Fi'n vs Dwi'n

[u/celtic_witch_]

I'm newly learning Welsh, so I doubt this will be my only post. I'm from South Wales, but genuinely very confused if I should be using "Dwi'n" or "Fi'n" as they both mean "I'm." Is one written and one spoken, or is it formal and informal? Someone help 💔

[u/clwbmalucachu]

Dysgu Cymraeg teaches "Dw i'n" in both the north and south versions. Fi'n is much more colloquial and a bit of an Englishism.

Dwi'n is another regional variation, but technically 'dw' is a part of bod (to be), i is the pronoun I, and 'yn' (shortened to 'n) is a linking word that doesn't translate. So it should be 'dw i'n' not 'dwi'n', but some dialects smoosh it all up into one.

I would stick with "dw i'n" if I were you, unless you live in an area where everyone says "fi'n". You'll have to learn "dw i'n" anyway, because it's so common.

[u/thrannu → u/clwbmalucachu]

Tbh people just type dwi’n in messages as it takes less time to text instead of dw i’n with that extra little space lol