Crachach (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈkraχaχ]) is a pejorative term used to refer to a perceived Welsh-speaking interconnected elite who control the arts, media, civil service and higher education sectors in Wales.[1] The term translates as "petty gentry", "conceited upstarts", or "snobs", but has developed into a wider populist conspiracy theory.
The theory is similar to others elsewhere that assert the existence of a cabal which exists in much of the Western world. Welsh language detective thriller show Y Gwyll translated the term in its English subtitles as "cognoscenti". The broader theories claim that the Welsh-speaking elite dominate influential positions in the arts, politics, academia and the media largely on the basis of their Welsh language knowledge.[2]
To some Welsh speakers, the term is offensive in meaning. Some writers have described it as "an attack on Welsh speakers".[3]