ym-

See also: ym, Ym, and ym.

Manx

Prefix

ym-

1. circum-, peri-, around

Derived terms

Manx terms prefixed with ym-

Welsh

Etymology

Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰi (“round about, around”). Cognate with Latin amb- (“around, about”), ambi- (“both”), Ancient Greek ἀμφί (amphí, “around, about”). Cognate with Cornish om-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əm/

Prefix

ym-

1. self, reflexive prefix

   ‎ym- + ‎golchi (“wash”) → ‎ymolchi (“wash oneself, have a wash”)

   ‎ym- + ‎uno (“to unite”) → ‎ymuno (“to join”)

   ‎ym- + ‎diswyddo (“dismiss, discharge”) → ‎ymddiswyddo (“resign”)

2. each other, mutual, reciprocal prefix

   ‎ym- + ‎gweld (“to see”) → ‎ymweld (“to visit”)

   ‎ym- + ‎lladd (“to kill”) → ‎ymladd (“to fight”)

   ‎ym- + ‎holi (“ask”) + ‎-iad → ‎ymholiad (“inquiry”)

Usage notes

In many words, the original reflexive or reciprocal force of this prefix has now been lost and the relationship between the root and derived words is not always apparent, e.g. ymosod (“to attack”) from gosod (“to put, to place”), ymollwng (“to succumb, to flop”) from gollwng (“to leak, to drop”).

Derived terms

Welsh terms prefixed with ym-

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	h-prothesis
ym-	unchanged	unchanged	hym-
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

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