Ten Welsh words added to the Oxford English Dictionary

Ten Welsh words have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).

The OED is a big historical database, which contains more than 500,000 words, phrases and their meanings, from over 1000 years of English language.

The dictionary updates its list four times a year, and in its most recent update for September 2024, it has added more than 600 new words, including ten Welsh words, as well as Caribbean-English, East African-English and New Zealand- English words.

These words were added because of their use in "different sources" of English writing seen over a "reasonable period of time".

What Welsh words have been added to the OED?

The phrase 'Iechyd da' which means 'good health' in Welsh, has been added, and is usually said when people toast their drinks, similar to 'cheers'.

If you're not a fan of something, you could say 'Ych a fi' which is an expression of disgust or disdain, or if you think something is stupid or idiotic, you could say 'Twp'.

For foodies, the Welsh word for chips 'Sglods' has been added, as well as 'cawl' a traditional Welsh soup made with lamb or beef and leeks, potatoes, swedes, and carrots.

Sennedd - the name of the Welsh Parliamant has also been added, as has 'Mamgu and Tadcu' - the Welsh terms for a grandmother and grandfather in south Wales, and 'Taid' the term of grandfather in north Wales. (Grandmother or 'nain' was added in an earlier update)

Elin Jones MS, who is the Llywydd of the Senedd, which is the same role as speaker in other parliaments, told Newsround: “It’s a joy to see ‘Senedd’ sit proudly alongside the other excellent Welsh words added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year. I might celebrate with a bowl of ‘cawl’ or a bag of ‘sglods’!

“Here in Wales we are familiar with Senedd as the name of our national parliament and it is also the name of our youth parliament – Senedd Ieuenctid Cymru. I feel proud that this Welsh word is now known by more people outside our country."

The word 'calennig' meaning the gift or the tradition of children giving New Year's gifts has also been included.

"On the morning of New Year’s Day, children go from door-to-door requesting food, money, or other gifts - and unsurprisingly for Wales, the land of song, these requests are traditionally sung," the dictionary said.

"Children taking part in this custom typically carry an apple or orange pierced with sticks and decorated with sprigs of herbs or foliage, as well as cloves, nuts, or raisins, so that calennig can also sometimes be used to indicate the decorated apple or orange itself."