If you look at a map of Wales, you'll see a lot of similar place names. For example, Aber appears at the beginning of loads of place names. There's Abertawe (Swansea), Abermawr, Aberfan, Aberystwyth...
We've listed some other common prefixes below along with their meanings to help you understand the story behind them:
Aber: the mouth or confluence of a river or small stream. It is usually followed by the name of the river eg. Aberystwyth: mouth of the river Ystwyth
Betws: a house of prayer. Usually followed by the location of the prayer house or its founder’s name. eg. Betws-y-Coed: prayer house in the woods
Blaen: the source of a river, or the head of a valley. eg. Blaenau Ffestiniog: heads of the valleys in the land of Ffestiniog
Llan: a church or parish. Usually followed by the name of the saint to whom the church is dedicated. eg. Llandudno: Church of St Tudno
One of our best known place names also claims to be the world's longest place name:
Llanfairpwllgwingyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllandysiliogogogoch
Phonetically: Llan-vire-pooll-guin-gill-go-ger-u-queern-drob-ooll-llandus-ilio-gogo-goch
It translates as;
St Mary’s Church by the white aspen over the whirlpool and St Tyllio’s Church by the red cave.