Wales Gravestones
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Translating monumental inscriptions is not too demanding for a non-Welsh speaker, as they tend to be simple in style and most fit the same standard format.
- Most will tend to start with an opening phrase such as:
| Welsh | English |
| Er cof am | In memory of |
| Er cof annwyl am | In beloved memory of |
| Er serchog gof am | In loving memory of |
| Er serchus cof am | In loving memory of |
| Er coffadwriaeth am | In remembrance of |
| Er coffadwriaeth parchus am | In respectful remembrance of |
| Er coffadwriaeth serchog am | In loving remembrance of |
| Er coffadwriaeth serchus am | In loving remembrance of |
- followed by the name of the deceased
- followed by a relationship to others;
Relationships
| Welsh | English |
| Baban | Baby |
| Brawd | Brother |
| Brawd yng nghyfraith | Brother in law |
| Brodyr | Brothers |
| Cefnder | Cousin (m) |
| Cyfnither | Cousin (f) |
| Cymydog | Neighbour |
| Chwaer | Sister |
| Chwaer yng nghyfraith | Sister in law |
| Chwiorydd | Sisters |
| Ewythr | Uncle |
| Gwr | Husband |
| Gwraig | Wife |
| Hen- | Great- |
| Mab | Son |
| Meibion | Sons |
| Mam | Mother |
| Mamgu | Grandmother (in the south and west) |
| Merch | Daughter |
| Merched | Daughters |
| Modryb | Aunt |
| Nai | Nephew |
| Nain | Grandmother (in the north) |
| Nith | Niece |
| Plant | Children |
| Plentyn | Child |
| Priod | Spouse |
| Rhieni | Parents |
| Tad | Father |
| Tadcu | Grandfather (in the south and west) |
| Taid | Grandfather (in the north) |
| Wyr | Grandson |
| Wyrion | Grandsons |
| Wyres | Granddaughter |
- followed by details of their life
| Welsh | English |
| Ganed/Ganwyd | was born |
| Bu farw | died |
| Claddwyd | buried |
| yn .. mlwydd oed | aged .. years |
| Dydd Sul | Sunday |
| Dydd Llun | Monday |
| Dydd Mawrth | Tuesday |
| Dydd Mercher | Wednesday |
| Dydd Iau | Thursday |
| Dydd Gwener | Friday |
| Dydd Sadwrn | Saturday |
| cyntaf (1af) | first (1st) |
| ail (2il) | second (2nd) |
| trydydd (3ydd) | third (3rd) |
| pedwerydd (4ydd) | fourth (4th) |
| pumed (5ed) | fifth (5th) |
| chweched (6ed) | sixth (6th) |
| seithfed (7fed) | seventh (7th) |
| wythfed (8fed) | eighth (8th) |
| nawfed (9fed) | ninth (9th) |
| degfed (10fed) | tenth (10th) |
| Ionawr (Ion.) | January (Jan.) |
| Chwefror (Chwe.) | February (Feb.) |
| Mawrth (Maw.) | March (Mar.) |
| Ebrill (Ebr.) | April (Apr.) |
| Mai | May |
| Mehefin (Meh.) | June (Jun.) |
| Gorffennaf (Gor.) | July |
| Awst | August (Aug.) |
| Medi | September (Sep.) |
| Hydref (Hyd.) | October (Oct.) |
| Tachwedd (Tach.) | November (Nov.) |
| Rhagfyr (Rhag.) | December (Dec.) |
- and possibly details of their work
Occupations
| Welsh | English |
| Athrawes | Teacher (f) |
| Athro | Teacher (m) |
| Bardd | Poet, Bard |
| Bugail | Shepherd |
| Cariwr | Carrier |
| Cerddor | Musician |
| Crydd | Shoemaker, Cobbler |
| Cyfreithiwr | Solicitor, Lawyer |
| Chwarelwr | Quarryman |
| Dilledydd | Draper |
| Ffermwr | Farmer |
| Garddwr | Gardener |
| Glöwr | Collier |
| Masnachydd | Merchant |
| Melinydd | Miller |
| Mwynwr | Miner |
| Saer Coed | Carpenter |
| Saer Maen | Stone Mason |
| Tafarnwr | Publican |
| Telynor | Harpist |
| Ysgolfeistr | Schoolmaster |
| Ysgrifennydd | Secretary |
- and possibly their position within the church:
Church positions
| Welsh | English |
| Arweinydd y gân | Precentor, one who leads the singing |
| Blaenor | Elder, Deacon |
| Codwr canu | Precentor, one who leads singing |
| Diacon | Deacon |
| Emynydd | Hymn Writer |
| Gweinidog | Minister |
| Organydd | Organist |
| Parchedig (Parch.) | Reverend (Rev.) |
| Pregethwr | Preacher |
| Trysorydd | Treasurer |
- with possibly a final quotation:
Quotations
| Welsh | English |
| Ac yn eu marwolaeth, ni wahanwyd hwy | And in their death, they were not divided [2 Samuel 1:23] |
| Cofia nawr dy Greawdwr yn nyddiau dy ieuenctid | Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth |
| Coffadwriaeth y cyfiawn sydd fendigedig | The memory of the just is blessed [Proverbs 10:7] |
| Canys byw i mi yw Crist a marw sydd elw | For me, to live is Christ and dying is gain |
| Da, was da a ffyddlon | Well done, thou good and faithful servant [Matthew 25:21] |
| Ei diwedd oedd heddwch | Her end was peace |
| Gadewch i blant bychain ddyfod ataf fi | Let the little children come to me [Marc 10:14] |
| Gorffwys mewn hedd | Rest in peace |
| Gwyliwch gan hynny am na wyddoch pa awr y daw eich Arglwydd | Watch therefore for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come [Matthew 24:42] |
| Gwyn eu byd y meirw, y rhai sydd yn marw yn yr Arglwydd | Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord [Revelations 14:13] |
| Gwyn eu byd y tangnefeddwyr, canys hwy a elwir yn blant i Dduw | Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God |
| Hedd, Perffaith Hedd | Peace, Perfect Peace |
| Mi a ymdrechais ymdrech deg. Mi a orphenais fy ngyrfa. Mi a gedwais y ffydd. | I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [Timothy 4:7] |
| Ynghanol ein bywyd, yr ydym yn angau | In the midst of life we are in death |
| Yr hyn a allodd hon, hi a'i gwnaeth | She hath done what she could [Mark 14:8] |
Example
| Welsh | English |
| Er coffadwriaeth am | In remembrance of |
| ROBERT JONES | ROBERT JONES |
| Pentredwr | of Pentredwr |
| annwyl priod SARAH JONES | dearest spouse of SARAH JONES |
| yr hon a fu farw | who died |
| Rhagfyr 19ed 1885 | December 19th 1885 |
| yn 65 mlwydd oed | 65 years old |
| hefyd | also |
| SARAH JONES | SARAH JONES |
| ei annwyl wraig | his dearest wife |
| fu farw Ionawr 1af 1889 | who died January 1st 1889 |
| yn 68 mlwydd oed | 68 years old |
| Hedd, Perffaith Hedd | Peace, Perfect Peace |
It should also be remembered that stonemasons were not always literate and spelling mistakes and poor mutations are quite common.