Making Plans and Arrangements in Welsh

In Brief

Welsh uses bod + yn mynd i + verb-noun for an intention (“be going to”), future bod + yn + verb-noun for what someone will do, Beth am + verb-noun? to offer an idea, and Gawn ni + verb-noun? to propose doing something together. The verb-noun—the basic form listed in a dictionary—often undergoes a soft mutation after i, am, or gawn ni: coginio → goginio, mynd → fynd, cwrdd → gwrdd.

Overview

Making an arrangement involves more than stating a future fact. You may need to say what you intend to do, suggest an activity, ask whether another person is free, settle on a time, and accept or reject the proposal. At B1, these patterns let you manage that whole exchange in Welsh without relying on one expression for every kind of plan.

English provides a useful starting point: Welsh mynd i is close to “going to,” and bydda i'n is often close to “I will.” The match is not exact, however. Welsh builds both patterns around bod (“to be”), and its suggestions commonly use a verb-noun rather than a form equivalent to English -ing. Welsh also changes the first consonant of some words according to the structure around them; this is called a mutation (a regular initial-consonant change).

The central choice is one of meaning. Use mynd i for an intention or something already in prospect, a future form such as bydda i'n for a future action or commitment, Beth am...? to put forward an idea, and Gawn ni...? when you want agreement to a shared action.

How It Works

1. Intentions with mynd i

The everyday “going to” pattern uses a present form of bod, the linking particle yn, mynd i, and a verb-noun:

present bod + yn mynd i + verb-noun

Person	Pattern	Example	Meaning
I	Dw i'n mynd i + verb-noun	Dw i'n mynd i goginio.	I'm going to cook.
you, singular informal	Rwyt ti'n mynd i + verb-noun	Rwyt ti'n mynd i aros.	You're going to stay.
he / she	Mae e/hi'n mynd i + verb-noun	Mae hi'n mynd i archebu.	She's going to book/order.
we	Dyn ni'n mynd i + verb-noun	Dyn ni'n mynd i deithio.	We're going to travel.
you, plural or polite	Dych chi'n mynd i + verb-noun	Dych chi'n mynd i ymuno?	Are you going to join?
they	Maen nhw'n mynd i + verb-noun	Maen nhw'n mynd i adael.	They're going to leave.

Forms of spoken bod vary by region; for example, learners may also meet rydyn ni and rydych chi. The planning structure remains the same.

The i before the final verb-noun normally causes a soft mutation where one is available. Common changes include c → g, p → b, t → d, b → f, d → dd, g → disappears, and m → f:

• coginio → mynd i goginio
• paratoi → mynd i baratoi
• talu → mynd i dalu
• mynd → mynd i fynd
• gadael → mynd i adael

Not every initial letter has a visible soft-mutated form, so phrases such as mynd i siopa and mynd i ymuno show no change.

To make the intention negative, put ddim after the form of bod, while keeping yn before mynd:

• Dw i ddim yn mynd i goginio heno. — I'm not going to cook tonight.
• Dydyn ni ddim yn mynd i newid y cynllun. — We aren't going to change the plan.

A yes/no question changes the form of bod in the usual way:

• Wyt ti'n mynd i ddod? — Are you going to come?
• Ydych chi'n mynd i aros dros nos? — Are you going to stay overnight?

2. Future plans with bydda i'n

A future form of bod followed by yn + verb-noun expresses what someone will do. The particle yn contracts after a vowel in writing: bydda i + yn → bydda i'n.

Person	Affirmative	Example
I	bydda i'n	Bydda i'n ffonio yfory. — I'll phone tomorrow.
you, singular informal	byddi di'n	Byddi di'n dod hefyd. — You'll come too.
he / she	bydd e/hi'n	Bydd hi'n archebu'r bwrdd. — She'll book the table.
we	byddwn ni'n	Byddwn ni'n cwrdd yno. — We'll meet there.
you, plural or polite	byddwch chi'n	Byddwch chi'n cael neges. — You'll receive a message.
they	byddan nhw'n	Byddan nhw'n aros tan wyth. — They'll stay until eight.

The verbal yn in this construction does not itself cause a soft mutation: bydda i'n coginio, not bydda i'n goginio. This contrasts with the i in mynd i goginio.

In questions and negatives, the initial b of the future form normally becomes f:

• Fyddi di'n dod ddydd Gwener? — Will you come on Friday?
• Fyddwch chi ar gael yfory? — Will you be available tomorrow?
• Fydda i ddim yn hwyr. — I won't be late.
• Fyddan nhw ddim yn aros yn hir. — They won't stay long.

Use mynd i when an intention or prior plan is prominent. Use the future when you are stating what will happen, making a commitment, or deciding what you will do. In many practical situations either can be possible, but the viewpoint differs:

• Dw i'n mynd i ffonio Elin heno. — I intend/am planning to phone Elin tonight.
• Bydda i'n ffonio Elin heno. — I'll phone Elin tonight (a future statement or promise).

