Welsh
PrintPrimary tabs
A language of United Kingdom
562,000 in United Kingdom (2011 census), decreasing. 32,700 monolinguals (1971 census). Total users in all countries: 573,050.
Widespread in Wales.
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Wales (1993, Welsh Language Act, C 38).
Northern Welsh, Southern Welsh.
VSO; inflected prepositions; noun head initial; gender (masculine/feminine); definite article; verb affixes mark person, number; tense; comparatives; 23 consonants, 12 vowels, 8 diphthongs; non-tonal; stress on penultimate syllable; initial consonant mutation (3 kinds).
19% of the Welsh population speak it; 33% understand it (1998). Used by all. Positive attitudes. All also use English [eng].
Welsh as the medium for education is increasing. 525 primary and secondary schools provide Welsh as the medium of education to over 82,000 children (1999). Compulsory in most Welsh schools. The Royal National Eisteddfod meets annually. Periodicals. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1588–2015.