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-hau. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
-hau, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
-hau in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
-hau you have here. The definition of the word
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Welsh
Alternative forms
Etymology
Originally causative/denominative; from Proto-Brythonic *-haɣjed, from Proto-Celtic *-sagyetor (causative/denominative suffix). Cognate with Old Irish -igidir (Irish -igh, Manx -ee, Scottish Gaelic -ich).
Pronunciation
Suffix
-hau (first-person singular present -haf)
- creates a verbal noun from an adjectival root
Usage notes
- After roots ending in unvoiced obstruents, this suffix is found in the form -áu, although -hau is more usual after ll.
- llac (“loose”) → llacáu (“to loosen”)
- iach (“healthy”) → iacháu (“to heal”)
- pell (“far”) → pellhau (“to move further away”)
- gwell (“better”) → gwellhau, gwelláu (“to improve”)
- -áu is also used after phonemically voiced plosives, which lose their voicing if also phonetically voiced.
- gwag (“empty”) → gwacáu (“to empty”)
- caniad (“permission, leave”) → caniatáu (“to allow”)
- trist (“sad”) → tristáu (“to sadden”)
- Devoicing also occurs occasionally elsewhere.
- cof (“memory”) → coffáu (“to commemorate”)
- cwbl (“whole, complete”) → cwpláu (“to complete”) (also: cwblhau)
- -hau is used after vowels and other consonants.
- cryf (“strong”) → cryfhau (“to strengthen”)
- tew (“fat”) → tewhau (“to thicken”)
- ufudd (“obedient”) → ufuddhau (“to obey”)
- ysgafn (“light”) → ysgafnhau (“to lighten”)
Derived terms
References
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-hau”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies