trefn

Welsh

Etymology

Originally meant "room, buiding, home", from Proto-Celtic *trebā, from Proto-Indo-European *treb-. Doublet of tref (“town”).

Pronunciation
  • (North Wales) IPA(key): /trɛvn/
  • (South Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA(key): /trɛvn/, [ˈtr̥ʰɛvn̩]
    • (South Wales, colloquial) IPA(key): /ˈtreːvɛn/, /ˈtrɛvɛn/
  • Rhymes: -ɛvn

Noun

trefn f (plural trefnau)

  1. order, sequence, routine
    yn nhrefn yr wyddor ― in alphabetical order
    Maen nhw yn y drefn anghywir.
    They're in the wrong order.
    Sut mae trefn yr wythnos yn edrych i chi?
    What does your weekly routine look like?
  2. order (conformity with law)
    cyfraith a threfn ― law and order
    Mae eisiau rhywun all gadw trefn ar y plant 'ma.
    We need someone who can keep these kids in order.
  3. order, procedure
    Beth yw'r drefn os ydw i am wneud cais?
    What's the procedure if I want to apply?
    Dyna'r drefn, yn anffodus.
    That's how things are done, unfortunately.
  4. (religion) providence (usually with the definite article)
    Synonym: rhagluniaeth
    diolch i'r drefn ― providentially (lit. "thanks to the providence")

Derived terms
  • cadw trefn (“to keep order”)
  • dodrefn (“furniture”)
  • mewn trefn (“in order, ordered”)
  • trefn ffiwdal (“feudal system”)
  • trefn yr wyddor (“alphabetical order”)
  • trefnu (“to organise, to arrange”)

Mutation
Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal aspirate
trefn drefn nhrefn threfn
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References
  • R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “trefn”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
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