y rheina

Welsh

Etymology

From y +‎ rhai +‎ yna, literally “the ones there; those ones”.

Pronunciation

• (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

y rheina pl

1. those (people, things)

   Synonyms: rheini, rheiny

   Pwy ydy'r rheina?

   Who are those [people]?

   Mae'r rheina'n well na'r rhain, a dweud y gwir.

   Those actually are better than these.

   Roeddwn i wedi hen syrffedu ar y rheina.

   I was bored stiff of those.

Usage notes

• 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 further details).

Related terms

• hwn, hon, hon (“this”)
• hwnna, honna, hynna, hwnnw, honno (“that”); hynny (“that; those”)
• y rhain (“these”)
• y rheini, y rheiny (“those”)

References

• 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