dwfn

Welsh

Alternative forms

• (North Wales, colloquial) dyfn

Etymology

From Middle Welsh dwvyn, from Proto-Brythonic *duβn, from Proto-Celtic *dubnos, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰubʰnós.

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /dʊvn/, [ˈdʊvn̩]
• (South Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /dʊvn/, [ˈdʊvn̩]
  • (South Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /ˈduːvʊn/, /ˈdʊvʊn/

Adjective

dwfn (feminine singular dofn, plural dyfnion, equative dyfned, comparative dyfnach, superlative dyfnaf)

1. deep, profound

   Perygl: Dŵr dwfn

   Danger: Deep water

Derived terms

• dyfnant (“ravine”)
• Dyfnaint (“Devon”)
• dyfnder (“depth”)
• dyfnhad (“deepening”)
• dyfnhau (“to deepen”)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
dwfn	ddwfn	nwfn	unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “dwfn”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies