gwell

Welsh

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Celtic *wellos, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- (“choose, want”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /ɡwɛɬ/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /ɡweːɬ/, /ɡwɛɬ/
• Rhymes: -ɛɬ

Adjective

gwell

1. comparative degree of da: better

Adverb

gwell

1. Prefer

   Mae well 'da fi ddawnsio na chanu (South)

   I prefer to dance than sing

   (literally, “It is better with me to dance than to sing”)

   Mae well gen i de na choffi (North)

   I prefer tea to coffee

   (literally, “Tea is better with me than coffee”)

2. Had better

   Well i chi beidio

   you had better not

   (literally, “[It is] better to you not to”)

Usage notes

• When used to mean 'prefer', gwell is combined with the possessive construction (literally "it is better with me"). When used to mean 'had better', it is linked to its subject by i (literally "it is better for me"). In both cases it is almost always followed by the soft mutation.

Derived terms

• gwella

See also

• da
• gorau

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
gwell	well	ngwell	unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “gwell”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies