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Welsh football words

By Dr Popkins 2 Comments

Wales supporters celebrated the Wales men’s team qualification for the Fifa World Cup only a few years after the national squad did so well in the 2016 and 2020 EUROs. The national team, like the language, put Wales on the map. To bring them both together I’ve put together this list of Welsh football words specially for the occasion. If you’re a Welsh learner or thinking of learning the language, here’s a great chance to start learning some Welsh football vocabulary. UPDATE 30 Nov ’22: Well, Qatar didn’t quite work out as we’d hoped, but, hey, football never ends and but it ain’t you’ll still need your vocab.

The Football Association of Wales makes enthusiastic use of Welsh in its operations and materials. There’s a tradition of excellent football commentary on the Welsh-language TV channel S4C and BBC Radio Cymru, often praised in Wales as better than what’s availablle in English. If you want to look at some written footie reports, check out the coverage in the sports section of the Golwg360 news site.

Many players and lots of fans speak the language, so, whatever football circles you move in if you watch games in person, seek out a chance to practice a few words of football Welsh.

If you’re a beginner or lower intermediate learner still struggling to understand rapid spoken Welsh, here’s a great chance to get some listening practice in as you watch the match on TV or listen on the radio. A lot of the terms will come up again and again, which is great for recognition and vocabulary learning. If you’re not learning Welsh, learn one or two words on this list to impress your mates!

I’ve added a brief paragraph on the pronunciation of these Welsh soccer terms at the bottom of the post.

In the Welsh column, you’ll find useful plurals added (after a semi-colon). A “(b)” indicates a noun (naming word) that is feminine.

Words for different people ending in –wr have a feminine form -wraig (plurals: -wyr and -wragedd respectively). So, you’ll see rheolwr (male manager) and rheolwraig (female manager) in the table.

When you’ve had a look at the list, check out my sister post on Dafydd Iwan’s song Yma o hyd! the unofficial second national anthem at Welsh internationals.

Contents hide
All the Welsh football vocabulary you’ll ever need in one list
Quick pronunciation tips for the Welsh football terms
Learn more about Welsh with the Dabbler’s Guide to Welsh
Related posts
Welsh football words - set your vocab on fire!
Breathe fire! Set your tongue alight with some Welsh football vocabulary!

All the Welsh football vocabulary you’ll ever need in one list

Without further ado, then, here’s your Welsh football vocabulary list:

The peopleY bobl
attackerymosodwr
the defence (players)amddiffynwyr
defenderamddiffynnwr plural: amddiffynwyr
captaincapten
centre forwardblaenwr canol 
chairmancadeirydd
coachhyfforddwr / hyffroddwraig
the crowdy dorf
fan, fansy ffan, y ffans
full backcefnwr, cefnwyr
footballerpȇl-droedwr   peyl
forward / strikerblaenwr
goalkeepergôl-geidwad
hooliganhwligan; hwliganiaid  hooligan
left backcefnwr chwith; cefnwyr chwith
linesmanllumanwr; llumanwyr
man/woman of the matchseren y gȇm
managerrheolwr
midfielderchwaraewr canol cae
opponentgwrthwynebwr; gwrthwynebwyr
oppositiongwrthwynebwyr
ownerperchennog; perchnogion
playerchwaraewr; chwaraewyr
player on loanchwaraewr ar fenthyg
refereedyfarnwr
The Red WallY Wal Goch
right backcefnwr de; cefnwyr de
right wingerasgellwr de
substituteeilydd; eilyddion
supportercefnogwr; cefnogwyr
teamtȋm
wingerasgellwr; asgellwyr
wing backasgellwr gefn
Organisation, leagues and tournamentsTrefniadaeth, cyghreiriau a phencampwriaethau
away gamegȇm oddi cartref
Champions LeagueCynghrair y Pencampwyr
championshippencampwriaeth
contestgornest (b)
competitioncystadleuaeth (b); cystadlaethau
football clubclwb pȇl-droed
cupcwpan
Europa LeagueCynghrair Europa
friendly (a game)gȇm gyfeillgar
Football Association of Wales (FAW)Cymdeithas Bȇl-Droed Cymru
FAW motto (The best play is team play)Chwarae Gorau Cyd-Chwarae
FA cupCwpan FA
finalrownd derfynol
football clubclwb pȇl-droed
gamegȇm; gemau
home gamegȇm gartref
home teamtîm cartref
international (i.e. a game)gȇm ryngwladol; gemau rhyngwladol
International Football Association BoardBwrdd Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Rhyngwladol
national timetîm cenedlaethol
playoffgêm ail gyfle
programme (pamphlet, plan or broadcast)rhaglen (b); rhaglenni
The Premiership (league)Yr Uwch Gynghrair
to qualifycymhwyso
quarter-finalrownd yr wyth olaf
seasontymor; tymhorau
semi-finalrownd cynderfynol
squadcarfan (b); carfannau
a transfertrosglwyddiad; trosglwyddiadau
to transfer (a player)trosglwyddo (chwaraewr)
transfer windowffenestr (b) drosglwyddo
trophytlws; tlysau
Welsh ChampionshipPencampwriaeth Cymru
Welsh Premier Divison/Cymru PremierUwch Cynghrair Cymru
Welsh Premier Women’s Football LeagueUwch Cynghrair Merched Cymru
World CupCwpan y Byd
Places at the ground and on the pitchLlefydd wrth y maes ac ar y cae
Benchmainc (y fainc); meinciau
box (penalty area)y cwrt cosbi
byline (from posts to corner flag)llinell (b) y postyn
centre marksmotyn canol 
centre circlecylch canol
changing roomystafell (b) newid; ystafelloedd newid
Cornerconel – y gornel; corneli
Crossbartrawst; trawstiau
far cornercornel bellaf
far postposyn pellaf
field (place)cae
first halfhanner cyntaf
goal (place)gôl (b); goliau
goal linellinell gôl; llinellau gôl
Goal postpostyn gôl; pyst gôl
grassgwair
halfway line
linellinell (b); llinelli
midfieldcanol cae
netrhwyd (b); rhwydi
penalty areacwrt cosbi
pitchcae
positionsafle; safleoedd
side linellinell ystlys; llinelli ystlys
stadiumstadiwm; stadiymau
stand(s)eisteddle (esteiddleodd)
touchlinellinell ystlys; llinelli ystlys
wingasgell (b); esgyll
On pitch actionMynd ati ar y cae
attackymosodiad (ymosodiadau)
to attackymosod
to award a goaldyfarnu gôl (b)
to award a free kickdyfarnu cic (b) rhydd
to beat the oppositioncuro’r gwrthwynebwyr
to catch the balldal y bȇl
to compete forcystadlu am 
to concede (a goal)ildio gôl
to control the ballrheoli’r bȇl
to corner (action)corneli 
to take a cornercymryd cornel
corner kickcic gornel; ciciau cornel
counter attackgwrthymosodiad
to counter attackgwrthymosod
crosscroesiad
to cross the ballcroesi’r bȇl
deciding goalgôl fuddugol
decisionpenderfyiadu
to defeat the oppositiontrechu’r gwrthwynebwyr
the defence (style of play)amddiffyn
to defendamddiffyn
to dive for the balldeifio am y bȇl
draw  (an equal score)gȇm gyfartal
to draw (play a draw)chawarae gȇm gyfartal
to dribble the balldriblo’r bȇl
equaliser (goal)gôl gyfartal
extra timeamser pellach
first halfhanner cyntaf
free kickcic rydd
to take a free kickcymryd cic rydd
a foultrosedd; troseddau
to foultroseddu
full timeamser llawn
goal (event)gôl
goal kickcic gôl; ciciau gôl
goal-less drawgȇm  di-sgôr
to grab the ballcydio yn y bȇl
half timeyr egwyl (eb); egwylion
handballllawiad
to handle the ballllawio’r bȇl
to head the ballpenio’r bȇl
headerpeniad; peniadau
injuryanaf; anafiadau
intervalyr egwyl (b); egwylion
kickcic; ciciau
kick-offcic gychwyn; ciciau cychwyn
to mark a playermarcio chwaraewr
lose the ballcolli’r bȇl
lose the gamecolli’r gȇm
offsidecamsefyll
owngoalgôl i’w rwyd ei hun
a passpàs; pasiau
to pass the ballpasio’r bȇl
penalty kickcic o’r smotyn
to take a penaltycymryd cic o’r smotyn
penalty shootoutgornest ciciau o’r smotyn
to playchwarae
to play at homechwarae cartref
to play away from homechwarae oddi cartref
to play badlychawrae yn wael
to play wellchwarae yn dda
to possess the ballmeddiannu’r bȇl
possessionmeddiant
to keep/maintain possessioncadw meddiant
red cardcerdyn coch
resultcanlyniad; canlyniadau
to runrhedeg
to run with the ballrhedeg gyda’r bȇl
a savearbediad; arbediadau
to savearbed
second halfail hanner
to send a player offanfon chwaraewr o’r cae
to shield the ballcysgodi’r bȇl
to show the red carddangos y cerdyn coch
scoresgôr; sgorau
final scoresgôr terfynol 
one : nil un gôl i ddim
two : oneddwy gôl i un
to score a goalsgorio gôl
to shoot at the goalsaethu at y gôl
to shoot the ballergydio’r bȇl
shotergyd/saethiad
to spin the balltroelli’r bȇl
to sprintgwibio
to steal the balldwyn y bȇl
to substituteeilyddio
to survivegoroesi
a tackletacl (b); taclau
to tackletaclo
tacticstactegau
a throw (also = throw in)tafliad; tafliadau
to throw the balltaflu’r bȇl
to throw intaflu i mewn
to trip (or stumble)baglu
VARtechnoleg (b) fideo
a whistle (instrument)chwiban (b)
blow the whistlechwythu’r chwiban
starting whistlechwiban (b) gychwyn
a win (victory)buddigoliaeth (b); buddigoliaethau
to win possession of the ballennill meddiant y bȇl
yellow cardcerdyn melyn
to get a yellow cardcael cerdyn melyn
The gear
capcap/ capiau
football boot(s)esgid bȇl-droed (esgidiau pȇll droed)
foottroed; traed
glovesmaneg (b); menig
handllaw (b); dwylaw
headpen; penau
jerseycrys; crysiau
kit/stripgwisg; y wisg
kneepen-glin; pengliniau
legcoes (b); coesau
shincrimog; crimogau
shin adgard crimog; gardiau crimog
shirtcrys; crysiau
shortssiorts
sockshosan; hosannau (sannau)

