byth

See also: byþ

Welsh

Etymology

From Middle Welsh byth, possibly borrowed from Old Irish bith,[1][2] in which case doublet of byd.

Pronunciation

Noun

byth m (plural bythoedd)

  1. eternity

Derived terms

Adverb

byth

  1. even (following the comparative degree of adjectives)
    Mae hwn yn wael ond mae hwnna'n waeth byth!
    This is bad but that is even worse!
  2. ever (in interrogative clauses)
    Wyt ti byth yn mynd i Iwerddon nawr?
    Do you ever go to Ireland now?
  3. never, ever (in negative clauses)
    Nac ydw, dw i byth yn mynd yno ragor.
    No, I've never go there anymore. / No, I don't ever go there anymore.

Usage notes

  • In the standard language, when qualifying verbs, erioed is used with completed tenses in the past (present perfect, simple past, pluperfect), while byth is used with other tenses (present, future, imperfect, conditional).
Dw i erioed wedi bwyta bara lawr.
I've never eaten laverbread.
Dw i byth yn bwyta bara lawr.
I never eat laverbread.
  • In some southern dialects, byth may be used colloquially where standard language employs erioed.
Sa i byth 'di byta bara lawr.
I've never eaten laverbread.
  • With verbs negated by ddim, byth is usually found in post-subject position, where it replaces the ddim.
  • Byth usually resists mutation but may be mutated in some cases, for example, optionally when folloqing the comparative degree of adjectives.
Dyna well byth/fyth!
That's even better!
  • ambell waith, ar brydiau, weithiau (sometimes)
  • bob amser, o hyd, trwy'r amser, wastad (always)
  • erioed (never)
  • pryd (when)
  • rhywbryd (sometime)
  • unrhyw bryd (anytime)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal aspirate
byth fyth myth unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

  1. R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “byth”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
  2. Morris Jones, John (1913) A Welsh Grammar, Historical and Comparative, Oxford: Clarendon Press, § 220 iii (5)
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