Cornish Language and Place Names in Cornwall

"By Tre, Pol and Pen you will know the Cornishmen"

Cornwall's place names are very different from those in other places around the UK, though if you have visited Wales you will notice certain similarities with place names there.

Cornwall is a Celtic land and its language is one of the Brythonic group of languages to which Welsh and Breton also belong. The language is also more distantly related to Scots Gaelic, Irish Gaelic and Manx.  The Cornish language is called Kernewek.

Kernow is Cornish for Cornwall. It comes from the Celtic word 'kernou' meaning 'horn' or 'headland' aptly describing  the shape of the peninsula bordered by the Celtic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, English Channel & the River Tamar.

Up until the mid sixteenth century Cornish was the main language spoken across Cornwall, but pressure from English caused Cornish to decline and retreat to the far west of the Duchy.

While the Cornish language is believed in some traditions to have originally stopped being spoken in the late 1700s, when Dolly Pentreath of Mousehole died, there are other suggestions made by William Bodinar in the same time period that there were still a number of Cornish speakers in Mousehole after the death of Dolly Pentreath including himself.

By the beginning of the nineteenth century Cornish had all but died out as a community language, but in 1904 Henry Jenner (1848 - 1934), a Celtic scholar and cultural activist, published a Handbook of the Cornish Language which kick started the revival of Cornish as a living, spoken language. The Cornish Language has undergone a number of revivals since that time. Henry Jenner is buried at St Uny Church, Lelant, near St Ives.

Another important figure in the Cornish Language movement was Robert Morton Nance (1873-1959), a student of Jenner. He wrote many books and leaflets in Cornish including a Cornish - English Dictionary. Robert Morton Nance or Mordon, using his Bardic name, was a co-founder of the Gorseth Kernow.

These two important cultural figures jointly founded the first Old Cornwall Society at St Ives.

Since then the number of people learning and using the language has escalated, with Cornish receiving official recognition as a minority language in 2002 under the Council of Europe’s Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Today Cornish is one of the fastest growing languages in the world, and this is set to accelerate with more schools than ever choosing to teach Cornish. In 2010 a bilingual pre-school opened in Pool, and there are many other pre-schools and playgroups, as well as an increasing number of primary and secondary schools, that now offer children the opportunity to learn Cornish.

An example of written Cornish language

English Translation of above Cornish example

Businesses are also embracing the use of Cornish. Local enterprises such as Polgoon Vineyard have made a point of choosing Cornish branding as a mark of local origin and several of their products are named in Cornish. Meanwhile national companies such as JD Wetherspoon have a policy of putting up bilingual signage in their Cornish pubs, as well as giving them names in Cornish such as the “Try Dowr” (Three Rivers) in Truro and “Chapel an Gansblydhen” (Centenary Chapel) in Bodmin.

In 2009 Cornwall Council adopted a policy on the use of Cornish which encourages all departments of the Council to consider the use of Cornish. The most visible outcome of this policy is the bilingual street signage which is now appearing across Cornwall, and which costs the Council not a penny more than it would have done previously as the bilingual signs are only put up where new or replacement signs are needed.

Cornish is all around us in the community too, with Scouts and Guides learning their motto and promise in Cornish, gig rowers naming their gigs in Cornish and films being made in Cornish to be shown at Cornwall Film Festival.



For further information about Cornish culture, including Gorsedh Kernow and the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, see our Culture and Tradition page.



By understanding just a few of the most often used Cornish words you can get a better idea of where you are and enjoy exploring Cornwall even more. Make your visit to Cornwall more special by learning the language behind the place names.

• Tre as in Trebetherick, Trelissick, Tregony and many more Cornish place names means a homestead and its nearby buildings, literally a town.
• Pol in Polbathic, Poldhu, Polzeath, Polruan, Polkerris, Polperro means a pool
• Pen in Pendennis, Penryn, Penrose, Pentire, Penberth, Penzance means an end of something, a headland or head.
• Wheal in Wheal Jane, Wheal Kitty, East Wheal Rose means a mine.
• Bal in Baldhu is another word meaning a mine working.
• Porth (Port) in Perranporth, Porthtowan, Porthleven, Porth (near Newquay), Portreath means a bay, port or harbour.
• Towan in Porthtowan meaning sand dunes.
• Perran as in Perranporth, Perranarworthal, Perranzabuloe, Perranuthnoe - named after St Piran/St Perran, the Patron Saint of Tinners. He is generally regarded as the national saint of Cornwall.
• Hayle as in the town of Hayle means an estuary.
• Cos in Cosgarne, Coswarth means a forest, a wood or group of trees.
• Venton/Fenton in Ventongimps, Ventongollan, Ventonleague meaning a spring or fountain.
• Lan in Lanhydrock, Lanteglos, Landewednack meaning a sacred enclosure such as a church, monastery etc.
• Bos/Bod in Bodmin, Bosigran, Boscawen meaning home or dwelling.
• Ros in Roseland, Roskear meaning a moor, heath, or common.
• Maen (Men) in Men-an-Tol, Men Scryfa, Dans Maen meaning a stone
• Eglos in Egloshayle, Lanteglos by Camelford, Lanteglos by Fowey meaning church