Quick pronunciation tips for the Welsh football terms

These are just some quick-and-dirty guidelines to set you on your way with pronouncing the Welsh football words correctly (or well enough! 😉 ).

Most Welsh sounds are found in English and the use of the letters to represent them on paper is much more logical than in English.

Vowels: if you see a circumflex accent or “to bach” (little hat) as in pȇl (ball), the vowel is long. So, the “ȇ” sound is like in English “bear” rather than in “set”. The “ô” in gôl sounds like the “o” in English “throw” not the short “o” in, erm, “not”. Short “a” is like in “bat” and long “ȃ” is like in “father”.

The “w” symbol in Welsh is used for sounds where English usually has “u” but English spelling is so crazy that it could be “oo”. Short Welsh “w” sounds like the “u” in “book” which long “ŵ” is like in “groove”.

Welsh “u“, “i” and “y” stand for the roughly the same sounds as English “i” sounds: short like in “mint”, long like in “need”. The stand-alone “y” meaning “the” is pronounced like the “y” in English “myrtle”. Before a vowel, “y” becomes “yr” (rather like “a” becomes “an”: a dog; an apple. After a vowel, “y” becomes “-‘r” “mynd i’r cae” – go to the pitch.

Consonants: generally the same as English but look out for “ff” = English “f”, while just “f” = English “v”. “Th” is English “th” as in “thing”, which “dd” is the English “th” in “that”. “

Ch” is pronounced like the “ch” in Scottish “loch” or German “Buch”. The “ll” sound is rare – not found in English – but it sounds a bit like “thl”. Letter “c” is always stands for a hard “k”, like in “cat” not like the first “c” in “cycle”.

Lwc dda (good luck) as you learn some football terms in Welsh and lwc dda to tȋm Cymru!

Learn more about Welsh with the Dabbler’s Guide to Welsh

My fellow Welsh-learning, language expert Kerstin Cable for Fluent Language has put together a great little intro course to Welsh that’s just the thing for you if you want to find out more about the language and get a bit of a taster. Check out her info and enrolment page here: Kerstin’s “Dabbler’s Guide“.

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How to remember the gender of Welsh nouns and when it matters

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Minority language resources: a guide (first post in a series of five)

Filed Under: Welsh Tagged With: Welsh, Welsh vocabulary

Comments

  1. Linda says

    at

    Fabulous to have the Welsh translations so can understand pél droedd
    Diolch !

    Reply
    • Dr Popkins says

      at

      Happy to be of service, Linda! Fingers crossed for tîm Cymru! 🙂

      Reply

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