Cymru

() is the Welsh-language name for Wales, a country of the United Kingdom, on the island of Great Britain.

It, and the Welsh word referring to the Welsh people, are descended from the Brythonic word ''combrogi'', meaning "fellow-countrymen" or a "compatriot".

The name is also used in English in the context to promote the Welsh language, including by the government, media, and in cultural settings, and holds strong significance in Welsh national identity. It is often used alongside, or in place of, the English name "Wales" in official and informal usage. There are movements by politicians and football organisations for it to be the only name for the country, ditching the name "Wales".

Etymology

The modern Welsh name is the Welsh name for Wales, while the name for the Welsh people is . These words (both of which are pronounced ) are descended from the Brythonic word ''combrogi'', meaning "fellow-countrymen" or a "compatriot". The use of the word as a self-designation derives from the location in the post-Roman era (after the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons) of the Welsh (Brythonic-speaking) people in modern Wales as well as in northern England and southern Scotland (, 'The Old North'). It emphasised that the Welsh in modern Wales and the were one people, different from other peoples. In particular, the term was not applied to the Cornish or the Breton peoples, who are of similar heritage, culture, and language to the Welsh. The word came into use as a self-description probably before the 7th century. It is attested in a praise poem to (, by ) . In Welsh literature, the word was used throughout the Middle Ages to describe the Welsh, though the older, more generic term continued to be used to describe any of the Britonnic peoples (including the Welsh) and was the more common literary term until . Thereafter prevailed as a reference to the Welsh. Until the word was spelt or , regardless of whether it referred to the people or their homeland, including as ''Kymry'', in the '' Armes Prydein'', in the 10th century.

"Wales" on the other hand, is derived from an Old English word meaning 'foreigner', specifically those who were under Roman rule (specifically a 'Romanised foreigner'). Cambria is a medieval Latin name also historically used to refer to Wales, and is a latinisation of .

Use of in English

In recent history, in particular following Welsh devolution, calls to drop English-language place-names in Wales in favour of their Welsh-language equivalents have been increasing. These have included calls to prohibit the coining of English-language names for places with existing names in Welsh and for all non-Welsh place-names in Wales to be removed. These attitudes have been criticised by the ''Daily Mail'' newspaper and by the British government. The controversial origin of the meaning of ''Wales'', which derives from a term meaning 'foreigner', and it is stated to be an "imposed" non-Welsh name, are some of the reasons given for stopping the use of ''Wales'', or at least to prefer . Proponents for such a change compare Wales's case to those of other countries which have changed their names in English-language usage, such as Ceylon to Sri Lanka, Persia to Iran and, in 2022, Turkey to Türkiye.

In 2019, during discussions on renaming the National Assembly for Wales, () was considered as the body's sole potential name; however, this name was rejected by Assembly Members in November 2019. Simply "Senedd" was also proposed, but this was rejected by the first minister Carwyn Jones, who feared that it would not be understood. The parliament instead chose two names, and "Welsh Parliament", with " Senedd" being the shorthand name used in both English and Welsh. However, the legal preferred name, used in all post-2020 legislation, is in both languages.

In 2022, the Football Association of Wales considered changing references to the national football team (both men's and women's) to use rather than "Wales". The association already uses the name in its internal and external communications. This was seen as part of the team's overall shift towards becoming more Welsh nationalist and pro-independence. The association has been increasing its use of and Welsh words in general since UEFA Euro 2016.

Calls for use as the country's sole name

In 2024, a petition called for the prohibition of the name "Wales" and for the Welsh name to be the only name. The petition had gained 5,400 signatures by 4 January 2024, and over 10,000 by 15 January, meeting the threshold for a Senedd debate. A counter-petition was launched afterwards.

The petition follows other removals of English names in Wales in 2023, such as the removal of the English names "Snowdonia" and "Snowdon" for and , their Welsh names respectively, and the removal of "Brecon Beacons" for .

While is also used by pro-independence organisations such as YesCymru and AUOBCymru, it is also used by various non-political charities and organisations. The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru is a recent example of dropping Wales for Cymru in English.

See also

* Cambria
* Gwalia
* Alba
* Éire

References

Bibliography

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{{British Isles

Terminology of the British Isles
Welsh words and phrases
History of Wales
Etymology
Place name etymologies
Country name etymology