The Welsh and English languages, as we know them today, have shared an island for centuries.
Modern Welsh evolved from the ancient language of the Britons who inhabited Great Britain before the arrival of the Angles, who brought with them the old north Germanic language that would evolve into modern English.
Brittonic - the language of the Celtic Britons - is believed to have arrived on the island during the Bronze or Iron Age.
The development of English was influenced by the vocabulary of invaders, both Norse and Norman. Yet it has also picked up words from Welsh and its ancestor language.
Here’s a list of all the English words that are believed to have derived in some shape or form from Welsh:
1. Penguin
Where did it come from?
The word penguin is believed to have derived from the Welsh words 'pen' and 'gwyn,' literally meaning 'white head.'
2. Bard
Where did it come from?
The word bard known as a professional poet, composer or writer and recently more famous as a role in the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons comes from the Welsh word 'bardd' for poet.
3. Avon
Where did it come from?
Both rivers in England as well as the West English county of Avon are named after the Welsh word 'afon' which means river.
4. Corgi
Where did it come from?
The English word for the Queen's most trusted sidekick is thought to have come from the Welsh word 'cor' meaning dwarf and 'gi' which is Welsh for dog.
5. Flannel
Where did it come from?
The origin of the word is uncertain but many have said that the 16th century material can be traced back to Wales and the word 'gwlanen' meaning flannel.
6. Coombe
The word Coombe which can also be spelled Combe meaning steep or narrow valley and inspiration for around a dozen neighbourhood's in England is believed to have been borrowed for the Welsh word for valley - 'cwm.'
7. Balderdash
Balderdash - another word for nonsense or crazy talk possibly came from the the word 'baldorddu' known as chatter or noisy talk.
8. Adder
The name for the venomous snake is believed to have come from the old English word 'naedre' which possibly came from the Welsh word 'neidr' for snake.
9. Crockery
The word for our pots and pans may have come from the Welsh word 'crochan' which means a pot or cauldron.
10. Iron
Believed to have come from the Middle English word 'iren' it is possible that the word first came from the ancient Welsh word 'haearn' which is still used to describe both the element and home appliance.
11. Crumpet
Despite the name English Crumpet, the breakfast snack has deep ties with Wales and is believed to have originated in the country and lent its name from the Welsh 'crempog.'
12. London
Although the origin of the name of England's capital city is an age old mystery , over the years theories have formed that the name may have been inspired by the Welsh words 'Llyn' and 'dain' meaning 'pool of the river' and influencing the word we use for London today - 'Llundain.'
