Week of 3 August 2026

Welsh Word of the WeekHiraeth

[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.

Read the whole story
The Collection

Every word so far

A word a week, kept somewhere you can find it again.

  • Acw

    Place

    [ah-koo]

    Back home, or over yonder

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

  • Afon

    Place

    [ah-von]

    River

    Shows up in dozens of Welsh place names.

  • Bore da

    Everyday

    [bore-eh dah]

    Good morning

  • Cartref

    Family and heritage

    [kar-trev]

    Home

    The place itself, as distinct from the house that stands on it.

  • Croeso

    Everyday

    [croy-so]

    Welcome

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

  • Cymru

    Place

    [kum-ree]

    Wales

    The name Welsh speakers use for their own country.

  • Cyntefin

    Place

    [kun-tev-in]

    The turn from spring into summer

    Mostly a poetic word now, tied to the old May Day festival.

  • Diolch

    Everyday

    [dee-olch]

    Thank you

  • Diolch yn fawr

    Everyday

    [dee-olch un vowr]

    Thank you very much

  • Eleni

    Everyday

    [el-en-ee]

    This year

    A single word doing the work of a whole phrase, in use since at least the 14th century.

  • Gwlad

    Place

    [goo-lahd]

    Land, country

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

  • Hiraeth

    This week

    [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.

  • Iawn

    Everyday

    [yown]

    Fine, OK, good

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

  • Iechyd da

    Everyday

    [yeh-chid dah]

    Good health

    The Welsh toast, said raising a glass.

  • Llynedd

    Everyday

    [hlun-eth]

    Last year

  • Nos da

    Everyday

    [noss dah]

    Good night

  • Os gwelwch yn dda

    Everyday

    [oss goo-ell-ook un tha]

    Please

  • Shwmae

    Everyday

    [shoo-my]

    Hello, or how are you

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

  • Sut mae

    Everyday

    [sit my]

    How are you

    The North Wales equivalent of shwmae.

  • Teulu

    Family and heritage

    [tay-lee]

    Family

    Covers both immediate and extended family.

  • Twt

    Everyday

    [toot]

    Neat, tidy, smart, dapper

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