Your First Welsh Alphabet Lesson: Easy, Fun, and Full of Charm

Did you know that Welsh has its own special way of using the alphabet? Even though it looks a lot like English at first, there are many unique sounds and letters that make Welsh exciting to learn. Let’s explore how the Welsh alphabet works and what makes it different!

A Latin Alphabet with a Welsh Twist

Welsh uses the Latin alphabet, just like English, French, and Spanish. But here’s something cool—before the Middle Ages, Welsh didn’t have a written language at all! When the English came to Wales, they brought the alphabet with them, and Welsh people began using it to write their own language. Even though the alphabet came from England, the Welsh language itself is actually older than English!

Missing Letters and Special Sounds

Welsh doesn’t use every letter you might see in English. The letters k, v, x, and z are usually not found in Welsh words. Instead, when words like “kilogram” are used, they’re changed to sound more Welsh. For example, “kilogram” becomes “cilogram.”

Welsh also has some special letter pairs called digraphs. These are two letters that come together to make one unique sound. Here are a few examples:

• Dd – sounds like the th in “this”
• Ll – a breathy sound that doesn’t exist in English!
• Rh – sounds like a rolled r
• Ch – sounds like the ch in the German “Bach”

These sounds might feel tricky at first, but with practice, they become fun and easy.

Sounds That Might Surprise You

Even familiar letters can sound different in Welsh! For example:

• The letter j doesn’t sound like “jump.” Instead, it sounds like the soft “g” in “garage” or the “t” in “water” (in some accents).
• The letter f in Welsh sounds like “v” in English, while ff makes the English “f” sound.

That means a word like “fain” sounds like “vain,” and “ffynnon” (which means “spring” or “fountain”) starts with an “f” sound!

Learning Welsh Letters with Dinolingo

Learning the Welsh alphabet is a great first step for children who want to speak or read Welsh. With Dinolingo, kids can enjoy learning each letter and sound through fun activities, songs, videos, and games. Designed for ages 2–14, Dinolingo teaches over 50 languages and includes exciting features like offline access, a parent dashboard, and gamified rewards. Whether it’s your first time hearing Welsh or you already know a few words, Dinolingo makes learning the alphabet simple and fun!

Conclusion: Say Hello to a New Alphabet

The Welsh alphabet might look familiar, but it hides lots of surprises. From missing letters to brand-new sounds, it’s full of fun twists that help kids understand how this ancient language works. So grab your curiosity and start practicing—because every new letter is a step closer to speaking Welsh like a pro!