yn

See also: YN, yN, -yn, yn-, and ŷn

Manx

Alternative forms

• y

Etymology

From Old Irish in (compare Scottish Gaelic and Irish an).

Article

yn

1. the

Related terms

• ny

References

• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “1 in”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

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Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English inn.

Noun

yn

1. Alternative form of in (“inn”)

Etymology 2

From Old English in.

Preposition

yn

1. Alternative form of in (“in”)

Etymology 3

From Old English inne.

Adverb

yn

1. Alternative form of in (“in”)

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Middle Welsh

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ən/

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Particle

yn

1. grammatical particle used in conjunction with bot (“to be”) to mark adjectival, nominal, or verbal complements
   • Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet:

     Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet a oed yn arglwyd ar seith cantref Dyuet.

     Pwyll Prince of Dyfed was lord of the seven cantrefs of Dyfed

2. grammatical particle used to change an adjective into an adverb

Etymology 2

From Proto-Brythonic *ɨn, from Proto-Celtic *eni.

Preposition

yn

1. in

Etymology 3

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Alternative forms

• an

Determiner

yn

1. our

Descendants

• Welsh: ein

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Welsh

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ən/

Etymology 1

Specialized use of yn (“in”). The lack of nasal mutation probably stems from a lost article or possessive pronoun qualifying the verbal noun.

Alternative forms

• ’n (used after a vowel)

Particle

yn

1. grammatical particle used in conjunction with bod (“to be”) to mark adjectival, nominal, or verbal predicate complements

   Mae Tom yn darllen.

   Tom is reading.

   Mae Tom yn gysglyd.

   Tom is sleepy.

   Mae Tom yn fachgen.

   Tom is a boy.

2. grammatical particle used to change an adjective into an adverb

   yn dda ― well

   yn fawr ― greatly

   yn wir ― truly

Usage notes

• This particle triggers soft mutation, except for on words beginning with ⟨rh⟩ and ⟨ll⟩, of anything substantival, namely nouns, adjectives, numerals and verbal nouns used substantivally.
• It triggers no mutation on anything verbal, which in practice means verbal nouns used verbally.

Etymology 2

From Middle Welsh yn, from Old Welsh in, from Proto-Brythonic *ɨn, from Proto-Celtic *eni, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én.

Alternative forms

• ym, yng

Preposition

yn

1. in, at (definite nouns)

   Mae hi'n byw yng Nghaerdydd.

   She lives in Cardiff.

   Ydyn ni'n astudio yn y Brifysgol ym Mangor.

   We're studying at the University in Bangor.

   Roedd hi'n bwrw eira ym mis Mawrth.

   It was snowing in March.

   Mae'r llyfr yn (y) Gymraeg.

   The book is in Welsh.

Usage notes

• This particle triggers nasal mutation. Before ⟨p⟩, ⟨b⟩ and sometimes ⟨m⟩, it becomes ym and before ⟨c⟩ and ⟨g⟩, it becomes yng. In certain informal contexts or dialects, it may trigger soft or no mutation at all.
• Yn is used with definite nouns and noun phrases, its indefinite equivalent being mewn.

Inflection

(Literary)

Personal forms

	Singular	Plural
First person	ynof	ynom
Second person	ynot	ynoch
Third person	ynddo m ynddi f	ynddynt

(Colloquial)

Personal forms

	Singular	Plural
First person	ynddo, yndda, yno, yna i	ynddon, ynon ni
Second person	ynddot, ynddat, ynot, ynat ti	ynddoch, ynoch chi
Third person	ynddo, yno fe/fo m ynddi, yni hi f	ynddyn, ynyn nhw

Further reading

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

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West Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian in, from Proto-Germanic *in, from Proto-Indo-European *en.

Preposition

yn

1. in
2. into

Derived terms

• ynkringe
• ynwenje

Further reading

• “yn”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011

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Yola

Preposition

yn

1. Alternative form of i (“in”)
   • 1867, CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, line 9:

     Yn ercha an aul o' while yt beeth wi gleezom o' core

     In each and every condition it is with joy of heart

References

• Jacob Poole (1867), William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, page 114