Welsh exonyms

The modern Welsh language contains names for many towns and other geographical features in Great Britain and elsewhere. Names for places outside of Welsh-speaking regions are exonyms, not including spelling or pronunciation adaptations and translations of common nouns.

Names not in italics^{[clarification needed]} are dated or obsolete.

Argentina

Argentina Yr Ariannin
English name	Welsh name	Spanish name	Notes
Arroyo Pescado	Nant y Pysgod	Arroyo Pescado
Cajón de Ginebra	Bocs Gin	Cajón de Ginebra
Cerro Cóndor	Craig yr Eryr	Cerro Cóndor
Cerro Trono de las Nubes	Gorsedd y Cwmwl	Cerro Trono de las Nubes
Chico River	Afon Fach	Rio Chico
Chubut River	Afon Camwy	Rio Chubut
Colonia 16 de Octubre	Cwm Hyfryd, Bro Hydref	Colonia 16 de Octubre
Desvío km 22	Tŵr Joseph	Desvío km 22
Dolavon	Dol Afon	Dolavon
Estación Laguna Grande	Llyn Mawr	Estación Laguna Grande
Florentino Ameghino Dam	Yr Argae	Dique Florentino Ameghino
Fuerte Aventura	Caer Antur	Fuerte Aventura
Laguna de Aaron	Llyn Aaron	Laguna de Aaron
Laguna de Agnia	Llyn Ania	Laguna de Agnia
La Angostura	Lle Cul	La Angostura
Las Plumas	Dôl y Plu	Las Plumas
Loma Blanca	Bryn Gwyn	Loma Blanca
Paso de Indios	Rhyd yr Indiaid	Paso de Indios
Pampa de Agnia	Pant y Ffwdan	Pampa de Agnia
Puerto Madryn	Porth Madryn	Puerto Madryn
Rawson	Trerawson	Rawson
Río Corrintos	Aber Gyrants	Río Corrintos
Tecka	Hafn Lâs	Tecka
Trelew	Tre Lew(is)	Trelew
Trevelin	Tre Felin	Trevelin
Valle de los Mártires	Dyffryn y Merthyron	Valle de los Mártires
Valle Frío	Dyffryn Oer	Valle Frío
Valle 16 de octubre	Cwm Hyfryd/Bro Hydref	Valle 16 de octubre
Veintiocho de Julio	Tir Halen	Veintiocho de Julio

Australia

Australia Awstralia
English name	Welsh name	Endonym	Notes
Australian Capital Territory	Tiriogaeth Prifddinas Awstralia	Australian Capital Territory
Kangaroo Island	Ynys Cangarŵ	Kangaroo Island Karta Pintingga
New South Wales	De Cymru Newydd	New South Wales
Northern Territory	Tiriogaeth y Gogledd	Northern Territory
South Australia	De Awstralia	South Australia
Western Australia	Gorllewin Awstralia	Western Australia

Belgium

Belgium Gwlad Belg
English name	Welsh name	Endonyms		Notes
		Name	Language
Brussels	Brwsel	Bruxelles Brussel	French Dutch
Flanders	Fflandrys	Vlaanderen Flandres	Dutch French

Canada

Canada
English name	Welsh name	Endonyms	Notes
British Columbia	Columbia Brydeinig	British Columbia Columbie Britannique
Newfoundland	Tir Newydd	Newfoundland Terre-Neuve Ktaqmkuk	[1]
Newfoundland and Labrador	Tir Newydd a Labrador	Newfoundland and Labrador Terre-Neuve et Labrador
Nova Scotia	Yr Alban Newydd	Nova Scotia Nouvelle-Écosse Alba Nuadh Nopa Sko'sia

Czech Republic

Czech Republic Y Weriniaeth Tsiec
English name	Welsh name	Endonym	Notes
Moravia	Morafia	Morava
Prague	Prag	Praha

Egypt

Egypt Yr Aifft
English name	Welsh name	Endonym	Notes
Alexandria	Alecsandria	al-Iskandariyya (الإسكندرية)

