibion	Sons
Mam	Mother
Mamgu	Grandmother (in the south and west)
Merch	Daughter
Merched	Daughters
Modryb	Aunt
Nai	Nephew
Nain	Grandmother (in the north)
Nith	Niece
Plant	Children
Plentyn	Child
Priod	Spouse
Rhieni	Parents
Tad	Father
Tadcu	Grandfather (in the south and west)
Taid	Grandfather (in the north)
Wyr	Grandson
Wyrion	Grandsons
Wyres	Granddaughter

• followed by details of their life

Welsh	English
Ganed/Ganwyd	was born
Bu farw	died
Claddwyd	buried
yn .. mlwydd oed	aged .. years
Dydd Sul	Sunday
Dydd Llun	Monday
Dydd Mawrth	Tuesday
Dydd Mercher	Wednesday
Dydd Iau	Thursday
Dydd Gwener	Friday
Dydd Sadwrn	Saturday
cyntaf (1af)	first (1st)
ail (2il)	second (2nd)
trydydd (3ydd)	third (3rd)
pedwerydd (4ydd)	fourth (4th)
pumed (5ed)	fifth (5th)
chweched (6ed)	sixth (6th)
seithfed (7fed)	seventh (7th)
wythfed (8fed)	eighth (8th)
nawfed (9fed)	ninth (9th)
degfed (10fed)	tenth (10th)
Ionawr (Ion.)	January (Jan.)
Chwefror (Chwe.)	February (Feb.)
Mawrth (Maw.)	March (Mar.)
Ebrill (Ebr.)	April (Apr.)
Mai	May
Mehefin (Meh.)	June (Jun.)
Gorffennaf (Gor.)	July
Awst	August (Aug.)
Medi	September (Sep.)
Hydref (Hyd.)	October (Oct.)
Tachwedd (Tach.)	November (Nov.)
Rhagfyr (Rhag.)	December (Dec.)

• and possibly details of their work

Occupations

Welsh	English
Athrawes	Teacher (f)
Athro	Teacher (m)
Bardd	Poet, Bard
Bugail	Shepherd
Cariwr	Carrier
Cerddor	Musician
Crydd	Shoemaker, Cobbler
Cyfreithiwr	Solicitor, Lawyer
Chwarelwr	Quarryman
Dilledydd	Draper
Ffermwr	Farmer
Garddwr	Gardener
GlÃ¶wr	Collier
Masnachydd	Merchant
Melinydd	Miller
Mwynwr	Miner
Saer Coed	Carpenter
Saer Maen	Stone Mason
Tafarnwr	Publican
Telynor	Harpist
Ysgolfeistr	Schoolmaster
Ysgrifennydd	Secretary

• and possibly their position within a church or chapel:

Church positions

Welsh	English
Arweinydd y gân	Precentor, one who leads the singing
Blaenor	Elder, Deacon
Codwr canu	Precentor, one who leads the singing
Diacon	Deacon
Emynydd	Hymn Writer
Gweinidog	Minister
Organydd	Organist
Parchedig (Parch.)	Reverend (Rev.)
Pregethwr	Preacher
Trysorydd	Treasurer

• with possibly a final quotation:

Quotation

Welsh	English
Ac yn eu marwolaeth, ni wahanwyd hwy	And in their death, they were not divided [2 Samuel 1:23]
Cofia nawr dy Greawdwr yn nyddiau dy ieuenctid	Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth
Coffadwriaeth y cyfiawn sydd fendigedig	The memory of the just is blessed [Proverbs 10:7]
Canys byw i mi yw Crist a marw sydd elw	For me, to live is Christ and dying is gain
Da, was da a ffyddlon	Well done, thou good and faithful servant [Matthew 25:21]
Ei diwedd oedd heddwch	Her end was peace
Gadewch i blant bychain ddyfod ataf fi	Let the little children come to me [Marc 10:14]
Gorffwys mewn hedd	Rest in peace
Gwyliwch gan hynny am na wyddoch pa awr y daw eich Arglwydd	Watch therefore for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come [Matthew 24:42]
Gwyn eu byd y meirw, y rhai sydd yn marw yn yr Arglwydd	Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord [Revelations 14:13]
Gwyn eu byd y tangnefeddwyr, canys hwy a elwir yn blant i Dduw	Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God
Hedd, Perffaith Hedd	Peace, Perfect Peace
Mi a ymdrechais ymdrech deg. Mi a orphenais fy ngyrfa. Mi a gedwais y ffydd.	I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [Timothy 4:7]
Ynghanol ein bywyd, yr ydym yn angau	In the midst of life we are in death
Yr hyn a allodd hon, hi a'i gwnaeth	She hath done what she could [Mark 14:8]

Example

Welsh	English
Er coffadwriaeth am	In remembrance of
ROBERT JONES	ROBERT JONES
Pentredwr	of Pentredwr
annwyl priod SARAH JONES	dearest spouse of SARAH JONES
yr hwn a fu farw	who died
Rhagfyr 19ed 1885	December 19th 1885
yn 65 mlwydd oed	65 years old
hefyd	also
SARAH JONES	SARAH JONES
ei annwyl wraig	his dearest wife
fu farw Ionawr 1af 1889	who died January 1st 1889
yn 68 mlwydd oed	68 years old
Hedd, Perffaith Hedd	Peace, Perfect Peace

It should also be remembered that stonemasons were not always literate and spelling mistakes and poor mutations are quite common.

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