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

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 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 |