Welshlanguage

Welsh language, or Cymraeg, is a Celtic language in the Brittonic branch, traditionally spoken in Wales and by Welsh communities elsewhere. It is primarily spoken in Wales, where it has official status alongside English and is supported by the Welsh Government, schools, broadcasters, and public services. Welsh is taught widely and appears in signage, media, and daily life. There are also Welsh-speaking communities in England and a diaspora in North America and Patagonia, Argentina.

Welsh descends from the Brittonic language of the ancient Britons. It developed a rich medieval literature, including the Mabinogion. After centuries of gradual anglicization, Welsh experienced a revival in the 19th and 20th centuries, driven by religious groups, cultural movements, and policy reforms that promoted education and broadcasting in Welsh.

Modern policy has established Welsh-medium education, bilingual public services, and dedicated broadcasting in Welsh, notably S4C. The language is taught in many schools, and immersion programs aim to increase fluency from an early age. The government publishes standards and guidance to ensure Welsh language provision in public life. These efforts have contributed to a steady resilience of Welsh amid pressure from English.

Orthography and dialects: Welsh uses the Latin alphabet with digraphs and diacritics and has mutation processes at beginnings of words. North and South Welsh are the two major dialect groups, with regional varieties and literary standards.