France

France Ffrainc
English name	Welsh name	Endonyms		Notes
		Name	Language
Alps	Alpau, Mynydd Mynnau	Alpes	French	[1]
Alsace	Alsás	Alsace	French	[1]
Anjou	Angyw, Aensio	Anjou	French	[1]
Aquitaine	Acwitania	Aquitaine	French	[1]
Auvergne	Afarn	Auvergne	French	[1]
Brittany	Llydaw	Breizh	Breton	[1]
		Bretagne	French
		Bertaèyn	Gallo
Burgundy	Bwrgwyn	Bourgogne	French	[1]
Champagne	Siampaen	Champagne	French	[1]
Gascony	Gasgwyn	Gascogne	French	[1]
		Gasconha	Gascon
		Gaskoinia	Basque
Hainaut	Hanawt	Hainaut	French	[1]
Maine	Maen	Maine	French	[1]
Normandy	Normandi, Norddmandi	Normandie	French	[1]
		Normaundie	Norman
Picardy	Picardi	Picardie	French, Picard	[1]
Provence	Profens	Provence	French	[1]
Savoy	Safwy	Savoie	French	[1]
Strasbourg	Strasbwrg	Strasbourg	French
		Straßburg	German

Germany

Germany Yr Almaen
English name	Welsh name	Endonym		Notes
		Name	Language
Bavaria	Bafaria	Bayern	Bavarian, German
Cologne	Cwlen	Kölle	Colognian
		Köln	German
Hamburg	Hambwrg	Hamburg

Greece

Greece Gwlad Groeg
English name	Welsh name	Endonym	Notes
Aegean Sea	Môr Aegeaidd, Môr Egeaidd	Aigaio pelagos (Αιγαίο πέλαγος)
Athens	Athen	Athína (Αθήνα)
Cephalonia	Ceffalonia	Kefaloniá (Κεφαλονιά)
Crete	Creta	Kríti (Κρήτη)
Dodecanese	Y Deuddeng Ynys	Dodekánisa (Δωδεκάνησα)
Rhodes	Rhodos	Ródos (Ρόδος)
Thessaloniki	Thessaloníci	Thessaloníki (Θεσσαλονίκη)

Israel/Palestine

Israel  Palestine
English name	Welsh name	Endonym		Notes
		Name	Language
Galilee	Galilea	HaGalil (הגליל)	Hebrew
Jerusalem	Jeriwsalem, Caersalem	Yerushalayim (ירושלים) / al-Quds (القُدس)	Hebrew/Arabic

Ireland

Ireland Iwerddon
English name	Welsh name	Endonym	Notes
Cork	Corc	Corcaigh
Dublin	Dulyn	Baile Átha Cliath	Welsh name derives from the older Irish name Duibhlinn.
Derry	Dinas y Deri	Doire
Ulster	Wlster; Wlaidd, Wledd, Wleth	Ulaidh
Wexford	Llwch Garmon	Loch Garman

Italy

Italy Yr Eidal
English name	Welsh name	Endonym		Notes
		Name	Language
Florence	Fflorens	Firenze	Italian	[1]
Rome	Rhufain	Roma	Italian	[1]
Sicily	Sisili	Sicilia	Italian, Sicilian	[1]
Tuscany	Twsgani, Tysgani	Toscana	Italian	[1]
Venice	Fenis	Venesia	Venetian	[1]
		Venezia	Italian
Vatican City	Dinas y Fatican	Civitatis Vaticanae	Latin	[1]
		Città del Vaticano	Italian

Japan

Japan Siapan
English name	Welsh name	Endonym	Notes
Tokyo	Tocio	東京 (Tōkyō)

Slovakia

Slovakia Slofacia
English name	Welsh name	Endonym		Notes
		Name	Language
Bratislava	Bratislafa	Bratislava	Slovak

South Africa

South Africa De Affrica
English name	Welsh name	Endonym		Notes
		Name	Language
Cape Town	Tref y Penrhyn	Kaapstad, iKapa	Afrikaans, Xhosa
Cape of Good Hope	Penrhyn Gobaith Da	Kaap die Goeie Hoop	Afrikaans

Spain

Spain Sbaen
English name	Welsh name	Endonym		Notes
		Name	Language
Balearic Islands	Ynysoedd Balearaidd	Illes Balears, Islas Baleares	Catalan, Spanish
Basque Country	Gwlad y Basg	Euskal Herria, País Vasco	Basque, Spanish
Canary Islands	Yr Ynysoedd Dedwydd, Ynysoedd y Cŵn	Islas Canarias	Spanish
Catalonia	Catalwnia	Catalunya, Cataluña	Catalan, Spanish
Galicia	Galisia	Galicia Galiza	Galician/Portuguese Portuguese
Valencian Community	Cymuned Falensia	Valencia, València	Spanish, Catalan

Turkey

Turkey Twrci
English name	Welsh name	Endonym	Notes
Constantinople	Caergystennin	قسطنطينيه (Ḳosṭanṭīnīye) Κωνσταντινούπολις (Kōnstantinoupolis) Constantinopolis
Istanbul	Istanbwl	İstanbul

