Topic: Welsh

"Ga i ddefnyddio'r tŷ bach?"

Translation:May I use the toilet?

March 3, 2016

15 Comments

https://www.duolingo.com/profile/sdmohan
  • 174

I assume that ty bach (small house) refers to outhouses? is there a more modern term?

September 30, 2016
https://www.duolingo.com/profile/HerrArbo
  • 9

that is where the word originates from but it refers to any toilet.

October 17, 2016
https://www.duolingo.com/profile/mizinamo
Plus
  • 47

Perhaps like Americans who use bathroom regardless of whether the room contains a bathtub :)

October 17, 2016
https://www.duolingo.com/profile/Marc887701
  • 752

Or restroom :P

December 28, 2017
https://www.duolingo.com/profile/susanescott
  • 1055

How would you refer to an actual house that is not large? If someone said, "Dw i'n byw mewn tŷ bach," would it be clear from context, or would people snicker?

July 10, 2018
https://www.duolingo.com/profile/mizinamo
Plus
  • 47

I've heard tŷ bychan used in such cases.

July 10, 2018
https://www.duolingo.com/profile/WillDraig

    I think toiled / toiledau can be used to mean toilet / toilets to avoid confusion.

    July 12, 2018
    https://www.duolingo.com/profile/MorrisRhydian

      bathroom should be perfectly fine here

      March 3, 2016
      https://www.duolingo.com/profile/Squonkalini
      • 24

      Yes, it was accepted.

      April 6, 2016
      https://www.duolingo.com/profile/HaroldWonh

        When I grew up (southern England in the 50s) it was polite to refer to "the smallest room", echoing the Welsh phrase (very odd, since ours was a shack down the garden!

        July 30, 2016
        https://www.duolingo.com/profile/Gilashoshannah
        • 330

        I still call it that, or the littlest room :D

        October 31, 2018
        https://www.duolingo.com/profile/gt9ua8
        • 664

        I started using "the smallest room" after reading the following quotation attributed to Max Reger (in translation) in response to a poor review:

        "I am sitting in the smallest room of my house. I have your review before me. In a moment it will be behind me!"

        -- https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/324150.html

        July 31, 2019
        https://www.duolingo.com/profile/IanGordon12

          How do defnyddio and arfer relate? When would you use one in preference to the other? Or are they interchangeable?

          May 22, 2017
          https://www.duolingo.com/profile/ElectricHare

            They are not interchangeable. Defnyddio is to use, and arfer is like habit or routine. Fel arfer - as usual / usually.

            October 26, 2017
            https://www.duolingo.com/profile/HaroldWonh

              I know that "ystafell ymolchi" means bathroom.

              September 30, 2016
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