dwy-

See also: dwy

Welsh

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *dwī (feminine of *duwo), from Proto-Indo-European *dw-ih₂, feminine of *dwóh₁. Corresponds to dwy f (“two”).

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /dʊɨ̯/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /dʊi̯/

Prefix

dwy-

1. two-, bi-, di-, duo-

   Synonym: deu-

   ‎dwy- + ‎gwaith (“time”) → ‎dwywaith (“twice”)

   ‎dwy- + ‎awr (“hour”) → ‎dwyawr (“(a period of) two hours”)

   ‎dwy- + ‎ffordd (“way”) → ‎dwyffordd (“reversible”)

   ‎dwy- + ‎iaith (“language”) + ‎-og → ‎dwyieithog (“bilingual”)

   ‎dwy- + ‎llaw (“hand”) → ‎dwylo (“hands”)

Usage notes

• Used to form compounds with feminine nouns, the corresponding masculine suffix being deu-

Derived terms

Welsh terms prefixed with dwy-

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
dwy-	ddwy-	nwy-	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), “dwy-”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies