gwyl

Gŵyl is a Welsh noun that chiefly means festival, feast, or holiday. It can also refer to a vigil or night watch in historical or religious contexts. The standard spelling is gŵyl, with the letter ŵ; when diacritics are omitted, it is commonly rendered as gwyl. The plural form is gwyliau.

In contemporary Wales, gŵyl is used to name and describe a wide range of celebrations, from local fairs and cultural events to national commemorations. It appears in phrases such as Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant, Saint David’s Day, illustrating how the term functions as a marker of festive occasions. The concept encompasses secular and religious events and is central to Welsh cultural life, often reflecting regional traditions and community gatherings.

Historically, the sense of gŵyl extended beyond public festivities to include vigil or watch duties, especially in religious settings. Over time, the noun has become primarily associated with celebrations and holidays, while the related verb gwylio means to watch or keep vigil.

Related terms and usage note: gŵyl is widely encountered in Welsh-language media, tourism, and event programming, and it forms a core part of the vocabulary for describing cultural life in Wales. The plural gwyliau is used to refer to multiple festivals or holiday periods.