Learners across Bryncoch, Theodore Road and Velindre greet each other the south Wales way this week

Shwmae (shoo-MY) means hello or how are you. From Monday 21 September, every learner and staff member at Ysgol Hendrefelin uses shwmae as our Ymadrodd yr Wythnos, our Welsh phrase of the week.

Shwmae follows bore da (good morning) and prynhawn da (good afternoon), our first two phrases of the term. Learners picked up both within days. Staff heard them in corridors, at breakfast club and when visitors arrived at reception.

This one works at any time of day.

You hear shwmae in shops, cafés and on the street across Neath and Port Talbot. Learning it in school gives learners a greeting they use in their own community.

Every attempt counts. Learners say shwmae through speech, signing, symbols, sounds and communication devices. Each one is Welsh in use.

How you help at home

Say shwmae when your child comes home from school.
Use it with family, neighbours and friends.
Point it out when you hear it out and about.

Our phrase of the week is part of our work towards the Siarter Iaith Bronze Award, which supports learners to use Welsh every day. 

Shwmae from all of us at Ysgol Hendrefelin.