Prydain

Welsh

Etymology

From Middle Welsh Prydein, from early Proto-Brythonic *Pritanī, a variant of *Pritenī, which survives in Prydyn (“Picts”) and as an early borrowing in Old Irish Cruthin, Irish Cruithne (“Picts”), perhaps from a Proto-Celtic *Kʷritanī, *Kʷritenī, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷer- (“to do”).

The Modern Welsh continuation of Latin Brittānia, in contrast, is Brython. Also see Britto (“a Briton”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈprədai̯n/
  • (North Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈprədɛn/
• (South Wales, standard) IPA^(key): /ˈprədai̯n/
  • (South Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈprədɛn/

Proper noun

Prydain f

1. Britain

   Maen nhw'n byw ym Mhrydain Fawr rŵan. ― They live in Great Britain now. (Northern dialect)

   Maen nhw'n byw ym Mhrydain Fawr nawr. ― They live in Great Britain now. (Southern dialect)

Usage notes

In medieval texts, the term often refers to the northernmost part of the island, beyond the Forth and Clyde. Where the island as a whole is meant, the phrase Ynys Prydain (Latin insula Britanniae, "Isle of Britain") is commonly used.

Derived terms

• Prydain Fawr (“Great Britain”)
• Prydeinaidd (“British”, adjective)
• Prydeindod m (“Britishness”)
• Prydeinig (“Britannic”, adjective)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
Prydain	Brydain	Mhrydain	Phrydain
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

• “Brit(t)ō” on page 242/3 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)