cyw

Welsh

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *kuwyos, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱuh₁-yó-s, derivative of the root *ḱewh₁- (“to swell, be strong”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /kɪu̯/, /kɨ̞u̯/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /kɪu̯/
• Homophone: ciw (“queue”)
• Rhymes: -ɨ̞u̯

Usage notes

Despite being written with a "y", the vowel here is generally pronounced /ɪ/ in the north as tends to be the case when "y" precedes "w".

Noun

cyw m (plural cywion)

1. chick, young (bird)
2. chicken

Synonyms

• (chicken): ffowlyn

Derived terms

• gwyn y gwêl y frân ei chyw (“a parent does not see the faults of his or her own child”)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
cyw	gyw	nghyw	chyw
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

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