3. Suggestions with Beth am...?

Beth am...? literally contains beth (“what”) and am (“about”), but as a complete pattern it means “What about...?” or “How about...?” Follow it directly with a verb-noun when suggesting an activity:

Beth am + soft-mutated verb-noun?

• Beth am fynd am dro? — How about going for a walk?
• Beth am gael coffi cyn y cyfarfod? — How about having a coffee before the meeting?
• Beth am baratoi popeth heno? — What about preparing everything tonight?

Do not insert yn between am and the verb-noun. The preposition am causes the soft mutation: mynd → fynd, cael → gael, paratoi → baratoi.

You can also suggest a time or noun phrase rather than an action:

• Beth am ddydd Iau? — What about Thursday?
• Beth am saith o'r gloch? — How about seven o'clock?

4. Shared proposals with Gawn ni...?

Gawn ni...? is a question form built from cael (“to get; to be allowed”). In planning conversations it is a natural way to ask “Shall we...?” or “Can we...?”:

Gawn ni + soft-mutated verb-noun?

• Gawn ni gwrdd am chwech? — Shall we meet at six?
• Gawn ni fynd ar y trên? — Shall we go by train?
• Gawn ni drafod hyn yfory? — Can we discuss this tomorrow?

The initial g in gawn is itself the question mutation of cawn. The following verb-noun is also normally soft-mutated: cwrdd → gwrdd, mynd → fynd, trafod → drafod.

Beth am...? presents an idea and can sound open-ended. Gawn ni...? asks the other person to agree to a shared course of action. Neither has to map mechanically onto English “what about” or “shall”; choose according to the conversational purpose.

5. Checking availability and fixing details

Use ar gael for “available.” Match the form of bod to the person and time:

• Wyt ti ar gael heno? — Are you available tonight?
• Ydych chi ar gael ddydd Sadwrn? — Are you available on Saturday?
• Fydd hi ar gael yfory? — Will she be available tomorrow?

Useful time frames include:

Welsh	English	Use
am chwech	at six	clock time
tua chwech	around six	approximate time
ddydd Sadwrn	on Saturday	a day used adverbially
nos Wener	Friday evening/night	a named evening
yfory / heno	tomorrow / tonight	time adverb
cyn y cyfarfod	before the meeting	earlier boundary
ar ôl gwaith	after work	later boundary

To ask for a time, use Pryd...? (“When...?”): Pryd gawn ni gwrdd? (“When shall we meet?”). To ask whether a proposed detail suits someone, Ydy ... yn iawn gyda ti/chi? is useful: Ydy saith yn iawn gyda chi? (“Is seven all right with you?”).

Examples in Context

Welsh	English	Note
Dw i'n mynd i goginio heno.	I'm going to cook tonight.	Intention; coginio mutates after i.
Dyn ni'n mynd i archebu bwrdd ymlaen llaw.	We're going to book a table in advance.	A plan already in prospect.
Wyt ti'n mynd i ddod i'r parti?	Are you going to come to the party?	Question about someone's intention.
Bydda i'n anfon y manylion atoch chi heno.	I'll send you the details tonight.	Future commitment.
Fydd hi'n gallu ymuno â ni?	Will she be able to join us?	Future yes/no question.
Fyddwn ni ddim yn aros yn hwyr.	We won't stay late.	Negative future.
Beth am fynd i'r sinema nos Wener?	How about going to the cinema on Friday evening?	Open suggestion.
Beth am gael cinio cyn y cyfarfod?	How about having lunch before the meeting?	cael becomes gael.
Gawn ni gwrdd am chwech o'r gloch?	Shall we meet at six o'clock?	Proposal for a shared arrangement.
Gawn ni newid y dyddiad os oes angen?	Can we change the date if necessary?	Asking agreement/permission.
Ydych chi ar gael ddydd Sadwrn?	Are you available on Saturday?	Polite or plural you.
Mae'n ddrwg gen i, dw i ddim ar gael bryd hynny.	I'm sorry, I'm not available then.	Polite refusal with a reason.
Ydy hanner awr wedi saith yn iawn gyda ti?	Is half past seven all right with you?	Checking a precise time.
Iawn, mae hynny'n swnio'n dda.	All right, that sounds good.	Natural acceptance.

Common Mistakes

Adding yn after Beth am

• Wrong: Beth am yn mynd i'r caffi?
• Right: Beth am fynd i'r caffi?
• Why: Beth am takes the verb-noun directly. Welsh does not copy the English -ing structure word for word.

Forgetting the mutation after mynd i

• Wrong: Dw i'n mynd i coginio heno.
• Right: Dw i'n mynd i goginio heno.
• Why: The i before the action normally triggers a soft mutation, here c → g.

