Welsh Locations
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
| 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 |
| 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 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 |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Dinas Junction | DEE-nas Junction | Fort |
| Drum | Drim | |
| Fron Boeth | Vron Boy-th | |
| 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 |
| Glanrafon | Glan-RAV-on | Riverside |
| Gloddfa Ganol | GLOTH-va GAN-ol | |
| Graig Ddu | Graheeg Thee | Blackrock |
| Gwredog Isaf | goor-ED-og EE-sav | Lower Gwredog |
| Hafod Garregog | HAV-od Garr-EGG-og | Rocky Farm |
| Hafod Ruffydd | HAV-od RIFF-ith ('th' as in 'then') | (?) Griffiths' farm |
| Hafod y Llyn | HAV-od-uh-thlin | Farm by the lake |
| Hafodty | HAV-od-tee | |
| Llanfrothen | Thlan-VROTH-en | |
| Llechwedd | LLEC-weth | |
| 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-moor (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 |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Portreuddyn | Port-RAY-thin ('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') | |
| Rhostryfan | Hros-TRU-van | |
| Rhosydd | HROS-eeth ('th' as in 'with') | |
| Rhyd Ddu | Hreed Thee | Black Ford |
| Salem | SAL-em ("sal" rhymes with "pal") | |
| 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 Pass |
| Tan-Y-Bwlch | Tan-uh-bullch ('bull' as the animal, and 'ch' as in Scottish 'loch') | Under the Steps |
| Tanygrisiau | Tan-a-GRISH-ya | Under the Hillside |
| Traeth Mawr | Try-th Mour (rhymes with 'our' but with the 'r' positively sounded)) | extensive tidal sands |
| Tryfan Junction | TRU-van | |
| 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) |