byw

Welsh

Etymology

From Proto-Brythonic *bɨw, from Proto-Celtic *biwos, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós, from *gʷeyh₃- (“to live”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /bɪu̯/, /bɨ̞u̯/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /bɪu̯/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɨ̞u̯

Adjective

byw (feminine singular byw, plural bywion, not comparable)

1. alive, living, having life, animate, quick, existing, actual
2. lively, full of life, vivacious, vigorous, sprightly, spirited, eager, sparkling; vivid, graphic, susceptible to
3. live (of a performance etc.)

Noun

byw m (plural bywion)

1. living person or soul, living creature
2. living, life, lifetime; energy, vigor, vitality
3. the quick, the living flesh, the soft part of bread

Verb

byw (invariable)

1. to live

Usage notes

Byw does not conjugate and must be used with periphrasis.

Roedd o’n byw yng Nghaerdydd.

He lived in Cardiff.

Derived terms

• ystafell fyw

Related terms

• bywyd

Mutation

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

Further reading

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