Welsh Word of the Week Iawn

Acw

[ah-koo]

Back home, or over yonder

In North Wales, often used to mean "at our place."

Afon

[ah-von]

River

Shows up in dozens of Welsh place names.

Bore da

[bore-eh dah]

Good morning

Croeso

[croy-so]

Welcome

What's printed on the sign at the Welsh border.

Cwtch

[kutch]

A hug that means more than a hug

Carries a sense of safety and home that "cuddle" doesn't quite reach. Common in both Welsh and Welsh-English speech.

Cymru

[kum-ree]

Wales

The name Welsh speakers use for their own country.

Cynefin

[kuh-nev-in]

The deep, instinctive sense of belonging to a place

More than "habitat". It is the landscape, people and customs that make somewhere feel like home.

Gwlad

[goo-lahd]

Land, country

The word repeated in the national anthem: "Gwlad, gwlad."

Hiraeth

[heer-eyeth]

A longing for a home, or a time, you can't quite return to

The word the brand is named for. Broader than homesickness, with grief, nostalgia and longing folded into one.

Hwyl

[hoo-il]

Stirring feeling, fervour, spirit

Also doubles as "goodbye" and "fun", a properly multi-purpose word.

Iawn

[yown]

Fine, OK, good

Does double duty as both question ("Iawn?", you alright?) and answer.

Nos da

[noss dah]

Good night

Shwmae

[shoo-my]

Hello, or how are you

South Wales greeting, short for "sut mae hi."

Sut mae

[sit my]

How are you

The North Wales equivalent of shwmae.

Twt

[toot]

Neat, tidy, smart, dapper

Works equally well on a tidy room and a well turned out person.