We have given you a few fun words & phrases for you to practise and a link to an online Cornish translation guide that you may find fun & helpful. If you’d like to hear the sound of fluent Cornish then click here to listen to Elizabeth speaking the language…

Greetings:

Durdatha whye!	Good day to you!
Deeth daa.	Good day.
Metten daa.	Good Morning.
Ha soce!	Hello mate.
Darzona!	God bless (on meeting).
Gothewhar daa.	Good evening.
Lowena tha whye! orBetho whye lowenack!	Happiness to you!

Enquiry:

Fatla gena whye?	How are you?
Fatel era whye keele?	How are you doing?

Answers:

Ma genam a ehaz.	I am well.
Clave o ve.	I’m ill.
Skeeth o ve.	I’m tired.
Looan o ve.	I’m happy.
Tubm o ve.	I’m hot.
Yein o ve.	I’m cold.
Trawethack o ve.	I’m sad.
Daa lowar o ve.	I’m O.K.
Ma pedn droag thebm.	I’ve got a headache.
Ma annez thebm.	I’ve got a cold.

Choices:

Bolla tay/coffy.	A cup of tea/coffee.
Cor.	Beer.
Gwyne.	Wine.
Cyder.	Cider.
Dowr.	Water.
Hoggan.	A pasty
Tezan saffern .	Saffron cake.
Bara.	Bread.
Scubmaw.	Chips.
Pesk.	Fish.

Requests:

Me venga cawas	I’d like to have
Me venga ken	I’d prefer
Peidgy ry thebm	Please give me
Mouy.	More.
Badna mouy.	A drop more.
Tabm mouy.	A bit more. `
Mor pleag.	Please

Hints:

Thove gwage!	I’m hungry.
Thove zehez!	I’m thirsty.
Ethick zehez o ve!	I’m very thirsty!
Eze cor?	Is there any beer?
Eze mouy booz?	Is there any more food?
Eze muna thewh?	Have you got any money?

Thank You

Durdalada whye! orMerastawhye! orGra’massy.

Thank you.

Farewells:

Dew boz geno.	God be with you.
Benatugana.	God bless.
Tereba nessa.	Till next time.
Anowre.	Bye
Comero weeth.	Take care.
Ternestatha orNoze daa tha whye.	Good night to you.

Invitation:

Vedo whye cawas badna?	Do you want a drop to drink?
Vedo whye cawas tabm?	Do you want a bite to eat?
Pandra vedo whye comeras/cawas?	What would you like to have?

CORNISH WORDS:

Addled	Empty, cracked or broken
Ar’m	Are ’em/aren’t they
Ay?	I beg your pardon?
Backalong	In former times
Bal	Mine
Berrin	Funeral (burying)
Better fit	It would be better if…
Bos	Homestead
Bre	Hill
Broder	Brother
Bulhorns	Snails
Bully	Large pebble
Cakey	Soft, feeble minded
Carn	heap of stones
Chacking	Thirsty
Chi	House
Crib	A mid-morning break for a snack
Cummas ‘zon	Come on, hurry up
Dreckley / Dreckly	At some point in the future
Dreckzel	Threshold of a doorway
Dydhda	Hello
Eglos	Church
Ess	Yes
Fizzogg	Face
Giss on!	Don’t Talk Rubbish
Grammersow	Woodhouse
Grushans	Dregs
Gweli	Bed
Gwidgee-gwee	A blister
Gwin	Wine
Heller	Child who plays their parents up
Henting	Raining hard
Hwoer	Sister
Ilo	Music
Jowse	Shake or rattle
Knockers	Spirits that dwell underground
Korevow	Beer
Linhay	Lean-to (of a building)
Louster	To work hard
Made/meh’dy/Meh’d	Mate
Maid	Girl, girl-friend
Mamm	Mother
Marner	Sailor
Me ‘ansum	Friendly form of address
Medhyk	Doctor
Meur rasta	Thank you
Mind	Remember
Morhogh	Dolphin
Morvoren	Mermaid
Mowhay	Barn, hay store, stackyard
Naedelik	Christmas
Nans	(a place-name element) valley
Nip	Narrow path or short steep rise
Oggy	Pasty
Oss	Horse
Pard	Friend
Party	A young woman
Pisky	Pixie
Porth	Harbour
Proper	Satisfactory; “proper job”
Quilkin	Frog
Raun	River
Right on	Informal way to say goodbye
Skol	School
Splatt	Patch of grass
Spriggan	Spirit
Squall	To cry
Tas	Father
Teasy	Bad-tempered
Tesenn	Cake
Tewes	Sand
Tiddy	Potato
Treath	Beach
Vellan	Villain
vug	Rock cavity
Wasson	What’s going on?
Wheal	Mine or shaft
Zackley	Exactly