How to Speak with a Welsh Accent

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

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]
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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.
2
Speak in a "singsong" manner. The Welsh accent is very notable for its singsong nature.^{[2]
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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).

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3
Change "i" sounds. 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]
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Research source} Or "Can I have a bit of that?" it becomes "Can I 'ave a bet ov that please?"
4
Slur certain letters. 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.
5
Drop "y" sounds. "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?".
6
Roll the "r" sound. "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.
7
Use common Welsh phrases. 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]
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8
Change and repeat some words. 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]
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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

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.
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."
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.