rhywfaint

Welsh

Etymology

rhyw +‎ maint (“amount, quantity”)

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈr̥ɪu̯vai̯nt/, /ˈr̥ɨu̯vai̯nt/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈr̥ɪu̯vai̯nt/
• Rhymes: -ɪu̯vai̯nt, -ɨu̯vai̯nt

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

rhywfaint m (plural rhywfeintiau)

1. some amount, some quantity

   Rwy'n siarad rhywfaint o Gymraeg.

   I speak some/a bit of Welsh.

Usage notes

• When used adverbially, equivalent to English "somewhat/rather".

  Rwy'n teimlo rywfaint yn well.

  I feel somewhat/rather/a bit better.

Related terms

• faint (“how much, how many”)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
rhywfaint	rywfaint	unchanged	unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

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