o flaen

Welsh

Etymology

From o (“from, of”) +‎ blaen (“front”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /ɔvˈlaːɨ̯n/
• (South Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ɔvˈlai̯n/
  • (South Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ɔvˈlaːn/

Preposition

o flaen

1. in front of, before

   Antonym: y tu ôl i

Usage notes

This preposition usually refers to physical space whereas cyn refers to being "before" in time.

Inflection

Personal forms (literary)

	Singular	Plural
First person	o'm blaen	o'n blaen
Second person	o'th flaen	o'ch blaen
Third person	o'i flaen m o'i blaen f	o'u blaen

Personal forms (colloquial)

	Singular	Plural
First person	o fy mlaen i	o'n blaen ni
Second person	o dy flaen di	o'ch blaen chi
Third person	o'i flaen e/o m o'i blaen hi f	o'u blaen nhw

Derived terms

• o flaen llaw (“beforehand”)

References

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