United Kingdom (excluding Wales) and Crown dependencies

United Kingdom Y Deyrnas Unedig
English name	Welsh name	Endonym		Notes
		Name	Language
Archenfield	Ergyng	Archenfield	English
Ballingham	Llanbugnal	Ballingham	English
Bath	Caerfaddon	Bath	English
Belfast	Belffast	Béal Feirste	Irish
Berwick-upon-Tweed	Caerferwig; Berwig	Berwick-upon-Tweed	Irish
Birkenhead	Penbedw	Birkenhead	English
Bishop's Castle	Trefesgob	Bishop's Castle	English
Bridstow	Llansanffraid	Bridstow	English
Bristol	Bryste; Caerodor	Bristol	English
Cambridge	Caergrawnt	Cambridge	English
Cambridgeshire	Swydd Gaergrawnt	Cambridgeshire	English
Canterbury	Caergaint	Canterbury	English
Carlisle	Caerliwelydd	Carlisle	English
Catterick	Catraeth	Catterick	English
Channel Islands	Ynysoedd y Sianel	Îles Normandes	French
Cheltenham	Treffynnon [citation needed]	Cheltenham	English
Cheshire	Swydd Gaer	Cheshire	English
Chester	Caer(llion Fawr)	Chester	English
Chichester	Caerfuddai [2]	Chichester	English
Chirbury	Llanffynhonwen	Chirbury	English
Clyde	Clud	Cluaidh	Scottish Gaelic
		Clyde	English, Scots
Colchester	Caercolyn	Colchester	English
Cornwall	Cernyw	Kernow	Cornish
Coventry	Cofentri, Cwyntry	Coventry	English
Crewe	Cryw, Criw	Crewe	English
Devon	Dyfnaint	Devon	English
Doncaster	Dinas y Garrai; Caerdaun	Doncaster	English
Dover	Dofr[3]	Dover	English
Dumfries	Caerferes	Dumfries	English
		Dùn Phris	Scottish Gaelic
Durham	Dyrham; Caerweir	Durham	English
East Midlands	Dwyrain Canolbarth Lloegr	East Midlands	English
Edinburgh	Caeredin; Dinas Eidyn	Dùn Èideann	Scottish Gaelic
		Edinburgh	English, Scots
England	Lloegr	England	English
English Channel	Môr Udd	English Channel	English
		La Manche	French
		Mor Bretannek	Cornish
Exeter	Caerwysg	Exeter	English
Falmouth	Aberfal	Aberfala	Cornish
Firth of Forth	Moryd Gweryd, Aber Gweryd	Linne Foirthe	Scottish Gaelic
Forest of Dean	Cantref Coch	Forest of Dean	English
Foy	Llantiuoi	Foy	English
River Forth	Afon Gweryd[4]	Abhainn Dubh, Uisge For	Scottish Gaelic
Glastonbury	Ynys Gwydrin, Ynys Wydrin	Glastonbury	English
Gloucester	Caerloyw	Gloucester	English
Gloucestershire	Swydd Gaerloyw	Gloucestershire	English
Guernsey	Ynys y Garn	Guernèsi	Guernésiais
Hebrides	Ynysoedd Heledd	Innse Gall	Scottish Gaelic
Hentland	Henlland	Hentland	English
Hereford	Henffordd	Hereford	English
Herefordshire	Swydd Henffordd	Herefordshire	English
Humber	Hwmbr	Humber	English
Isle of Man	Ynys Manaw	Ellan Vannin	Manx
Isle of Skye	Yr Ynys Hir	Eilean Sgitheanach	Scottish Gaelic
Isle of Wight	Ynys Wyth	Isle of Wight	English
Kenderchurch	Llancrug	Kenderchurch	English
Kent	Caint	Kent	English
Kentchurch	Llancein	Kentchurch	English
Kilpeck	Llanddewi Cil Peddeg	Kilpeck	English
Kington	Ceintun	Kington	English
Lancashire	Swydd Gaerhirfryn	Lancashire	English
Lancaster	Caerhirfryn	Lancaster	English
Leicester	Caerlŷr	Leicester	English
Leicestershire	Swydd Gaerlŷr	Leicestershire	English
Leominster	Llanllieni	Leominster	English
Lichfield	Caerlwytgoed	Lichfield	English
Lincoln	Caerllyn, Llyncwlen	Lincoln	English
Liverpool	Lerpwl, Llynlleifiad	Liverpool	English
Loch Lomond	Llyn Llumonwy	Loch Laomainn	Scottish Gaelic
London	Llundain, Caerludd	London	English
Long Mynd	Cefn Hirfynydd	Long Mynd	English
Ludlow	Llwydlo	Ludlow	English
Lundy	Ynys Wair	Lundy	English
Manchester	Manceinion	Manchester	English
