Welsh locations
Spelling | Pronounced (using a rough English phonology) | Meaning - see also The meaning of Welsh names on the F.R. |
---|---|---|
Aberglaslyn | Aber-GLAS-lyn | Glaslyn mouth (the estuary was tidal up to this point before the building of the Cob) |
Afon Gwyrfai | AV-on GWEER-vie (rhymes with 'die') | River Gwyrfai |
Beddgelert | Beth-GEL-ert ('th' as in 'then') | Gelert's grave |
Bettws Garmon | BET-us GAR-mon ('u' as in 'put') | Blessed Garmon |
Blaen y cwm | Bline uh coomb ('cwm' rhymes with 'keep stum') | Top of the valley |
Blaenau Ffestiniog | BLIGH-na Fes-TIN-iog or BLIGH-nigh or BLANE-uh | Heads of Ffestiniog |
Bod-Ychain | BOD-erCH-'IGN | Place of Oxen |
Bontnewydd | Bont NEW-ith ('e' as in 'hen'; 'th' as in 'then') | New Bridge |
Bowydd | BOW-ith (rhymes with 'toe'-'with') | |
Bryn Gloch | brin gloch (as in 'loch') | Bell Hill |
Bryn y Felin | brin-uh-VEL-in | Mill Hill |
Bryngwyn | Brin-gwin | White Hill |
Bwlch y slaters | Bwoolkh uh slatters | Slaters' pass |
Cae Ednefed | Kye ED-N'V-ED | Ednyfed's Field |
Cae Hen | Kye Hen (rhymes with 'lie') Don't forget to stretch the 'e'. | Old Field |
Cae Moel | Kye moyle | Bare Field |
Cae Pawb | K eye P ow B. | Everyone's field |
Caernarfon | correctly Kire-NAR-von, or colloquially K'nar-von | |
Castell Cidwm | CAST-ell KID-um (rhymes with 'keep stum') | Wolf's Castle |
Cefn-Bychan Junction | CEV'N B'CH-ahN | Little Ridge Junction (old name for disused Groby branch junction. |
Cesail | CES-isle | |
Coed y Bleiddiau | Koyd uh BLAYTH-ya | Wolves' wood |
Conglog | CON-glog | |
Croes Ddwyafan | Croise Thoo-ee-AV-an (soft 'th' as is 'this') | |
Croesor | KROY-sore | |
Cutting Budr | Cutting BIDDR | Dirty Cutting |
Cutting Gwlyb | Cutting GOO'-LIB | Wet Cutting |
Cutting Naddu | Cutting NA-THI | Hewn (not blasted) Cutting |
Cutting Bothy | Cutting Bothy | An English form of 'bwythyn' a hut |
Cwm Orthin | Coomb ORthin ('cwm' rhymes with 'keep stum') | Orthin valley |
Cwt y Bugail | Coot y BIG-isle ('cwt' rhymes with "put") | Shepherd's hut |
Cyrnant | KURR-nant | Beside the valley and/or brook |
Dduallt | THEE-atht (sort of! - see notes on pronunciation of 'll') | Black hill |
Diffwys | DIF-ooees | Precipice |
Dinas Junction | DEE-nas Junction | Fort |
Dolrhedyn | Dol-H'RED-IN | Fern meadow |
Drum | Drim | |
Fron Boeth | Vron Boy-th | |
Fron-Wen | Vron-WEN | White breast - i.e. hillside |
Garnedd | GARR-NETH ('neth' with soft 'th', as in 'nether') | Cairn |
Gelliwiog | GETH-lee-WEE-og (sort of! - see notes on pronunciation of 'll') | |
Glan yr Afon | glan-urr-AV-on | Riverside |
Glanrafon | Glan-RAV-on | Riverside |
Glan-y-Mor | GLANNA-MOR | Shore of the seashore |
Glan-y-Pwll | GLANNA-POO'-HL' | Shore of the pool |
Gloddfa Ganol | GLOTH-va GAN-ol | |
Graig Ddu | Graheeg Thee | Blackrock |
Gweithy-Cryddion | GWIGH'TH/GWAYTH-DI CR'THE-YON | Cobblers' Workshop |
Groesffordd | GROYSS-FORRthe | Crossroads - old Dinas Junction |
Gwredog Isaf | goor-ED-og EE-sav | Lower Gwredog |
Gwyndy | GWIN-DI | White House |
Gysgfa | G'SSg-VA | Sleeping Place |
Hafod | HAV-od | Summer herder's dwelling |
Hafod Garregog | HAV-od Garr-EGG-og | Rocky Hafod |
Hafod Ruffydd | HAV-od RIFF-ith ('th' as in 'then') | (?) Griffiths' Hafod |
Hafod y Llyn | HAV-od-uh-thlin | Hafod by the lake |
Hafodty | HAV-od-tee | |
Llanfrothen | Thlan-VROTH-en | |
Llechwedd | LLEC-weth (soft 'th', as in 'nether') | Hillside |
