Os gwelwch yn dda (oss GWEL-ookh un thah) means please. From Monday 12 October, learners and staff across Bryncoch, Theodore Road and Velindre use os gwelwch yn dda as our Ymadrodd yr Wythnos, our Welsh phrase of the week.

Five words where the others had one or two. Our learners will meet this one at snack time, at lunch, when asking for a turn, when requesting help and when choosing an activity. Those moments happen dozens of times a day, which gives everyone plenty of practice.

Length is the challenge here.

Staff will break the phrase into parts for learners who need it. Some will use the first two words. Some will sign or use a symbol alongside. Every one of those counts as asking politely in Welsh, and every one moves our learners forward.

The phrase means something lovely in literal translation. Os gwelwch yn dda is Welsh for if you see fit. It is a request, not a demand, and our learners use it to ask for what they want with respect.

Since September our learners have learned bore da (good morning), prynhawn da (good afternoon), shwmae (hello), hwyl fawr (goodbye), croeso (welcome) and now os gwelwch yn dda (please).

How you help at home

Use it at mealtimes. Drink os gwelwch yn dda. Help os gwelwch yn dda.
Shorten it if your child needs it shorter. Any attempt counts.
Say it yourself when you ask your child for something. They learn as much from hearing it as from saying it.

Ymadrodd yr Wythnos is part of our work towards the Siarter Iaith Bronze Award, which supports learners to use Welsh every day. Our Criw Cymraeg, the learner-led Welsh language group, promotes each phrase across all three sites.

Diolch, and os gwelwch yn dda, from all of us at Ysgol Hendrefelin.