Welsh speakers - do you like it when tourists greet/thank you in Welsh?

[SerenYrWythnos]

We are on holiday in a very much Welsh speaking area. We do actually live on the Welsh borders but in the south where you never ever hear Welsh spoken by real people outside school lessons. As a result though, from the DC having to learn Welsh to GCSE, I've picked up some along the way. Not much, and I understand more than I could ever speak, but I can definitely manage the very basics like diolch and bore da and nos da etc, and with what the DC tell me is an acceptable accent too.

But I feel like a twat actually trying to use it here in shops etc 😬

So, Welsh speaking MNers - do you like it when obvious non-Welsh-speakers make the effort even if it's just diolch etc? Or does it feel a bit tokenistic and awkward?

I'm not Welsh personally, but my grandma moved to (mainly English speaking) South Wales in her late 40s and made a huge effort to learn the language, to the point where she is able to hold a basic conversation in Welsh. I remember going into shops/pubs etc with her as a child/teen when we were on holiday in Welsh-speaking areas or she came to visit me at uni in North Wales and the staff being delighted that a very obviously cockney lady was making such an effort to chat in Welsh!

I love it when people speak any welsh to me.

I live in the valleys on the other side of the bridge in south wales and we di hear it spoken outside if a classroom but it depends on who you know and where you go.

I'm not from this part of Wales and found there's a lot of apathy about welsh culture here compared to further into Wales where I consider home.

Most welsh speakers seem happy for people to try. If you get someone being a dick about it, they're in a minority.

Yes, I really like it. It feels good when tourists realise we're a different country with a different language. I always do this in other countries even if the rest of the conversation is in English.

It's very normal here for conversations to end with "Diolch!" or "Diolch yn fawr!" even if the conversation was in English.

Of course, it’s lovely!

Absolutely!

Of course, I assume you are somewhere near me in the north west.
Learners are told "defnyddiwch eich Cymraeg" - use the Welsh you have. Don't wait til it's perfect.
If its a passable accent maybe also learn "dysgwr dwi" - I'm a learner, in case they launch into full cymraeg expecting you to follow. Everyone appreciates the effort.
Have a lovely holiday

Oh that's a handy phrase @HagCymraeg - I do worry about someone starting a proper conversation and me floundering 😂

I shall be brave and give it a go in that case, thanks everyone for the encouragement

You can learn Welsh on Duolingo!
It’s got the usual Duolingo nonsense like ‘buying parsnips in a club’ but has lots of useful stuff too. I’ve completely fallen in love with Wales, so beautiful.

I used basic phrases on holiday, mainly because the people in the shop or castle or whatever greeted us in Welsh. I think it goes a long way to say Bore da / diolch / croseo / hwyl fawr in the same way that I'd use a bit of Italian or German when visiting those countries.

Love that!

Also:

'Gwell Cymraeg slac na Sasneg slic.'
'Better slack Welsh than slick English.'

i.e. don't worry about getting it 'right', just use it! 😄🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

And Croeso i Gymru! Welcome! 🤗

A little different @SerenYrWythnos as I am actively learning, live in West Wales. Whenever I say to someone “dw i’n dysgu” the answer is always “da iawn ti” Welsh speakers seem to recognise the importance of encouraging new speakers and are happy to let me bumble through a hesitant basic sentence or two. I am sure they will be delighted that you are acknowledging it exists and are willing to have a go.

Can I recommend courses via DysguCymraeg/LearnWelsh to you the basic Mynediad level can be done over one or two years virtual or face to face. My course was done at the relaxed pace and with a discount code cost me £50 in total for two hours a week of face to face teaching for 35 weeks. Much better than Duo as it actually explains the language patterns as you go along.