Greater Manchester	Manceinion Fwyaf	Manchester	English
Marstow	Llanmartin	Marstow	English
Mersey	Merswy	Mersey	English
Merseyside	Glannau Merswy	Merseyside	English
Michaelchurch	Llanmihangel	Michaelchurch	English
Much Dewchurch	Llandewi	Much Dewchurch	English
Much Wenlock	Gweunllwg	Much Wenlock	English
Nantwich	Yr Heledd Wen	Nantwich	English
Northwich	Yr Heledd Ddu	Northwich	English
Nottingham	Y Tŷ Ogofog	Nottingham	English
Orkney	Ynysoedd Erch	Arcaibh	Scottish Gaelic
Oswestry	Croesoswallt	Oswestry	English
Oxford	Rhydychen	Oxford	English
Oxfordshire	Swydd Rydychen	Oxfordshire	English
Pennines	Penwynion	Pennines	English
Penrith	Penrhudd	Penrith	English
Peterborough	Trebedr	Peterborough	English
Plymouth	Aberplym	Plymouth	English
Portsmouth	Llongborth	Portsmouth	English
Preston	Trefoffeiriaid	Preston	English
Ross-on-Wye	Rhosan-ar-Wy	Ross-on-Wye	English
St Weonards	Llansangwenardd	St Weonards	English
Salisbury	Caersallog; Caercaradog, Caergradwg	Salisbury	English
Sark	Sarc	Cerq, Sèr	French
Scotland	Yr Alban	Alba	Scottish Gaelic
		Scotland	English, Scots
Sellack	Llansulac	Sellack	English
Somerset	Gwlad-yr-haf	Somerset	English
Shrewsbury	Amwythig	Shrewsbury	English
Shropshire	Swydd Amwythig	Shropshire	English
St Albans	Caermincip	St Albans	English
The Stiperstones	Carneddau Teon	The Stiperstones	English
Stonehenge	Côr y Cewri	Stonehenge	English
Strathclyde	Ystrad Clud	Srath Chluaidh	Scottish Gaelic
Thames	Tafwys	Thames	English
Trent	Trannon	Trent	English
Ulster	Wlster; Wlaidd, Wledd, Wleth	Ulaidh	Irish
Warwick	Warwig	Warwick	English
Warwickshire	Swydd Warwig	Warwickshire	English
Welsh Bicknor	Llangystennin Garth Brenni	Welsh Bicknor	English
West Midlands	Gorllewin Canolbarth Lloegr	West Midlands	English
Westminster	San Steffan	Westminster	English
Whitchurch	Yr Eglwys Wen	Whitchurch	English
Winchester	Caerwynt, Caerguint	Winchester	English
Wirral	Cilgwri	Wirral	English
Worcester	Caerwrangon	Worcester	English
Worcestershire	Swydd Gaerwrangon	Worcestershire	English
The Wrekin	Din Gwrygon	The Wrekin	English
Wroxeter	Caerwrygion	Wroxeter	English
York	Efrog, Caerefrog	York	English
Yorkshire	Swydd Efrog	Yorkshire	English

United States

United States Unol Daleithiau
English name	Welsh name	Endonym	Notes
California	Califfornia[5]	California
New Mexico	Mecsico Newydd	New Mexico Nueva México
New York City	Dinas Efrog Newydd	New York City
Pennsylvania	Pensylfania	Pennsylvania
Texas	Tecsas	Texas Tejas

Sources

• Collins-Longman, Yr Atlas Cymraeg Newydd, ISBN 1-86085-377-3 (1999)
• Book of Llandaff
• Welsh Academy English–Welsh Dictionary

See also

• List of European exonyms
• List of European regions with alternative names
• List of European rivers with alternative names
• Names of European cities in different languages
• Welsh placenames
• Welsh place names in other countries

References

1. Griffiths, Bruce; Jones, Dafydd Glyn (2003). Welsh Academy English–Welsh Dictionary.
2. "Irac: AS yn galw am ymchwiliad". 27 June 2003. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
3. Geiriadur yr Academi, p. 419.
4. Crawford, O. G. S. (2011). Topography of Roman Scotland: North of the Antonine Wall. Cambridge University Press. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-107-68473-7. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
5. "BBC Radio Cymru - Byd Iolo, Califfornia".