Recently updated on June 12th, 2020 at 06:08 pm
The Welsh dragon takes pride of place on the flag of this proud nation, and for good reason. While a person from Wales is most often charming, friendly, and accommodating, there are several expressions, phrases and other things to avoid saying or slipping into the conversation, should you wish to be a respectful and culturally aware visitor.
Read on for 13 things you should never to say to a person from Wales:
1. “Wales is in England, right?”
The Welsh value their heritage above many things. While they love their English brothers, they hold on to their own identity fiercely. Although technically a part of the United Kingdom, Wales is also a country in its own right. It has its own own flag and language that 20% of the local population speak.
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2. “I can do a great Welsh accent”
Imitating the accent of a Welsh person as you attempt to mimic Welsh phrases or expressions could be perceived as rude or insensitive. Long-suffering locals are quick to claim that tourists’ Welsh ‘accents’ resemble a Jamaican or Indian English accent, despite the guttural nature of the language.
3. “How’s life on the farm?”
Wales may enjoy a reputation for pastoral lands filled with woolly sheep, but that doesn’t mean the vast majority of locals make a living off the land. While farming, and particularly livestock farming, is a major part of the Welsh economy, only a small proportion of the land in Wales is actually arable.
4. “Does anybody even speak Welsh anymore?”
Those locals who do speak Welsh are adamant that it isn’t a dying language. The locals see their Welsh expressions and language as a way of distinguishing themselves from the rest of the United Kingdom. And they certainly do their best to ensure that the language is spoken and passed down from generation to generation.
5. “My best friend’s aunt is from Wales. Say, do you know Beca?”
Wales is relatively small in size and there are certain idiosyncrasies around names that may confuse foreigners. For instance, the 10 most common Welsh surnames (Jones being the most popular) occur in 55% of the Welsh population. Incidentally, Beca is also one of the most common female Welsh names there is. Whoever you are speaking to probably knows at least five different Becas, and double that number of Joneses.
6. “Say something in Welsh!”
You had better hope you’ve bumped into someone amongst the 20% of Welsh natives who do actually speak their mother tongue. Despite this small percentage of Welsh speakers, a much-loved Welsh phrase which illustrates the importance attributed to retaining their vernacular is: ‘Cenedl heb iaith yw cenedl heb galon’ (A nation without a language, is a nation without a heart).
7. “Go on, then – give us a song!”
Wales is indeed known for its choirs and exceptional musical talent. While many would argue that carrying a tune courses through the blood of any person from Wales, in truth not everyone can pull it off quite like Tom Jones or Shirley Bassey.
8. “How much do you love Tom Jones?”
Speaking of Tom Jones, most Welsh people can’t get enough of him – though not all of them like to admit it.
9. “How do you say, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch?”
It’s the longest town name in all of Europe and also the second-longest official one-word place name in the world. If you find it a bit of a mouthful, the accepted shortened version is Llanfairpwllgwyngyll.
Literally translated, this tongue twister means ‘The church of St. Mary of the pool of the white hazels near the rapid whirlpool and the church of St. Tysilio of the red cave’. Short or long – there will be a good number of Welsh locals who can’t pronounce it entirely either.
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10. “What does ‘hiraeth’ mean?”
Unless you’re in the mood for a particularly lengthy conversation, it is best to let this one lie. The long and short of it is that this is a Welsh expression that cannot be completely translated into English. But, if pressed, this most poignant of Welsh expressions will be explained as a sense of deep longing for home and familiarity.
11. “Do you have a ‘popty ping’ at home?
We love the myth surrounding the Welsh word for the microwave so much, we wish it wasn’t a Monty Python spoof. Can you think of a word that better describes this modern convenience?
The real Welsh word for microwave is decidedly less quirky. ‘Meicrodon’, the rather austere and more accurate word, is a portmanteau that quite literally means ‘micro’ (meicro) and ‘wave’ (ton).
12. “You’re Welsh? How do you cope with the weather?”
Most Welsh locals despair at hearing tourists complain about their weather. In fact, many of them are under the impression that it’s not even that bad. According to research, the average rainfall in Wales is around 2464 mm or 97 inches per year. Compared to the global average of 990 mm or 39 inches per year, it is rather a lot more. Just don’t feel compelled to point it out.
13. “The Prince of Wales Bridge is beautiful!”
Ask any person in Wales and they’ll call it the Second Severn Crossing. Needless to say, the name change didn’t go down well with all the locals.
Have we missed any no-go comments or typically Welsh expressions and phrases you feel should be shared with your fellow travellers? Tell us more in the comments below…