Welsh
editEtymology
editFrom y + rhai + yna, literally “the ones there; those ones”.
Pronunciation
edit- (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA(key): /r̥ei̯na/
- (North Wales, colloquial) IPA(key): /hei̯na/
- (South Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA(key): /r̥ei̯na/
- (South Wales, colloquial) IPA(key): /rei̯na/
- Rhymes: -ei̯na
Pronoun
edity rheina pl
- those (people, things)
Usage notes
edit- In standard Welsh, rheina is preceded by the definite article (y, or 'r after a vowel) due to its etymology.
- Synonymous y rheini and y rheiny are slightly more formal equivalents to y rheina.
- In colloquial language, the article is often dropped and the pronunciation may also be altered as regards the inital consonant (see Pronunciation above), which may be reflected in informal or nonstandard spelling.
- "Those" as a determiner in Welsh employs either hynny or yna (See entries for futher details).
Related terms
edit- hwn, hon, hon (“this”)
- hwnna, honna, hynna, hwnnw, honno (“that”); hynny (“that; those”)
- y rhain (“these”)
- y rheini, y rheiny (“those”)
References
edit- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “rheina”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies