GUIDE TO NAMES AND PRONUNCIATIONS
MODERN WELSH ALPHABET
A¹, B, C, CH², D, DD², E¹, F², FF², G, NG², H, I¹, J, L, LL², M, N, O¹, P, PH², R, RH², S, T, TH², U¹, W¹ ², Y¹
¹ These letters are vowels. The letter ‘W’ can be used either as a vowel (when it is said ‘oo’ like in the Welsh word ‘cwm’ (coom) meaning ‘valley’) or as a consonant (when it is said like it is in English, for example in the Welsh word ‘gwyn’ (gwin) meaning ‘white’). This is the same with letter ‘I’ which can also be used as a consonant (when it is said like an English Y like in ‘iogwrt’ (yog-oort) meaning yoghurt).
² Letters that are not in the English alphabet, or have different sounds. CH sounds like the ‘KH’ in Ayatollah KHoumeini. DD is said like the TH in ‘THere’. F is said like the English ‘V’. FF is said like the English ‘F’. NG sounds like it would in English but it is tricky because it comes at the beginnings of words (for example ‘fy ngardd’ - my garden). One trick is to blend it in with the word before it. LL sounds like a cat hissing. PH sounds like the English ‘F’, too, but it is only used in mutations. RH sounds like an ‘R’ said very quickly before a ‘H’. TH sounds like the ‘TH’ in ‘THin’. W has been explained in the sentences before about vowels.
It helps to remember how Welsh is pronounced in order to translate the unfamiliar orthography into familiar English sounds. The language has changed over time and so has the spelling. People with very long lives tend to be conservative in how they spell their names.
Some nicknames are descriptive, occupational, or locational, as they are in English (e.g., Tom Baker, Susan Brown, John Carpenter, Meg Underwood)
Bongam - Bandy-legged
Goch - The red(-haired) one
Owen the Leash
Scilti - The thin one
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS & PLACE NAMES
HUMANS
Conrad (Corniad) Traherne
Father of George Talbot Traherne, husband of Léonie Annan Talbot.
George Talbot Traherne
Huntsman from Virginia. His parents are Conrad Traherne and Léonie Annan Talbot.
Georgia Rice Annan
Mother of Léonie Annan Talbot, wife of Gilbert Payne Talbot, daughter of Gwyn ap Nudd (Gwyn Annan).
Gilbert Payne Talbot
Father of Léonie Annan Talbot, husband of Georgia Rice Annan.
Léonie Annan Talbot
Mother of George Talbot Traherne, wife of Conrad (Corniad) Traherne.
Mariah Catlett
Human agent for Gwyn ap Nudd and George Talbot Traherne. Lives at the caretaker’s house at Bellemore.
FAE & IMMORTALS
Alun (AL-an)
Servant to the huntsman of Gwyn ap Nudd.
Angharad (ang-KAR-ad)
Artist affiliated with Gwyn ap Nudd’s court.
Arawn (air-AH-oon)
Prince of Annwn, predecessor of Gwyn ap Nudd.
Bedo (BEE-doh) - diminutive of Meredudd.
Servant assigned to Angharad at Lludd’s court.
Bedwyr (BED-wir)
Way-finder to Llefelys.
Beli Mawr (BEH-lee MA-oor) - Beli the Great.
Father of Lludd Llaw Eraint (Nudd) and Llefelys.
Bleddyn (BLE-dhin)
Artistic mentor of Angharad.
Briafael (BRI-a-vel)
Scholar, healer, magician. Unaffiliated.
Brynach (BRIN-akh)
Great-nephew of Eurig ap Gruffyd.
Cadfan (CAD-van)
Scholar, healer, magician.
Cadugan (kah-DUG-an)
Steward to Rhys Vachan ap Rhys at Edgewood.
Camulos (CAA-mu-los)
A god associated with war.
Ceridwen (ke-RID-wen)
Scholar, healer, magician at Gwyn ap Nudd’s court.
Cernunnos (ker-NOO-nus) - Master of Beasts.
A god who takes the form of an antlered man (the horned man) or an antlered red deer-man.
Coronwen (ko-RON-wen)
Daughter of Eurig ap Gruffyd and Tegwen. Wife of Llefelys. Queen of Gaul.
Creiddylad ferch Nudd (krey-THIL-ad verkh NIDH)
Daughter of Lludd Llaw Eraint (Nudd), sister of Gwyn ap Nudd and Edern ap Nudd, one-time wife of Gwythyr ap Greidawl. Ex-Lady of Edgewood (Pencoed) to Gwyn ap Nudd.
Cuhelyn (ki-HEE-lin)
Vassal of Lludd Llaw Eraint.
Cydifor (KEED-ih-vor)
Musician to Rhys Vachan ap Rhys in Edgewood.
Cyledr Wyllt (KIL-eh-der WILT) - Cyledr the Mad.
Son of Nwython. Warrior of Gwythyr ap Greidawl.
Cynan ab Owen Gwynedd (KEH-nan ab OU-ain GWI-nedh)
Son of the Prince of Gwynedd, brother of Madog.
Cynwrig ab Owen Gwynedd (KEHN-hriig ab OU-ain GWI-nedh)
Son of the Prince of Gwynedd, brother of Madog.
Derlwyn (der-LUIN)
Scholar, healer, magician to Lludd Llaw Eraint.
Dilys (DIL-is)
Mother of Thomas Kethin, mistress of Thomas, Lord Fairfax.
Dyfnallt (DEV-nahlt)
Hunt staff trainee sent by Cuhelyn.
Edern ap Nudd (EE-dern ap NIDH)
Son of Lludd Llaw Eraint (Nudd), brother of Gwyn ap Nudd and Creiddylad ferch Nudd, father of Rhys ab Edern, grandfather of Rhys Vachan ap Rhys and Rhian ferch Rhys.
Eiryth (EI-ryth)
Wife of Rhys ab Edern, mother of Rhys Vachan ap Rhys and Rhian ferch Rhys.
Eluned (e-LII-ned)
A master scholar and healer to Rhys Vachan ap Rhys in Edgewood. Mother’s sister to Eiryth, mother of Rhys Vachan ap Rhys.
Eurig ap Gruffydd (EI-rig ap GRIFF-ith)
Father of Coronwen. Husband of Tegwen, great-uncle of Brynach. Vassal of Gwyn ap Nudd.
Geraint (GEE-raint)
Steward of Bryntirion under Gwyn ap Nudd.
Glesni (GLES-ni)
One of Lludd’s noble vassals. Friend of Gwyn ap Nudd.
Glynis (GLEH-nis)
Candidate for apprenticeship to Angharad.
Gorwel (GOR-wel)
Commander of Lludd Llaw Eraint’s blockading forces in Bryntirion.
Gruffydd (GRII-fidh)
Son of Angharad.
Guto (GI-toh) - diminutive of Gruffydd.
A cadet at Greenway Court.
Gwion (GWII-on)
Hunt staff trainee sent by Glesni.
Gwyn ap Nudd (GWIN ap NIDH) - Gwyn Annan.
Son of Lludd Llaw Eraint (Nudd), brother of Edern ap Nudd and Creiddlyad ferch Nudd. Father of Georgia Rice Annan. Prince of Annwn.
Gwythyr ap Greidawl (GWI-thir ap GREI-dul)
Ex-husband of Creiddylad ferch Nudd. Gwyn ap Nudd’s opponent each Nos Galan Mae.
Hadyn (HAY-din)
Weapons-master to Gwyn ap Nudd.
Heledd (HEE-ledh)
Scholar, healer, magician.
Idris ap Hywel - Idris Powell (IH-dris ap HIH-wel)
Marshal to Gwyn ap Nudd. 2nd in command.
Idwal (ID-wal)
Temporary huntsman for Glesni, Gwion’s replacement.
Ifor ap Griffri - Ifor Moel (IH-ver ap GRIFF-ree), (IH-ver MOYLE) - Ifor the Bald.
Steward and administrator to Gwyn ap Nudd under Idris Powell.
Iolo ap Huw (YO-lo ap HUE) - diminutive of Iorwerth.
Huntsman to Gwyn ap Nudd.
Iona (YO-na)
Breeder of ponies and small horses.
Llefelys (lhe-VEE-lis)
Son of Beli Mawr. Brother of Lludd/Nudd. Uncle of Gwyn ap Nudd, Edern ap Nudd, and Creiddylad ferch Nudd. Husband of Coronwen ferch Eurig. King of Gaul.
Lludd Llaw Eraint (LHIDH LHAU er-AYNT) - Nudd/Lludd of the Silver Hand.
Son of Beli Mawr. Brother of Llefelys. Father of Gwyn ap Nudd, Edern ap Nudd, and Creiddylad ferch Nudd. King of Britain.
Llyr (LHIIR)
Son of Angharad.
Madog ab Owen Gwynedd (MAA-dog ab OU-ain GWI-nedh)
Son of the Prince of Gwynedd. Discovered a way to the new world around 1100.
Maelgwn (MYLE-goon)
Young way-finder, friend of Granite Cloud. Adopted son of George Talbot Traherne.
Morien (MOR-yen)
Scholar, healer, magician to Llefelys.
Morwen (MOR-wen)
Servant in Llefelys’s household.
Mostyn (MOS-tin)
A tailor in Greenhollow.
Nudd
See Lludd Llaw Eraint.
Nwython (NWIH-thon)
A warrior of Gwythyr ap Greidawl, killed by Gwyn ap Nudd. Father of Cyledr Wyllt.
Pwyll Pen Annwn (PWILL pen ANN-un) - Pwyll head of Annwn.
An ally of Gwythyr ap Greidawl and friend of Arawn. Lord of Dyfed.
Rhian ferch Rhys (HRII-an verkh RHEESE)
Foster-daughter of Gwyn ap Nudd, daughter of Rhys ab Edern and Eiryth, granddaughter of Edern ap Nudd, sister of Rhys Vachan ap Rhys. Junior huntsman to Gwyn ap Nudd.
Rhirid ab Owen Gwynedd (HRII-riid ab OU-ain GWI-nedh)
Son of the Prince of Gwynedd, brother of Madog.
Rhodri ap Morgant (HROD-hrii ap MOR-gant)
Distant cousin to Gwyn ap Nudd, cousin to Rhian ferch Rhys and Rhys Vachan ap Rhys. Diplomat and way-finder to Gwyn ap Nudd. Musician.
Rhys ab Edern (HREESE ab EE-dern)
Son of Edern ap Nudd, husband of Eiryth, father of Rhian ferch Rhys and Rhys Vachan ap Rhys.
Rhys Vachan ap Rhys (HREESE VAKH-an ap HREESE) - Rhys the younger, Rhys Junior.
Foster-son of Gwyn ap Nudd, son of Rhys ab Edern and Eiryth, grandson of Edern ap Nudd, brother of Rhian ferch Rhys. Earl of Edgewood under Gwyn ap Nudd.
Scilti (SHIL-tee) - The thin one.
From Irish Cailte, Caolite.
Senua (se-NOO-ah)
A goddess of springs and wisdom.
Siriol (SIR-i-ol)
Daughter of Angharad.
Taranis (ta-RAN-iss)
A god of thunder and strength.
Tegwen (TEG-wen)
Mother of Coronwen. Wife of Eurig ap Gruffydd.
Thomas Kethin (KETH-in) - Thomas the Swarthy.
Son of Thomas, Lord Fairfax, and Dilys
Trefor Mawr (TREH-vor MA-oor) - Trevor the Great.
A famous way-finder.
Tudur (TII-dir)
Huntsman to Llefelys.
Tudwystl (TID-wistl)
Castellan at Ceri under Edern ap Nudd.
KORRIGANS (KOR-i-gans)
Broch (BROCKH)
Elder, community leader for Gwyn’s korrigans in Edgewood.
Tiernoc (TEEAIR-nok)
Elder, community leader for the old world korrigans in Edgewood.
LUTINS (LOO-tanh)
Armelle (ar-MEL)
Wife of Tanguy.
Benitoe (BEN-ih-toe)
Whipper-in. Adopted nephew of Maëlys.
Huon (HOO-on)
Kennel-man.
Isolda (i-SOL-da)
Daughter of Ives, betrothed to Benitoe. Deceased.
Ives (EVE)
Kennel-master. Father of Isolda.
Luhedoc (LOO-eh-doc)
Husband of Maëlys.
Maëlys (may-EL-iss)
Wife of Luhedoc, runs the Golden Cockerel inn in Edgewood.
Tanguy (TAN-ghee)
Kennel-man. Husband of Armelle.
ELEMENTALS
Ash Tremor
Daughter of Gravel, older sister of Seething Magma.
Cavern Wind
Daughter of Seething Magma, granddaughter of Gravel.
Granite Cloud
Daughter of Seething Magma, granddaughter of Gravel.
Gravel
Mother of Seething Magma, grandmother of Granite Cloud.
Seething Magma - Mag.
Daughter of Gravel, mother of Granite Cloud and Cavern Wind.
HORSES
Afanc (AH-vank) - Water-horse, monster.
Huntsman’s horse inherited by George. Black gelding.
Brenin Du (BREN-in DII) - Black King.
Pony for Maelgwn. Black gelding.
Llamrei (LHAM-ry) - Legendary horse of Arthur.
Huntsman’s horse inherited by George. Chestnut mare.
Mosby (MOZ-by)
George’s horse. Dapple-gray Percheron-thoroughbred gelding.
HOUNDS - CWN ANNWN
Cwn Annwn (COON AN-nun)
The Hounds of Hell. See Annwn.
Aeronwy (f) (ei-ROO-nui)
Anwen (f) (AHN-wen) - Very fair.
Briallen (f) (bri-AL-len) - Primrose.
Cythraul (m) (KEH-thral) - Devil, Demon.
Outsider.
Dando (m) (DAN-doe)
Elain (f) (eh-LAIN) - Fawn.
Outsider.
Goronwy (m) (go-RON-wee)
Outsider.
Gweilgi (f) (GWEIL-gi) - Wolf-dog.
Outsider.
Holda (f)
Leo (m)
Outsider.
Rhymi (f) (HREM-ee)
Outsider.
DOGS (OTHER)
Cabal (KA-ball)
A terrier owned by Angharad.
Ermengarde (ER-men-GARD)
A terrier owned by Angharad.
Hugo
A blue-tick coonhound owned by George.
Sergeant
A yellow feist owned by George.
EVENTS
Nos Galan Gaeaf (noos GA-lan GEI-a) - The night of the calend of winter.
The first day (night) of winter. October 31, the eve of November 1, the eve of All Saints’ Day (All Hallows), Hallowe’en. (Celtic dates begin in the evening).
Nos Galan Mae (noos GA-lan MAY) - The night of the calend of May.
The first day (night) of summer. April 30, the eve of May 1.
PLACES
Annwn (AN-nun)
Part of the Celtic otherworld, traditionally the underworld. See Cwn Annwn.
Bryntirion (brin-TIR-yon) - Mount Pleasant.
Domain of Gwyn ap Nudd in western Britain. Location of one end of the Travelers’ Way.
Calubriga (CA-lu-BREE-ga)
One of the estates in Gaul belonging to Gwythyr ap Greidawl.
Camulodunum (CA-mu-LOD-u-num)
An ancient settlement in Britain, where Colchester stands in the human world.
Ceri (KEE-ri)
A market town in Edern’s domain.
Daear Llosg (DEI-ar LHOSK) - Burnt Ground.
The meadow on the slope north of Greenway Court where funerals and cremations are held.
Dyffryn Camarch (DEH-frin KA-markh) - Broad valley of the winding Horse River.
The Shenandoah Valley.
Gwastadedd Mawr (gwa-STAA-dedh MA-oor) - The Great Plain.
Salisbury Plain.
Llys y Lon Las (LHIIS eh LOON laas) - Greenway Court (Court of the Green Lane).
The name of Gwyn ap Nudd’s manor, later borrowed (before 1750) by a human visitor, Thomas, 6th Lord Fairfax, as a name for his wilderness estate and hunting lodge at White Post, in the Shenandoah Valley.
Pant-glas (PANT-glaas). Also Pantglas. - Greenhollow.
The name of the village below Greenway Court.
Pen-y-Coed (PEN-ih-KOID). Also Pencoed. - Edgewood.
The name of Creiddylad’s estate, granted by Gwyn ap Nudd. Now in the charge of Rhys Vachan ap Rhys.
Plas-Marl (PLAAS-MARL) - The mansion of the marl.
Edern’s dwelling built around the Family Way.
Tagell (TAA-gelh) - The snare.
New name for Madog’s keep on top of Y Farteg.
Taironnen (tair-O-nen) - The three elms.
The name of Eurig’s estate.
Tan-y-bryn (tan-eh-BRIN) - The place below the hill.
The village at the foot of Y Farteg in Dyffryn Camarch.
Y Farteg (eh VAR-teg) - The beautiful hill.
Massanutten Mountain in Dyffryn Camarch, the center of Madog’s old domain.
Ynys Môn (INN-iss MON)
The island of Anglesey in northwest Wales.
Yr Wyddfa (EHR WIDH-va) - The Tumulus.
Mount Snowdon in northwest Wales.