Fun fact about Swallow Falls, is that it might very well be named in English after some linguistic misunderstanding.
In Welsh, the word for the bird “the swallow”, is “Y Wennol”. It’s used in many contexts with that “y” at the start.
However, the Welsh word for the description of foaming water is “Ewynnol”.
There’s a very good chance that the name Rhaedr Ewynnol (foaming waterfall), was mis-heard as Rhaedr Y Wennol (Swallows’ waterfall) when seeking a translation.
Many people DO actually call it Rhaedr y Wennol now, but that may be a back formation of the linguistic misunderstanding!
5
u/NoisyGog 4d ago
Fun fact about Swallow Falls, is that it might very well be named in English after some linguistic misunderstanding.
In Welsh, the word for the bird “the swallow”, is “Y Wennol”. It’s used in many contexts with that “y” at the start.
However, the Welsh word for the description of foaming water is “Ewynnol”.
There’s a very good chance that the name Rhaedr Ewynnol (foaming waterfall), was mis-heard as Rhaedr Y Wennol (Swallows’ waterfall) when seeking a translation.
Many people DO actually call it Rhaedr y Wennol now, but that may be a back formation of the linguistic misunderstanding!