llai

Welsh

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɬai̯/

• Audio

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Middle Welsh llaw (“small”), from Proto-Celtic *legu-, *lagu- (“small”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ- (“lightweight”). Cognate with Old Irish laigiu.

Adjective

llai

1. comparative degree of bach: smaller
2. less, fewer

Etymology 2

Possibly ultimately from From Proto-Indo-European *pelH- (“pale”) and so connected to llwyd (“grey”).

Adjective

llai

1. (obsolete) grey, brown, dun, dark red, dark

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
llai	lai	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) , “llai”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies