mynydd

Mynydd is the Welsh word for mountain and is used throughout Wales to denote upland areas, peaks, and the rural landscapes that characterize the country. The term is derived from the Brythonic root *mīnig, which has cognates in other Celtic languages such as Scottish Gaelic *monadh* and Breton *menez*. In modern Welsh, *mynydd* functions both as a common noun and a prefix in place names, for example Mynydd Mawr (“Great Mountain”) and Mynydd Calan (the crest of the Calan hill).

In Welsh toponymy, the word appears in a wide range of geographical features. Mynydd Hiraethog, located in Denbighshire, is a national nature reserve known for its peat bog ecosystem and wildlife. The term is also used to denote ranges: the Mynyddau arw (Hill of Hills) in the Brecon Beacons. It marks a cultural symbolic significance as well, appearing in folklore and poetry; for instance, the 18th‑century bard Dafydd Iwan’s song “Mynydd y Glais” celebrates the coastal hill ranges. The name is central in the identity of the Welsh language, often retained in modern signage, language surveys, and educational materials.

Mynydd can also refer to certain administrative or municipal units. The community of Mynydd Isa in the city of Peterborough, England, derives its name from the Milesian roots that historically referred to a hill or high ground in the area. Additionally, Mynydd has been used as a surname by families with ancestral connections to Welsh upland regions. Commonly, maps and Geographic Information System data spell the name in both Welsh orthography and anglicised forms, reflecting the bilingual nature of many Welsh placenames.