gwell

Cornish

Etymology

From Middle Cornish guel, from Proto-Celtic *wellos. Cognate with Welsh gwell.

Adjective

gwell

1. comparative degree of da (“good”) – better, superior

Derived terms

• bos gwell gans (“be preferred by”, verb)
• gwell ages, gwell es (“better than, superior to”)
• gwella (“best”)
• gwellhe (“improve”, verb)
• gwellheans (“improvement”)

Mutation

Mutation of gwell

unmutated	soft	aspirate	hard	mixed	mixed after 'th
gwell	well	unchanged	kwell	hwell	well

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

Welsh

Etymology

Inherited from Middle Welsh gwell, from Proto-Celtic *wellos, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- (“choose, want”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /ɡwɛɬ/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /ɡweːɬ/, /ɡwɛɬ/
• Rhymes: -ɛɬ

Adjective

gwell

1. comparative degree of da: better

Adverb

gwell

1. Prefer

   Mae well 'da fi ddawnsio na chanu (South)

   I prefer to dance than sing

   (literally, “It is better with me to dance than to sing”)

   Mae well gen i de na choffi (North)

   I prefer tea to coffee

   (literally, “Tea is better with me than coffee”)

2. Had better

   Well i chi beidio

   you had better not

   (literally, “[It is] better to you not to”)

Usage notes

• When used to mean 'prefer', gwell is combined with the possessive construction (literally "it is better with me"). When used to mean 'had better', it is linked to its subject by i (literally "it is better for me"). In both cases it is almost always followed by the soft mutation.

Derived terms

• gwella

See also

• da
• gorau

Mutation

Mutated forms of gwell

radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
gwell	well	ngwell	unchanged

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

References

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