Croeso yn ôl i Groeseiriau Cymraeg.

In this lesson we learn how to say 'I must / I have to" in Welsh. One way of doing this is to use rhaid  . For example  " Mae'n rhaid i mi...."   translates to "There is necessity for me to...." e.g.

Mae'n rhaid i mi fynd nawr. = I must go now. (literally: There is necessity for me to go now. )

Some would argue that "Mae rhaid i fi" is more grammatically correct but people often add the 'n - "mae'n rhaid i fi". It should also be noted that in everyday speech 'Mae' or 'Mae'n' are often omitted altogether.

Strictly there would be soft mutation after "i" BUT you will hear and read both "rhaid i mi" and "rhaid i fi". Both are acceptable.

Mae/'n rhaid i fi / i mi - I must

Mae/'n rhaid i ti - You must (familiar)

Mae/'n rhaid iddo fe / iddi hi - He / She must

Mae/'n rhaid i ni - We must

Mae/'n rhaid i chi - You must (singular formal & plural)

Mae/'n rhaid iddyn nhw - They must

For the past (I had to) and future tense (I will have to) formulations please go here and here .

Mae/'n rhaid i fi / i mi - I must / I have to ... e.g.

Mae/'n rhaid i mi fynd nawr / rŵan. - I must go now.       

Mae/'n rhaid i mi ddarllen y llyfr! - I have to read the book.

Mae/'n rhaid iddyn nhw fynd i'r llyfrgell. - They have to go to the library.

Mae/'n rhaid i chi fwyta. - You must eat / You have to eat.

Does dim rhaid i fi / i mi - I don't have to .. e.g.

Does dim rhaid i mi fynd nawr / rŵan.  - I don't have to go now.

Does dim rhaid i mi ddarllen y llyfr! - I don't have to read the book!

Does dim rhaid iddyn nhw fynd i'r llyfrgell. - They don't have to go to the library.  

Does dim  rhaid i chi fwyta. - You don't have to eat. 

Oes rhaid i fi / i mi? - Must I? / Do I have to? . e.g. 

Oes rhaid i mi fynd nawr / rŵan?  - Do I have to go now?

Oes rhaid i mi ddarllen y llyfr?  - Do I have to read the book?

Oes rhaid iddyn nhw fynd i'r llyfrgell. - Do they have to go to the library?

Oes rhaid i chi fwyta. - Do you have to eat? 

Oes - Yes    Na - No   or Na, does dim.....

Here are some practice examples. If there are is any vocabulary you need to look up go here:  Geiriadur You will find the answers at the bottom of the page. 

Rhaid iddyn nhw fod adref erbyn pump o'r gloch. = They must be home by five o'clock.

Mae'n rhaid i chi fod yn flinedig iawn. = You have to be really tired.

Rhaid iddi aros yn y gwesty. = She must stay at the hotel.

Mae'n rhaid iddo wneud ei waith cartref. = He has to do his homework.

Mae'n rhaid i chi wisgo'ch siaced. = You have to wear your jacket.

Mae'n rhaid i ni atgyweirio'r car. = We have to repair the car.

Rhaid imi edrych ar y newyddion. = I have to look at the news.

They don't have to go today. = Does dim rhaid iddyn nhw fynd heddiw.

You do not have to come tomorrow. = Does dim rhaid i chi ddod yfory. 

Do I have to go now? = Oes rhaid i mi fynd nawr?

...

Translate the following short conversation. If there are is any vocabulary you need to look up go here: Geiriadur You will find the answers at the bottom of the page. 

Mae'n rhaid i chi fynd i siopa heddiw.

Mae'n rhaid i chi brynu llaeth a bara.

Iawn.

Ond mae'n rhaid i mi fynd i'r llyfrgell yn gyntaf.

It should be noted that the Welsh verb gorfod also means 'must'. It is more or less synonymous with rhaid   although of course it is a verb whereas rhaid is a noun.

Mae rhaid i mi fynd i'r gwaith yfory. = I have to go to work tomorrow.

Dwi'n gorfod mynd i'r gwaith yfory. = I have to go to work tomorrow.

Rhaid is more commonly used in everyday speech and should always be used when making suppositional statements e.g.

You must be joking. =   Rhaid i chi fod yn cellwair.
...

And so to our weekly crossword. The theme is -  'Rhaid'

• Click through the slides below and learn the words as you go.
  

• Optional: If you want help with pronunciation or wish to check out other vocabulary entries on the wordcard, click the pic or text below to be taken to the appropriate Geiriadur listing page. 

• Attempt the crossword puzzle here  Cymraeg - Vocabulary Crossword 22  (interactive) or if you prefer to do it the old fashioned way you can download a hard copy of  the grid here Crossword 22 Print Version  (.pdf)
  
  
  

That's it for week seven. We hope that you have enjoyed the seventh instalment of the course and that your knowledge of the Welsh language has improved. 
------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------

* Don't worry if some of the sample sentences are at a more advanced level. Concentrate on the simpler ones unless of course you are feeling adventurous and want to read ahead.

Rhaid iddyn nhw fod adref erbyn pump o'r gloch. = They must be home by five o'clock.

Mae'n rhaid i chi fod yn flinedig iawn. = You have to be really tired.

Rhaid iddi aros yn y gwesty. = She must stay at the hotel.

Mae'n rhaid iddo wneud ei waith cartref. = He has to do his homework.

Mae'n rhaid i chi wisgo'ch siaced. = You have to wear your jacket.

Mae'n rhaid i ni atgyweirio'r car. = We have to repair the car.

Rhaid imi edrych ar y newyddion. = I have to look at the news.

They don't have to go today. = Does dim rhaid iddyn nhw fynd heddiw.

You do not have to come tomorrow. = Does dim rhaid i chi ddod yfory. 

Do I have to go now? = Oes rhaid i mi fynd nawr?

Mae'n rhaid i chi fynd i siopa heddiw. = You have to go shopping today.

Mae'n rhaid i chi brynu llaeth a bara. = You have to buy milk and bread.

Iawn. = Okay

Ond mae'n rhaid i mi fynd i'r llyfrgell yn gyntaf. = But I have to go to the library first.

AmeriCymru is committed to doing everything it can to assist its members and readers to acquire a working knowledge of the Welsh language. Whether your goal is fluency or merely the ability to order a pizza and beer when on vacation in Caernarfon you will find helpful resources on this site....  

Read More