Welsh
Cymraeg
Welsh is one of Europe's oldest living languages — spoken for 1,500 years! The word "penguin" is thought to come from Welsh "pen gwyn" (white head).
Lin says:
Helo! Sut wyt ti? I'm Lin! Welsh is one of the oldest living languages in Europe and it is having a brilliant revival! All road signs in Wales are in both Welsh and English, Welsh-medium schools are growing every year, and S4C is a whole TV channel in Welsh! The Welsh language gave us 'Penguin' (from Welsh pen = head + gwyn = white). Hwyl fawr! (Goodbye — literally: Big fun!)
Quick Facts
Speakers
~900,000
Language Family
Celtic (Indo-European)
Age
Spoken for 1,500+ years
Home
Wales, United Kingdom
Discover Welsh
Welsh is one of Europe's oldest living languages — spoken for 1,500 years! The word "penguin" is thought to come from Welsh "pen gwyn" (white head).
Native Speakers
~900,000
Key Countries
For Educators
Language learning builds empathy and global understanding. Use this page to spark classroom discussions about cultural diversity and communication across borders.
Did You Know?
Welsh has sounds and letter combinations unlike almost any other language — "ll" is a voiceless lateral fricative, and "ch" sounds like the Scottish "loch". And "w" and "y" are vowels in Welsh!
In 2011, only 19% of Welsh people could speak Welsh. By 2021 it had risen to 29% — showing that language revival campaigns genuinely work.
The Welsh flag features a red dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) — one of the world's only national flags with a dragon. The dragon has been a symbol of Wales for over 1,500 years.
What Makes Welsh Special?
Own TV Channel
Welsh has its own television channel — S4C — broadcasting entirely in Welsh, with news, drama, and entertainment. A remarkable feat for a language of fewer than a million speakers.
Named the Penguin
The word "penguin" is thought to come from Welsh — "pen gwyn" means "white head". Welsh sailors likely named the bird in the 16th century!
Land of Song
Wales is known as "Gwlad y Gân" — Land of Song. The male voice choir tradition, National Eisteddfod (arts festival), and love of poetry are central to Welsh identity.
Keep Exploring the World!
Languages are windows into the world's cultures. Discover more languages and the countries where they are spoken.