rhaid

rhaid

Welsh

Etymology

From Middle Welsh reit, from Proto-Brythonic *rrėd, possibly from Latin ratiō (“reason; manner”).[1]

Pronunciation

• (North Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /r̥ai̯d/
  • (North Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /hai̯d/
• (South Wales, standard, colloquial) IPA^(key): /r̥ai̯d/
  • (South Wales, colloquial) IPA^(key): /rai̯d/
• Rhymes: -ai̯d

Noun

rhaid m (plural rheidiau)

1. necessity, need

   [Mae] rhaid i ni fod yn ofalus.

   We need to be careful.

   (literally, “[There is] need for us to be careful.”)

   Oedd rhaid i chi wneud hynny?

   Did you need to do that?

   (literally, “Was there need for you to do that?”)

Usage notes

The English verb “must”/“have to” is often translated as bod rhaid i (which construction is synonymous with the verbal noun gorfod). When the form of bod is mae it is generally omitted in informal use.

Note the two ways of negating:

Does dim rhaid iddi hi ddod.

She doesn't have to come.

(literally, “There is no need for her to come.”)

Rhaid iddi hi beidio â dod.

She must not come.

(literally, “There is need for her to not come.”)

Derived terms

• rheidiol (“necessary”)
• rheidus (“needy”)

See also

• angen
• eisiau

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
rhaid	raid	unchanged	unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

1. R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “rhaid”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies