Saesneg

Welsh

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin saxonica (“Saxon”) from Latin saxonica lingua (“Saxon language”). Equivalent to Saeson (“English people”) +‎ -eg (“language suffix”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈseɨ̯snɛɡ/
  • (North Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈseɨ̯snaɡ/, /ˈsɨ̞snɛɡ/, /ˈsɨ̞snaɡ/
• (South Wales, standard) (colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈsei̯snɛɡ/
  • (South Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈsɪsnɛɡ/

• Audio

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Proper noun

Saesneg f

1. English, the English language

Adjective

Saesneg (feminine singular Saesneg, plural Saesneg, not comparable)

1. English (with reference to the language only, not the nationality)

Further reading

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