Learn some Cornish…

Your Journey Begins

Cornish is Welsh’s brother, and is one of two Celtic Languages (the other being Manx Gaelic) that have been “revived”

St Piran’s Flag

Explore the language

Fun phrases are waiting for you to try. Explore the phrases below and have a go out loud!

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 cawasI’d like to have
Me venga kenI’d prefer
Peidgy ry thebmPlease 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’mAre ’em/aren’t they
Ay?I beg your pardon?
BackalongIn former times
BalMine
BerrinFuneral (burying)
Better fitIt would be better if…
BosHomestead
BreHill
BroderBrother
BulhornsSnails
BullyLarge pebble
CakeySoft, feeble minded
Carnheap of stones
ChackingThirsty
ChiHouse
CribA mid-morning break for a snack
Cummas ‘zonCome on, hurry up
Dreckley / DrecklyAt some point in the future
DreckzelThreshold of a doorway
DydhdaHello
EglosChurch
EssYes
FizzoggFace
Giss on!Don’t Talk Rubbish
GrammersowWoodhouse
GrushansDregs
GweliBed
Gwidgee-gweeA blister
GwinWine
HellerChild who plays their parents up
HentingRaining hard
HwoerSister
IloMusic
JowseShake or rattle
KnockersSpirits that dwell underground
KorevowBeer
LinhayLean-to (of a building)
LousterTo work hard
Made/meh’dy/Meh’dMate
MaidGirl, girl-friend
MammMother
MarnerSailor
Me ‘ansumFriendly form of address
MedhykDoctor
Meur rastaThank you
MindRemember
MorhoghDolphin
MorvorenMermaid
MowhayBarn, hay store, stackyard
NaedelikChristmas
Nans(a place-name element) valley
NipNarrow path or short steep rise
OggyPasty
OssHorse
PardFriend
PartyA young woman
PiskyPixie
PorthHarbour
ProperSatisfactory; “proper job”
QuilkinFrog
RaunRiver
Right onInformal way to say goodbye
SkolSchool
SplattPatch of grass
SprigganSpirit
SquallTo cry
TasFather
TeasyBad-tempered
TesennCake
TewesSand
TiddyPotato
TreathBeach
VellanVillain
vugRock cavity
WassonWhat’s going on?
WhealMine or shaft
ZackleyExactly

%d bloggers like this: