Facts for Kids

Welsh is a special language spoken by the people of Wales, a country in the United Kingdom! 🇬🇧 It is part of the Celtic family of languages, which also includes Irish and Scottish Gaelic. Welsh is unique because it is one of the oldest languages in Europe, with roots going back over 1,500 years! 🌳

There are about 850,000 people who speak Welsh, and it is recognized as an official language in Wales. That means people use it in schools, businesses, and government. Learning Welsh can be fun, and you might even hear it sung in popular songs! 🎵

Just like there are different accents in English, Welsh has dialects! 🎤

The main dialects are North Welsh and South Welsh. North Welsh is spoken in the northern part of Wales, like in the cities of Bangor and Caernarfon. 🏞

️ South Welsh is common in places like Cardiff and Swansea. Each dialect has its own sounds and some words can even be different! This makes Welsh super interesting because you can hear the variations depending on where you are! 🌍

Schools in Wales celebrate Welsh by teaching it! 📚

All primary schools offer Welsh lessons, and many secondary schools do too. This helps children become confident speakers! 🎉

Students learn not only how to speak and write in Welsh but also about Welsh culture and history. In some schools, children even get to learn through the medium of Welsh! 🌟

There are special Welsh-language schools called "ysgolion Gymraeg," where everything is taught in Welsh. This way, kids can grow up loving their language!

Today, Welsh is used in many areas of everyday life! 🎉

You can hear it on the radio, see it on road signs, and watch it on TV! 📺

Approximately 30% of people in Wales speak Welsh, and it is often spoken in homes and communities. Many people are proud to use Welsh at work and in social gatherings too! There are also Welsh-language festivals, like the Eisteddfod, where people celebrate music, poetry, and story-telling. 🎭

This helps keep the language alive and thriving!

Welsh has its own media too! 📺

S4C is a TV channel that broadcasts many shows and films in Welsh! It offers news, dramas, and children’s programs. For radio, there’s BBC Radio Cymru, where listeners can enjoy music, stories, and discussions—all in Welsh! 🎶

With social media becoming popular, many people now share their thoughts and stories in Welsh online. This makes the language more accessible and exciting for young people! 💻

In the 20th century, Welsh faced challenges. Many people were speaking English instead! 😟

But in the 1960s, efforts began to bring the language back to life! People started organizing events, teaching Welsh in schools, and even creating Welsh music! 🎶

Leading figures like Meredydd Evans played a significant role in the revival. Today, many young people are excited to learn Welsh, and its popularity is growing! 💖

This revival shows that languages can thrive with love and effort!

Welsh literature is rich and full of exciting stories! 📖

Some of the earliest Welsh writings are ancient poems called "englynion" and tales from books like "The Mabinogion." These stories contain magical creatures, brave heroes, and fascinating adventures! 🦄

Famous Welsh poets like Dylan Thomas wrote beautiful verses also. Festivals celebrate Welsh literature, allowing writers and poets to share their work. 📚

Welsh literature brings people together and shows how creative the language can be!

Welsh has some cool features that make it unique! ✨

For starters, it has a different alphabet with 29 letters. It includes letters like "ll," which makes a special sound that is tricky for English speakers! 🎤

Another fun thing is that Welsh words often use "cyfarwydd" (meaning "informant") to show how to pronounce them! Welsh also has consonant mutations, which means a letter changes at the beginning of a word depending on how it’s used in a sentence! This can change the meaning! 📚

The Welsh language began to develop in the 5th century, over 1,500 years ago! 📜

It all started when Celtic tribes settled in what we now call Wales. These tribes spoke early forms of Welsh. As time went on, the language changed and grew. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, Welsh speakers faced challenges, but they continued using their language! 💪

In the 20th century, many people began to promote Welsh again, leading to its revival. Today, Welsh remains an important part of Welsh culture and identity! 🇼🇸

The Welsh government supports the Welsh language to keep it alive and growing! 🇼🇸 Laws have been established to ensure Welsh is taught in schools and used in public life. The aim is to have a million Welsh speakers by 2050! 🌈

They create plans, called “Cymraeg 2050,” to promote the language. Public services must provide information in Welsh too! This shows how important the language is for Welsh identity and culture. With continuous support, Welsh will shine bright for generations! 🌟