Conwy place names

button link to french translationConwy or Conway? Conway is an anglicised version of the Welsh name Conwy. English people found it easier to pronounce with an "a" in the second syllable, perhaps because they struggled with the concept of "w" and "y" being vowels (which they are in Welsh). It was nothing personal though - they altered ancient placenames in India and China too.

Conway is still seen in some places, for example Conway Road, but in recent decades Conwy has become the standard form.

To hear how to pronounce Conwy press play: Or, download mp3 (50KB)

Since 1996 Conwy has been the name of the county borough which stretches from Llanfairfechan to Kinmel Bay in the north, and southwards to Capel Curig, Ysbyty Ifan and Cerrigydrudion. Conwy county borough takes its name from the county town. Before 1996, the eastern half of the county borough was in the county of Clwyd, the western half in Gwynedd.