How to Speak with a Welsh Accent

Co-authored by Jack Wallace

Last Updated: July 21, 2019

If you're looking to take on a Welsh role or otherwise act the part, you may be wondering how to get the accent just right. With some practice to get the sounds and intonation just right, you can improve your Welsh accent.

Steps

Download Article

1
Stretch out vowels and lengthen them. For example, in the sentence "Jane, how's it going?" you would say "Ja-ane, how's it go-o-en?"^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Do not stretch it out for more than about half a second, but this is a crucial aspect of performing a convincing Welsh accent.
The Welsh accent is very notable for its singsong nature.^{[2]
X
Research source} Every few words, exaggerate and draw out the vowels significantly in order to replicate this. Even when exaggerating the words, don't draw out vowels for too long (about one second is too long).

Advertisement
When pronouncing the "i" sound in words such as doing, going, pit and lit, the "i-" sound becomes reminiscent of an e, as shown in step one, where "going" is pronounced "go-o-en", in the sense that the "o" is stretched out and the "ing" suffix is said "en".^{[3]
X
Research source} Or "Can I have a bit of that?" it becomes "Can I 'ave a bet ov that please?"
Some letters are slurred; for example, "h" and "f" are often skipped or slurred where "have" becomes "ave" and "of" becomes "ov". This is not for all letters though so do this with only "h", "f" and other "soft" letters. Do not do this with vowels.
"Y" sounds are also frequently dropped. So instead of saying "Tell Jake the news" you say "Tell Jake the ooz". Do this for both "y" sounds (yods) and the actual letter, even in the word use. "Can I use that?" vs. "Can I ooz that?".
"R" sounds have a very slight roll to them, but it's very easy to roll the r too much, so "It's brrright" (triple r where you'd roll it) would be too much, as you only roll it for a split second, as in "brright" but still enough that you do not pronounce it "bright". Very similar to rolling the r once.
These are anything from "cwtch" (pronounced cutch) which means hug "Gimme a cwtch" or the other phrases like "Now in a minute". A lot of Welsh people say this and it means "I will do it, just not now, so leave me alone".^{[4]
X
Research source}
Similarly to German, sometimes Welsh people, rather than saying "I am very tired" say "I'm very tired, I am" or "I'm thirsty, I am".^{[5]
X
Research source} This is the same with "I do", for example instead of "I do like that", many Welsh people say "I like that, I do".

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How would you pronounce Elias? In a british accent it sounds like E-lye-us.

Dana alamawi

Community Answer

It depends on what accent you want it pronounced in. If you want it pronounced in an American English accent, it would sound like E-lye-us. in a Welsh accent it would sound like the same but a long vowel.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 10 Helpful 6
Question

Is "gentle" pronounced with a hard or soft "g" in Welch?

Community Answer

In the Welsh language it is usually always pronounced with a hard "g" sound. It is like the "guh" sound in great or goodness. However, in a Welsh accent you would say the word "gentle" with a soft "g" as you would say the second g in garage or the name "George."

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 13 Helpful 7
Question

How do I roll my "R"s?

Holdencaulfield

Community Answer

Practice saying "butter" or "ladder" over and over again, constantly increasing the speed. If executed correctly, it will begin to make the rolled "R" sound you desire.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 21 Helpful 12

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

When speaking in a Welsh accent, every few words exaggerate the pronunciation, and really draw out the vowels, so "My heart's in Wales" would be "MY hearts in WALES" (Capitals represent the words you exaggerate).

Thanks
Helpful 5 Not Helpful 2
Try touching the roof of your mouth when you pronounce the letter r and you should be rolling the r. Now trying giving the r just one roll.

Thanks
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0