Mutating after verbal yn

• Wrong: Bydda i'n goginio heno.
• Right: Bydda i'n coginio heno.
• Why: The verbal particle yn does not trigger the same mutation as the i in mynd i goginio.

Omitting yn in a future action

• Wrong: Bydda i ffonio yfory.
• Right: Bydda i'n ffonio yfory.
• Why: A future form of bod needs yn before a verb-noun. After i, yn is written as the contraction 'n.

Using affirmative bydd in a direct future question

• Wrong: Byddwch chi ar gael yfory?
• Right: Fyddwch chi ar gael yfory?
• Why: Direct yes/no questions normally use the mutated future form beginning with f.

Translating “at” with one preposition everywhere

• Wrong: ar chwech for “at six”
• Right: am chwech
• Why: Clock times conventionally use am. Learn am chwech as a complete time phrase rather than translating English at in isolation.

Usage Notes

Informal and polite “you”

Use ti and its matching verb forms with one person in an informal relationship: Wyt ti ar gael? Fyddi di'n dod? Use chi for more than one person and commonly for polite singular address: Ydych chi ar gael? Fyddwch chi'n dod? Which singular form feels appropriate depends on age, relationship, setting, and regional habits; mirroring the other speaker is often safest.

Accepting, declining, and negotiating

A bare ie (“yes”) may answer a factual question, but arrangements often sound more cooperative with a fuller response:

• Iawn, mae hynny'n swnio'n dda. — All right, that sounds good.
• Gwych. Tan ddydd Sadwrn. — Great. See you on Saturday (literally, “until Saturday”).
• Mae'n ddrwg gen i, alla i ddim ddydd Gwener. — I'm sorry, I can't on Friday.
• Alla i ddim ddydd Gwener, ond beth am ddydd Sadwrn? — I can't on Friday, but what about Saturday?
• Byddai saith yn well gen i. — Seven would be better for me.

The last example uses the conditional (“would” form), which softens a counterproposal. You can make useful plans before mastering the conditional, but it becomes increasingly valuable for tactful negotiation.

Spoken variation

Welsh has well-established regional differences, especially in everyday forms of bod and in pronouns such as e/fo for “he.” You may hear Dan ni'n mynd... in parts of the north where another speaker uses Dyn ni'n mynd... or the fuller Rydyn ni'n mynd.... Treat these as varieties of Welsh, not as failures of the planning pattern. In your own speech, aim for a consistent model while learning to recognise common alternatives.

Present forms for fixed arrangements

As in English, a present construction plus a clear future-time expression can describe a fixed arrangement: Dw i'n cwrdd â Ceri yfory (“I'm meeting Ceri tomorrow”). For learners, mynd i and the future forms make future meaning especially clear, but real conversation does not restrict every plan to those two choices.

Beyond the Basics / Advanced Use

More tactful invitations often use the conditional of a verb such as hoffi (“to like”):

• Hoffet ti ddod gyda ni? — Would you like to come with us? (informal singular)
• Hoffech chi gael coffi? — Would you like to have a coffee? (polite or plural)

This is softer and more directly focused on the listener than Wyt ti'n mynd i ddod?, which asks about an existing intention. Similarly, Allech chi ddod am dri? (“Could you come at three?”) is a polite request rather than a neutral availability question.

Welsh future forms also appear inside time and condition clauses. A clause is simply a group of words containing its own verb. You will meet patterns such as:

• Os bydd hi'n braf, awn ni am dro. — If the weather is fine, we'll go for a walk.
• Pan fyddi di'n barod, gawn ni adael. — When you're ready, we can leave.

Notice os bydd but pan fydd. These linking patterns belong to the wider future system and are worth learning as complete chunks rather than extending the direct-question rule mechanically.

Finally, Gawn ni...? can ask genuine permission as well as propose a plan. Gawn ni adael yn gynnar? may mean “May we leave early?” when addressed to someone in authority, or “Shall we leave early?” between companions. Context and the relationship between speakers determine the force of the question.

Practice Tips

1. Build one mini-dialogue around four moves. Ask about availability, suggest an activity, negotiate the time, and confirm: Wyt ti ar gael...? Beth am...? Gawn ni...? Iawn... Saying the whole exchange trains more than isolated sentences.
2. Keep two mutation columns. Write pairs such as coginio → i goginio, paratoi → i baratoi, mynd → am fynd, and cwrdd → gawn ni gwrdd. Then contrast them with unmutated verbal yn: bydda i'n coginio.
3. Retell the same plan from two viewpoints. Use Dw i'n mynd i... for your intention, then Bydda i'n... for your commitment. This makes the meaning contrast easier to remember than an abstract rule alone.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Bod – Future Tense — supplies the future forms used in statements, questions, and negative plans.