bachgennyn

Welsh

Alternative forms

• bachgenyn

Etymology

From bachgen (“boy”) +‎ -yn (diminutive suffix).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /baχˈɡɛnɨ̞n/, [baχˈkɛnɨ̞n]
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /baχˈɡɛnɪn/, [baχˈkɛnɪn]
• Rhymes: -ɛnɨ̞n

Noun

bachgennyn m (no plural form)

1. boykin; little boy (diminutive form of bachgen)
   • 1918: William Llewelyn Williams, ‛S lawer dydd, page 17 (James Davies a’i Gwmni)

     Unig hawl Thomas Williams i anfarwoldeb oedd iddo dalu am yr unig dipyn ysgol a gafodd bachgennyn a elai dan yr enw Twm Sali […]

     Thomas Williams’ only claim to immortality was that he paid for the only bit of schooling ever to have been given a little boy who went by the name of Twm Sali […]

   • 1925: Ifano Jones, A history of printing and printers in Wales to 1810, and of successive and related printers to 1923: Also, A history of printing and printers in Monmouthshire to 1923, page 64 (W. Lewis (printers), limited)

     […] as in the heading, he is named Ishmael, and in the first of which he is referred to as a little boy (=‘Bachgennyn Bach dwys, sef ismael’).

     (=‘a serious Tiny Little Boy, named ismael’)

Usage notes

• Bachgennyn is a singulare tantum — there is no diminutive plural form of bachgen; in lieu of a genuine plural form, bechgyn is sometimes employed by suppletion.

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
bachgennyn	fachgennyn	machgennyn	unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “bachgennyn”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies