Cyfri'r Geifr
Cyfri'r Geifr is a Welsh folk song whose name means Counting the Goats. It is also known as Oes Gafr Eto after the first line. The tune and words are traditional and have developed over many centuries.
Most versions speed up as the song goes on (accelerando). Before each new goat is counted, the first four lines are repeated. Some verses change the color mentioned, adding extra choruses.
There is a tricky tongue-twister version: sing each verse twice, with the second time at double speed. A pink goat is usually saved for the final verse because the end of "pinc" has a hard sound that is very difficult to sing.
The song is used to show a singer’s skill, as a warm-up, and as a showpiece. It’s a common test piece in Welsh choral competitions and has been recorded by many singers and choirs. There are about sixteen known versions, mostly regional, but this is the most common one.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 11:59 (CET).