Prydain

Welsh

Etymology

From Middle Welsh Prydein, from early Proto-Brythonic *Pritanī, a variant of *Pritenī, which survives in Prydyn (“Picts”) and as an early borrowing in Old Irish Cruthin, Irish Cruithne (“Picts”), perhaps from a Proto-Celtic *Kʷritanī, *Kʷritenī, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷer- (“to do”).

The Modern Welsh continuation of Latin Brittānia, in contrast, is Brython. Also see Brittō (“a Briton”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈprədai̯n/
  • (North Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈprədɛn/
• (South Wales, standard) IPA^(key): /ˈprədai̯n/
  • (South Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈprədɛn/

Proper noun

Prydain f

1. (loosely) Britain (the United Kingdom, a kingdom and country in Northern Europe including the island of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland on the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland)

   Maen nhw'n byw ym Mhrydain Fawr. ― They live in Great Britain.

2. Britain (great Britain, a large island (sometimes also including some of the surrounding smaller islands) off the north-west coast of Western Europe, made up of England, Scotland, and Wales; especially (but not exclusively) during antiquity)

Usage notes

In medieval texts, the term often refers to the northernmost part of the island, beyond the Forth and Clyde. Where the island as a whole is meant, the phrase Ynys Prydain (Latin insula Britanniae, "Isle of Britain") is commonly used.

Derived terms

• Prydain Fawr (“Great Britain”)
• Prydain Newydd (“New Britain”)
• Prydeinig, Prydeinaidd (“British”)
• Prydeindod (“Britishness”)
• Prydeiniwr (“(modern) Briton”)

Mutation

Mutated forms of Prydain

radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
Prydain	Brydain	Mhrydain	Phrydain

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Further reading

• D. G. Lewis, N. Lewis, editors (2005–present), “Prydain”, in Gweiadur: the Welsh–English Dictionary, Gwerin
• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke, et al., editors (1950–present), “Prydain”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
• “Brit(t)ō” on page 242/3 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)