hunan

See also: Hunan

Welsh

Etymology

Lexicalised h-prothesised form of unan, a form of un (“one”). Cognate with Cornish honan.

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈhɨ̞nan/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈhiːnan/, /ˈhɪnan/

Pronoun

hunan sg (plural hunain)

1. (with possessive determiner) self

   Synonym: hun

   fy hunan ― myself

   ei hunan ― himself, herself

   ein hunain ― ourselves

2. (with possessive determiner preceding both itself and the noun) own

   Synonym: hun

   fy ngeiriau fy hunan ― my own words

   ei syniad ei hunan ― his/her own idea

   ein cartref ein hunain ― our own home

Usage notes

• Hunan tends to be more common in the south and synonymous hun in the north, although plural hunain is also found in north at times.
• There are three second-person forms: dy hunan (“yourself”) (singular familiar), eich hunan (“yourself”) (singular polite) and eich hunain (“yourselves”) (plural familiar/polite).

Personal forms

Personal forms (literary & colloquial)

	Singular	Plural
First person	fy hunan	ein hunan
Second person	dy hunan	eich hunan, eich hunain
Third person	ei hunan m ei hunan f	eu hunan

Derived terms

• dihunan (“selfless”)
• hunan- (“self-”)
• hunaniaeth (“identity”)
• hunanol (“selfish”)

References

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