Person in a white lab coat holding a prescription pad titled 'Syrjeri Doctor Cymraeg',and a building with glass windows in the background
5 Aug 2025

It’s almost as difficult to arrange a consultation with a linguistic 'doctor' as with a medical one

People are queuing to see the Doctor Cymraeg at the National Eisteddfod for "prescriptions" on how to deal with any difficulties they may have experienced while learning Welsh.

Doctor Cymraeg, Stephen Rule from Leeswood near Mold, is passionate about helping people at all levels lose their embarrassment about speaking Welsh.

“They ask me if they’ve said something correctly, in the right way, or whether they should even try,” he said. “And I try to help and encourage them.”

Stephen offers a variety of resources for Welsh learners. On social media platforms under the name Doctor Cymraeg, he has nearly 75,000 followers from all over the world, with more discovering his entertaining style every day.

His TikTok and Instagram videos offer a fun, catchy glimpse into the Welsh language and its use. They explore some of the most interesting aspects of Welsh and offer useful day-to-day tips.

His insight into the challenges of learning Welsh comes from his own experiences, as Stephen didn’t grow up in a Welsh-speaking household.

He said, “The only Welsh I heard outside of school was from my grandfather, who would say the odd sentence. After he died, I researched my family tree, and on the census he was listed as a Welsh speaker as a child. I’d never had the chance to express that, and I fell in love with Welsh after losing it.”

“I think about him often – how things might have been if he were still with us. How wonderful it would be to bring Welsh back into my family.”

Stephen began learning Welsh at school and went on to learn it to a high standard.

“It was a long, difficult journey. Some parts were embarrassing, some frustrating, some anxious – but I’m so, so glad I did it. I’m very proud of it and I want to share it. I’ve tutored adults, written books, and speak Welsh at home – so why shouldn’t I be the person who answers some of the questions?” he said.

And the title Doctor Cymraeg? Stephen is quick to point out that he has no medical qualifications – he’s a big fan of Doctor Who.

“I’ve got a white coat and a stethoscope because I don’t have a TARDIS or a sonic screwdriver,” he said.

Stephen is thrilled that the profile of Wales and the Welsh language is becoming more prominent internationally – and closer to home – thanks to two famous Hollywood actors who bought Wrexham Football Club.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have embraced Wales, including the language, even daring to use it in their documentary series Welcome to Wrexham.

A passionate supporter of the Reds himself, Stephen said, “To see them doing that, to see them taking it with them, bringing it on the journey and making it something visible – they’ve done something remarkable.”