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Welsh people

Welsh people
Cymry
Flag of Wales.svg
Total population
c. 6–16.3 million
Regions with significant populations
 Wales 3 million
(Welsh descent only)
 United States 1.75–1.81 million
 England 609,711
 Canada 458,705
 Australia 125,597
 Argentina 75,000
 Scotland 16,623
 New Zealand 9,966
Languages
English, Welsh
Religion
Predominantly Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Bretons, Cornish, Manx, English, Scottish, Irish, Ulster-Scots

The Welsh people or the Welsh (Welsh: Cymry) are a nation and ethnic group native to, or otherwise associated with, Wales and the Welsh language. The Welsh language, a language within the Insular Celtic family, has historically been spoken throughout Wales, with its predecessor Common Brittonic once spoken throughout most of the island of Great Britain. Prior to the 20th century, large numbers of Welsh people spoke only Welsh, with little or no fluent knowledge of English. While Welsh remains the predominant language in some areas of Wales, particularly in the north and west, English is now the predominant language in most parts of the country, though many Welsh people, even in predominately English-speaking areas of Wales, are fluent or semi-fluent in Welsh or, to varying degrees, capable of speaking or understanding Welsh at limited or conversational proficiency levels.

Although the Welsh language and its ancestors have been spoken in what is now Wales since well before the Roman incursions into Britain, John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure. The term Welsh people applies to people from Wales and people of Welsh ancestry perceiving themselves or being perceived as sharing a cultural heritage and shared ancestral origins. Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom; the majority of people living in Wales are British citizens.


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