Cai Morgan, 24, from Wales, had a clear idea: get a tattoo that would honor his family’s motto — “Ymlaen”, which means “forward” in Welsh. It was meant to be a tribute to his late father, a proud Welshman covered in patriotic ink.
Everything was going smoothly… until the tattoo was finished and his sister pointed out one small problem. The word wasn’t spelled correctly. In fact, what now adorned his skin — “Ymaeln” — isn’t even a real word.

How It All Happened
Cai, now living in Brighton, had been thinking about getting a tattoo for a while. Inspired by his father’s Welsh-themed tattoos, he decided to go for something meaningful and simple — a single word with strong family value.
One day, walking past a tattoo studio, he went in on a whim, chose a bold Celtic-style font, and handed the artist the word. The artist didn’t speak Welsh, but followed Cai’s instructions to the letter — literally. The stencil was approved, the tattoo was inked, and everything seemed perfect.
Until the photos started going out.
From Pride to Punchline
Cai proudly sent pictures of the fresh tattoo to family and friends. But his sister Lowri was quick to spot the problem. “That’s not how you spell ‘Ymlaen,’” she messaged him.
Confused, he double-checked — and realized the mistake. But instead of panic or regret, Cai burst out laughing. The siblings jumped on a FaceTime call, barely able to speak through the laughter.
Lowri shared the moment on TikTok, and the internet did the rest. The video went viral, turning Cai’s typo into a crowd favorite.

Keep It or Remove It?
The tattoo artist, feeling responsible, offered to remove the tattoo for free once it healed. But Cai refused.
“Now it’s symbolic. It reminds me that mistakes happen — and you still move forward. Even if the word ‘forward’ is misspelled.”
Final Thoughts
What started as a simple tribute became an unforgettable story. Cai’s tattoo may not say exactly what he planned, but it says a lot more about his attitude. A typo on the skin, a viral laugh, and a reminder that perfection isn’t everything.