The definite article in Welsh

Welsh, like most Celtic languages, only has a definite article (the) but no word for an indefinite article (a, an). For example:

• y ci => the dog

• ci => a dog or _ dog (depending on the context).

That being said, Welsh does have three unique words for ‘the’, not depending on the gender or number of the word, but rather based on the sound or letters around it.

Before a consonant, the word for the will be y:

• y pentref

• y ci

• y tŷ

However y will change to yr before a vowel or h:

• yr afon

• yr arian

• yr het

After words ending in vowels, y and yr will become ‘r for ease of pronunciation:

• y ci => mae’r ci yn y tŷ

• y bara => y bara a’r caws