As Llangynfelyn is now, and always has been, a strongly Welsh-speaking area, the majority of inscriptions on gravestones are in Welsh. We have not attempted to translate them all, but instead we offer here a brief guide to translating Welsh inscriptions into English. As they tend to follow a fairly standard formula, it is not difficult to get the gist of an inscription. The translation of the poems found on many of the stones is, however, beyond the scope of this brief introduction!

For those wishing to go deeper into the subject, a more detailed look at basic Welsh for Family Historians is available in the chapter by Dr. Auronwy James in Welsh Family History.

NOTE: In certain circumstances many Welsh words undergo 'mutation' i.e. the initial letter(s) of a word may change. Where this can happen, the most common variations are noted together, e.g. both mab and fab mean 'son'.

Days of the Week
Dydd Sul=Sunday;Dydd Llun=Monday;Dydd Mawrth=Tuesday;Dydd Mercher=Wednesday;Dydd Iau=Thursday;Dydd Gwener=Friday;Dydd Sadwrn=Saturday.
Months of the Year
Ionawr=January; Chwefror=February; Mawrth=March; Ebrill=April; Mai=May; Mehefin=June; Gorffennaf/Gorphennaf=July; Awst=August; Medi=September; Hydref=October; Tachwedd=November; Rhagfyr=December.
Common words and phrases
Er (serchus) Cof (Dyner, Anwyl) am=In (loving) memory (tender, dear) of;
(Er) Coffadwriaeth (am)=(In) remembrance (of);
Yma gorphwys y rhan farwol =Here lie the mortal remains;
yn y plwyf hwn=in this parish;
hunodd=fell asleep;
hefyd=also;
yr hwn/hon a fu farw=who died;
yn xx mlwydd/mis/wythnos oed=xx years/months/weeks old;
Relationships
mab/fab=son;
merch/ferch=daughter;
plentyn/blentyn=child;
plant/blant=children;
priod/briod=spouse;
gwraig=wife;
brawd/frawd=brother;
chwaer=sister;
tad/dad=father;
mam/fam=mother;
Personal Pronouns
fy=my;
dy/eich=your;
ei=his/her;
ein=our;
eu=their;
Common abbreviations
Y.H.(Ystys Heddwch)=J.P.(Justice of the Peace);

Example: Coffadwriaeth am Richard Jones, Tymawr Mochno o'r plwyf hwn, yr hwn a fu farw Mawrth yr 17eg 1814 yn 75 mlwydd oed
Hefyd Elizabeth Jones, merch Richard a Catherine Jones Tymawr Mochno, yr hon a fu farw yr 17eg Hydref 1835 yn 53 mlwydd oed
In remembrance of R.J. Tymawr Mochno in this parish, who died March 17th 1814 aged 75 years.
Also E.J. daughter of R and C.J. Tymawr Mochno, who died the 17th of October 1835 aged 53 years.