Weather Expressions in Welsh

Overview

Talking about the weather is a universal conversation topic and an essential A1 skill. In Welsh, weather expressions use a consistent pattern built around "mae hi'n" (it is, literally "she is"), because the weather is always grammatically feminine in Welsh. This makes weather expressions very regular and predictable once you learn the pattern.

Weather vocabulary gives you an excellent opportunity to practice the "bod + yn + adjective" construction in a natural, everyday context. The Welsh climate also provides plenty of opportunity to use these expressions — discussing rain, wind, and occasional sunshine is a daily occurrence in Wales.

How It Works

Basic Pattern: Mae hi'n + adjective/expression

Welsh	English
Mae hi'n braf.	It's fine/nice.
Mae hi'n oer.	It's cold.
Mae hi'n boeth.	It's hot.
Mae hi'n bwrw glaw.	It's raining.
Mae hi'n bwrw eira.	It's snowing.
Mae hi'n wyntog.	It's windy.
Mae hi'n niwlog.	It's foggy.
Mae hi'n gymylog.	It's cloudy.
Mae hi'n heulog.	It's sunny.
Mae hi'n stormus.	It's stormy.

Questions and Negatives

Welsh	English
Ydy hi'n oer?	Is it cold?
Dyw hi ddim yn braf.	It's not nice.
Ydy hi'n bwrw glaw?	Is it raining?
Sut mae'r tywydd?	How's the weather?

Examples in Context

Welsh	English	Note
Mae hi'n braf heddiw.	It's fine today.	Positive weather
Mae hi'n bwrw eira.	It's snowing.	Precipitation
Mae hi'n wyntog.	It's windy.	Soft mutation: gwyntog → wyntog
Ydy hi'n oer tu allan?	Is it cold outside?	Question
Dyw hi ddim yn braf.	It's not nice.	Negative
Roedd hi'n bwrw glaw ddoe.	It was raining yesterday.	Past tense
Bydd hi'n braf yfory.	It will be fine tomorrow.	Future
Mae'r tywydd yn ofnadwy!	The weather is terrible!	Exclamation
Mae hi'n sych heddiw.	It's dry today.	No rain
Mae hi'n oer iawn.	It's very cold.	Intensified

Common Mistakes

Forgetting "hi" in weather expressions

• Wrong: Mae'n braf.
• Right: Mae hi'n braf.
• Why: Weather always uses the feminine "hi." While dropping it may be heard casually, it is better to include it.

Not mutating adjectives after "yn"

• Wrong: Mae hi'n gwyntog.
• Right: Mae hi'n wyntog.
• Why: "Yn" (linking particle) triggers soft mutation of adjectives. Gwyntog → wyntog.

Using "bwrw" without "glaw" or "eira"

• Wrong: Mae hi'n bwrw. (ambiguous)
• Right: Mae hi'n bwrw glaw. (raining) or Mae hi'n bwrw eira. (snowing)
• Why: While "bwrw" alone may be understood as "raining" in context, it is clearer to specify.

Practice Tips

1. Daily weather report: Each day, look outside and describe the weather in Welsh. This creates a consistent practice habit.

2. Learn weather vocabulary in pairs: Hot/cold (poeth/oer), wet/dry (gwlyb/sych), windy/calm (gwyntog/tawel). Pairs are easier to remember.

3. Watch Welsh weather forecasts: S4C broadcasts weather forecasts in Welsh. The visual context makes the vocabulary easy to follow.

Related Concepts

• Bod - Present Tense