Llechwedd-Coed | LLEC-weth KOYD (soft 'th', as in 'nether') | Hillside in the Wood |
Llog Meurig | HLOG MAY-RIG | Meurig's Holding |
Llyn Cwellyn | Thlin QUE-thlin (see note on pronunciation of ll) | Cwellyn Lake |
Llyn Ystradau | Thlin Us-TRAD-eye or Us-TRAD-uh | Vale Lake |
Lôn Eifion | Lawn AY-vee-on | |
Maenofferen | Mine-off-ER-en was colloquially pronounced Mine-OFF-ram ! | |
Maentwrog | Mine-TOOR-og ('oo' as in 'moon') | |
Meillionen | Mayth-ee-ON-en (the 'th' is not 'th', but the Welsh ll (see note on that sound) | Clover |
Minffordd | MEAN-forth ('th' as in 'then') Colloquially MIN-forth | Road Side |
Moelwyn | MOIL-win | Bald Hill |
Nantmor | NANT-moorr (the 'r' should be positively sounded) | Stream to the Sea |
Pant Mawr | Pant Mour (rhymes with "our") | Big Valley |
Parc | Park | Park |
Pen y Bryn | Pen-uh-Brin | Hill End |
Pen-Cefn | PEN CEV'N | Top of the Ridge |
Pen Cob | PEN Cob/CAWB | End (literally "head") of the Cob |
Pen-Craig | PEN CRIGH'G | Top of the Rock |
Penrhediad | PEN-H'RED-YAD | Top of the Gradient (literally , flow) |
Penrhyndeudraeth | Pen-hrin-DYE-Dry-TH | (literally Hill End) Headland (between) Two Beaches |
Penrhyn | Pen-hrin (colloquially, there is no emphasis on the first syllable but often a suggestion of 'd' between the syllables. Pen-RIN, as often heard from railway personnel and incomers really grates so please avoid it). |
Hill End |
Pen-Y-Mount | Pen-uh-mount | |
Peudy | PAY (as in "lop a yew") -DI or PIE-DI | "Cowhouse" - now a ruin |
Plas | PLAAS ('plas' rhymes with 'ass') | Mansion or Palace |
Plas-y-nant | Plas-uh-nant ('plas' rhymes with 'ass') | Mansion in the Valley |
Pont Cae'r Gors | pont kye' rr gors ( 'o' in gors as in 'hot'. Make sure that you sound the 'r' in gors) | Bridge of the field of the marsh |
Pont Seiont | pont SAY-ont | Seiont bridge |
Porthmadog | Porth-MAD-og | Port of Madoc or Maddocks |
Portreuddyn | Port-RAY-thin (soft 'th' as in 'this') | |
Prenteg | PREN-teg | |
Quellyn | CWE-thlin (see note on 'll') | |
Rhiwbach | HROO-bach | Little Hill |
Rhiwbryfdir | Hroo-BRUV-deer (the 'r' in deer must be positively sounded) | |
Rhiwfachno | Hroo-VAC-no ('ch' as in 'loch') | |
Rhiw Goch | Hroo-GOCH | Red Bank |
Rhiw Plas | Hroo-PLAS | Red Mansion/palace |
Rhostryfan | Hros-TRU-van | |
Rhosydd | HROS-eeth ('th' as in 'with') | |
Rhyd Ddu | Hreed Thee | Black Ford |
Salem | SAL-em ("sal" rhymes with "pal") | Biblical place name (means "Peace") |
Stesion Fein | STESH-on Va'hin (vine) (note : The spelling of 'Fain' as 'Fein' is incorrect, and is a post-revival idiosyncrasy. |
Narrow Station |
Tan yr Allt | tan-er-acht | Under the Hillside |
Tan y Bwlch | Tan-uh-bullch ('bull' as the animal, and 'ch' as in Scottish 'loch') | Under the Pass |
Tanygrisiau | Tan-uh-GRISH-ya | Under the Steps |
Traeth Mawr | Try-th Mour (rhymes with 'our' but with the 'r' positively sounded)) | extensive tidal sands |
Tro Bagl | TRO/TRAW BAGG'L | (Shepherd's) Crook Curve |
Tro Ffatri | TRO/TRAW FATRI | "Factory Curve" - by Moelwyn Mills |
Tryfan Junction | TRU-van | |
Ty Fry | TEE-VREE | Upper House |
Waunfawr | WINE-vour (rhymes with "our" but with the 'r' positively sounded | |
Wernlas Ddu | Wern-lass thee (rhymes with 'cairn') | |
Wrysgan | RIS-gan | |
Ynysferlas | UN-is-VER-lass | short green island |
Ynysfor | UN-is-vor (again, the 'r' should be sounded) |
See also[edit]
Wilson D H (1965) Dduallt , and Other Dragons - A Glossary, Ffestiniog Railway Magazine No.28, pages 15 - 19