Road signs in Wales facts for kids

Road signs in Wales are a lot like the ones you see in other parts of the United Kingdom. But there's a special thing about them! All new signs show words in both the Welsh language and the English-language. The Welsh words usually come first. Some older signs still have English words first. This was allowed before 2016.

A road sign in Newtown, Powys with Welsh words first, then English. It also shows Welsh place names that don't have an English version. Distances are in miles.

New Rules for Road Signs

In 2016, new rules were put in place for road signs in Wales. These rules say that all new signs must have the Welsh words first. If a sign needs to be replaced because it's old or the road changes, the new sign will follow this "Welsh first" rule.

The Welsh Government has clear guidelines about this. They say that if a sign has both Welsh and English, the Welsh words must be placed so you read them first. They also said that replacing signs on main roads, called trunk roads, will happen over time. The most important routes will get new signs first. Before 2016, older rules said that English-only signs would become bilingual when replaced. The order of the languages depended on the local council.

Signs in Two Languages

This picture shows the word araf (slow) painted on the road near Manordeilo and Salem.

Bilingual signs, meaning signs in two languages, were first allowed in Wales after 1965. A group called the Bowen Committee suggested in 1972 that these signs should be used everywhere in Wales. You can often see instructions for drivers painted right on the road itself. One common Welsh word you might see is araf, which means "slow."

Funny Mistakes on Signs

Sometimes, making signs in two languages can lead to funny mistakes!

• In 2006, a sign for people walking in Cardiff had different instructions. In English, it said "look right." But in Welsh, it said "edrychwch i'r chwith", which means "look left"!
• In 2008, a sign near a supermarket in Swansea had a very unusual message. It accidentally printed an automatic email reply! The Welsh words said "Nid wyf yn y swyddfa ar hyn o bryd. Anfonwch unrhyw waith i'w gyfieithu". This translates to "I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated."

Images for kids

• 

  This sticker says "Ble mae'r Gymraeg?" which means Where's the Welsh? It was part of a campaign for a new language law.

See also

• Welsh Government
• List of Welsh principal areas by percentage Welsh language