Y Fro Gymraeg facts for kids
Y Fro Gymraeg (which means "The Welsh Language Area") is a special name. It refers to parts of Wales where the Welsh language is spoken by most people. Think of it as the heartland of the Welsh language. It's similar to the Gàidhealtachd in Scotland or the Gaeltacht in Ireland. However, Y Fro Gymraeg is not an official government area.
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Why Y Fro Gymraeg is Important
The idea of Y Fro Gymraeg became very important thanks to a lecturer named Owain Owain. He worked at Bangor University. In January 1964, he published a map in his magazine, Tafod y Ddraig. This map showed where Y Fro Gymraeg was.
Owain Owain believed this area was key for the Welsh language. He wrote in November 1964: "If we win Y Fro Gymraeg, Wales will be won. But if Y Fro Gymraeg is not won, then Wales will not be won." This means he thought keeping the Welsh language strong in this area was vital for the whole country.
Areas Inside Y Fro Gymraeg
A while ago, a large part of western Wales was considered Y Fro Gymraeg. This included areas from Anglesey down to parts of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. It also included parts of western Powys and the old county of Clwyd.
Today, the area where Welsh is the main language for most people has become smaller. Still, a big part of four Welsh counties is within Y Fro Gymraeg. These counties are:
- Gwynedd
- Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)
- Ceredigion
- Anglesey (Ynys Môn)
Even in these counties, not every town or village has a majority of Welsh speakers.
Other nearby areas also have many Welsh speakers and are often included in the idea of Y Fro Gymraeg. These include:
- Parts of Neath Port Talbot (Castell-nedd Port Talbot)
- Parts of western Powys
- Northern Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro)
- The higher areas of Conwy
- The higher areas and countryside of Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych)
- Flintshire (Sir y Fflint)
- Parts of the Swansea (Abertawe) district
Learning in Y Fro Gymraeg
In Y Fro Gymraeg, most schools teach in Welsh. On average, about 70% of the school day is taught using the Welsh language. This helps children learn and use Welsh every day.
See also
- List of Welsh principal areas by percentage Welsh language
