Welcome to Ymestyn, where you can become fluent in Welsh through regular structured practice.
Online and in-person courses and language learning apps are a brilliant way to get started on your Welsh language journey, but to become truly proficient you need to consistently practice reading, writing, listening and speaking.
With Ymestyn, you can:
- memorise key grammatical concepts
- expand your vocabulary
- improve your listening skills
- practice speaking
The program will introduce you to a wide variety of new words so that you can talk about the topics you're interested in.
"Ymestyn has been great for tidying up my (slightly shaky) knowledge of Welsh grammar, and the bite-sized lessons & interactive quizzes are much more fun than ploughing through a grammar book. Diolch yn fawr!" — Phil R
How Ymestyn works
Research has shown that repetition is the key to successfully learning a language, so Ymestyn returns to core concepts and vocabulary frequently.
Before you know it, you will find the words you need on the tip of your tongue. No more pauses as you try to work out whether you mean ‘bydda i’ or ‘byddwn i’, no more wondering if you meant ‘gadael’ when you said ‘gafael’.
Practicing with Ymestyn will build your confidence, help you speak more fluidly, and make reading and writing a cinch.
Grammar
Clear and simple grammar exercises and quizzes to help you memorise core concepts and patterns that are essential to becoming a fluent speaker.
Vocabulary
Learn vocabulary about everyday topics, activities and hobbies, so that you can talk about what interests you, and not just order a pint at the pub.
Reading & Listening
Opportunities to read and listen to simple passages about interesting topics to help you get used to the cadence of the Welsh language.
Writing & Speaking
Use what you've learnt to write your own short passages, which you can read aloud, to help cement your learning and increase your confidence.
To subscribe, click the button below and use the discount code EarlyBird to get 50% off.
For intermediate students
Regular practice is particularly important for Canolradd students whose ability to use their Welsh day-to-day can be hampered by a lack of vocabulary.
And it’s essential for self-taught students who, having learnt from apps or books, may not have properly memorised essential Welsh grammar.
If you worry that you have gaps in your knowledge, or that you haven't properly memorised key grammatical concepts, Ymestyn is for you.
"I've only just started the course, and I already feel like I'm making real progress. Diolch!" — Winnie H
Games & quizzes to help you learn
Ymestyn uses a combination of written and spoken exercises plus games and quizzes to help you memorise grammatical patterns and vocabulary. It will help you learn the gender of nouns as you go along, something that other Welsh learning materials don't do.
Get started!
Ymestyn is for available via PayHip for £5 per month for early birds until 31 March 2026. You'll immediately be able to access practice exercises on:
- Auxiliary verbs: Stems — The different stems used for common auxiliary verbs
- Auxiliary verbs: Pattern 1 — will, can, and the inflected future
- Talking about sports — Vocabulary builder and practicing will, can and the inflected future
- Adar yr Ardd: Robin Goch — Vocabulary builder and reading/listening exercise
- Auxiliary verbs: Pattern 2 — Was, could, would, would like, should/ought to, if (I) were to
- Things To Do In The Garden — Vocabulary builder and practicing was, could and would
- Things To Do Around The House — Vocabulary builder and practicing would like, should/ought to
- Things We Know Aren't True — Vocabulary builder and practicing if (I) were to
- Auxiliary verbs: Pattern 3 — Inflected past and have been to
- Talking About Travel — Vocabulary builder and practicing the inflected past and have been to
- Adar yr Ardd: Titw Tomos Las — Vocabulary builder and reading/listening exercise
More content is being added all the time, so please check the full curriculum on PayHip to see exactly what is available now. You can also take a look at the content roadmap on the blog.
Please note that during this initial building phase content may change, be rearranged or even deleted. But then, that's why it's 50% off!!
To subscribe, click the button below and use the discount code EarlyBird.
What Adar yr Ardd readers say
Some of the Ymestyn content is drawn from my first book for learners, Adar yr Ardd, which was praised by readers:
Sue B
“Interesting and beautifully illustrated book. Challenging enough that I felt I’d achieved something, while enjoying reading it. I could guess many of the words that were new to me from the context and illustrations, and look up others in the vocabulary. I would love to read more by this author.”
Maarten
“This may well be the cutest way to improve your Welsh. The book covers a dozen garden birds which each have a lovely picture to introduce them (with key visual characteristics), followed by a short description of appearance and behaviour. The use of simple – but not too simple – language is excellent for learners of the language, and the extra word list provided by each bird comes in handy to expand your vocabulary. Would thoroughly recommend!”
Melanie
Adar yr Ardd “is such a beautiful, colorful book with so much information! I was surprised at how many words I recognized as a beginning Welsh learner. I am also excited to start learning so many new words. I love birds, and I’m happy to have a chance to see and learn about Welsh garden birds. I’m looking forward to the next book!”
Meet your host
Suw Charman-Anderson
Hi, I’m Suw Charman-Anderson and I’m a Welsh learner. I started learning Welsh in 1998, using Gareth King’s Colloquial Welsh book. In 2001, I started a website, Clwb Malu Cachu, to help other learners by collating basic grammatical information and sharing short simple stories, song lyrics and other resources. In 2024, I wrote Adar yr Ardd, an illustrated ebook for learners. I'm now focused on developing Ymestyn to help other learners become more confident when writing and speaking Welsh.
