gofyn

Welsh

Etymology

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “GPC suggests go- (“under; rather”) + Proto-Brythonic *mennɨd (“to will, wish”). This also looks like it could be derived from Proto-Indo-European *gewH- (“to call, invoke”), and bears a striking resemblance to Proto-Iranian *gáwbati (“to say”), whence Persian گُفْتَن (goftan, “to say, tell”).”

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɔvɨ̞n/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈɡoːvɪn/, /ˈɡɔvɪn/

Verb

gofyn (first-person singular present gofynnaf)

1. to ask (request an answer)

Conjugation

Conjugation of gofyn (literary)

	singular			plural			impersonal
	first	second	third	first	second	third
present indicative/future	gofynnaf	gofynni	gofyn	gofynnwn	gofynnwch	gofynnant	gofynnir
imperfect (indicative/subjunctive)/ conditional	gofynnwn	gofynnit	gofynnai	gofynnem	gofynnech	gofynnent	gofynnid
preterite	gofynnais	gofynnaist	gofynnodd	gofynasom	gofynasoch	gofynasant	gofynnwyd
pluperfect	gofynaswn	gofynasit	gofynasai	gofynasem	gofynasech	gofynasent	gofynasid, gofynesid
present subjunctive	gofynnwyf	gofynnych	gofynno	gofynnom	gofynnoch	gofynnont	gofynner
imperative	—	gofyn, gofynna	gofynned	gofynnwn	gofynnwch	gofynnent	gofynner
verbal noun	gofyn
verbal adjectives	gofynedig gofynadwy

Conjugation of gofyn (colloquial)

inflected colloquial forms	singular			plural
	first	second	third	first	second	third
future	gofynna i, gofynnaf i	gofynni di	gofynnith o/e/hi, gofynniff e/hi	gofynnwn ni	gofynnwch chi	gofynnan nhw
conditional	gofynnwn i, gofynswn i	gofynnet ti, gofynset ti	gofynnai fo/fe/hi, gofynsai fo/fe/hi	gofynnen ni, gofynsen ni	gofynnech chi, gofynsech chi	gofynnen nhw, gofynsen nhw
preterite	gofynnais i, gofynnes i	gofynnaist ti, gofynnest ti	gofynnodd o/e/hi	gofynnon ni	gofynnoch chi	gofynnon nhw
imperative	—	gofynna	—	—	gofynnwch	—

Note: All other forms are periphrastic, as usual in colloquial Welsh.

Derived terms

• gofyniad (“requirement, question”)
• gofynnol (“necessary, needful”)

Noun

gofyn m (plural gofynion)

1. request, ask, demand

   Synonyms: arch, deisyfiad, cais, hawl

2. question

   Synonyms: gofyniad, holiad, cwestiwn

Derived terms

• gofynnod (“question mark”)
• ymofyn (“to ask”)
  • (South Wales) moyn (“to want”)

Mutation

Mutated forms of gofyn

radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
gofyn	ofyn	ngofyn	unchanged

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Further reading

• D. G. Lewis, N. Lewis, editors (2005–present), “gofyn”, in Gweiadur: the Welsh–English Dictionary, Gwerin
• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “gofyn”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies