gwddf

Welsh

Alternative forms

Etymology

The variant gwddwg is cognate with Old Breton guodoc (Middle Breton gouzouc, Breton gouzoug, goûg), but it is difficult to explain the alternation between -wg, -w, and -f. The oldest form of the word cited in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru is the Middle Welsh plural form gedueu (13th century; = modern gyddfau), while the soft mutation forms wðwc, wddf, and wddw are all attested in the 14th century, indicating that the alternation is very old.

From Proto-Celtic *wudwos, hence Old Irish fodb "spoils", from the practice of counting captives as "so many necks".[1]

Pronunciation
  • (North Wales, standard) IPA(key): /ɡʊðv/
    • (North Wales, colloquial) IPA(key): /ˈɡʊðʊv/, /ˈɡʊðu/
  • (South Wales, standard) IPA(key): /ɡʊðv/
    • (South Wales, colloquial) IPA(key): /ˈɡuːðʊv/, /ˈɡʊðʊv/, /ˈɡuːðu/, /ˈɡʊðu/
  • Rhymes: -ʊðv

Noun

gwddf m (plural gyddfau)

  1. neck
    Synonym: mwnwgl
  2. (North Wales) throat
    Synonym: llwnc (South Wales)

Mutation
Welsh mutation
radicalsoftnasalaspirate
gwddf wddf ngwddf unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References
  1. O'Brien, M. A. (1956), “Etymologies and Notes”, in Celtica, volume 3, page 181.

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