Place Name of the Month July: 'Polglase'

What time is it?
P’eur yw?

It’s one o’clock
Unn eur yw

It’s two o’clock
Diw eur yw

It’s three o’clock
Teyr eur yw

It’s four o’clock
Peder eur yw

It’s five o’clock
Pymp eur yw

It’s six o’clock
Hwegh eur yw

It’s seven o’clock
Seyth eur yw

It’s eight o’clock
Eth eur yw

It’s nine o’clock
Naw eur yw

It’s ten o’clock
Deg eur yw

It’s eleven o’clock
Unnek eur yw

It’s twelve o’clock
Dewdhek eur yw

It’s midday
Hanter-dydh yw

It’s midnight
Hanter-nos yw

Quarter past (one, two…)
Kwarter wosa (unn eur, diw eur…)

Half past (one, two…)
Hanter wosa (unn eur, diw eur…)

Quarter to (one, two…)


*NB after “dhe” some numbers change their first letter: kwarter dhe dhiw eur (quarter to two), kwarter dhe deyr eur (quarter to three), kwarter dhe beder eur (quarter to four), kwarter dhe bymp eur (quarter to five), kwarter dhe dheg eur (quarter to ten), kwarter dhe dhewdhek eur (quarter to twelve). The other numbers remain the same. These changes are known as mutations and are a characteristic of all celtic languages.

 

Cornish dialect

Cornish dialect is still spoken although it is not heard as often as it was 20 years ago.
Here are a few words:

avee? - Have you?
dreckley - soon, but with no great urgency
airy mouse - a bat (literally an air mouse)
stank - to walk heavily
bulhorns - snails
cloam - crockery, pottery, etc.
scat - to break or hit
grammersow - woodlouse
Wozzon? - What is on?  or  What is happening?
Gezzon! - You must be joking!
Madder Do Er? - Does it matter?
Wozza Madder Withee? - What is wrong with you?

The following list has been contributed by Glyn Nicholas, who remembers these phrases being used in the 1920s and 1930s when he was growing up in Camborne.

Clemmed, or steeved with the cold. ‘Frozen’, very cold.
Where ‘ee goin'-to, en? Where are you going? Rude reply: Up Mike’s.
Thee’rt a g'eat bussa. You’re a fool, or stupid. A bussa was a large earthenware jug used for fetching waster from the well or pump.
‘E’s some ‘arden! Disobedient, stubborn.
Greener’n kewny. Greener than oxidised copper.
‘E’s some turk! Naughty, mischievous, disobedient.
I’ll smack th’ol’ chacks o’ thee! I’ll smack your face.
‘E’s some cute! Said of a person or child: very smart, (acute).
Deeper’n Dolcoath. A cunning or unfathomable adult.
Awright art’e? Are you o.k.?
Some ol’ comfloption! A big fuss or event
Eff theess cussn’t schemey, theess mus’ louster. If you can’t plan, or aren’t smart, you’ll have to labour.
Scat to riddicks, or lerrups! Broken up, dismantled, destroyed.
Gone scat. Bankrupt.
Lowss to ‘n! Hit it (hard)!
Glazin’ like a chad! Staring like a chad, or shad; a kind of fish.
Black as a tinker! Dirty (from working).
Tough as old ‘emp. Said of someone resistant to hardship and hard work.
Grey as a badger. Of hair.
Too slaw catch cold! Describes a slow doer.
My ‘ands are some clibby. Very damp or clammy.
Took t’ Bodmin. Taken to Bodmin jail.
Put t’ Bodmin. Put into the Asylum at Bodmin
Feet like pasties. Big feet.
“E’d like a job wheelin’ away smoke en a wire-nettin’ wheelbarra. A lazy man.
I’d as soon not go as stay ‘ome! Reluctant to go somewhere.
Rainin’ like a tide. Heavy rain.
‘E edn much cop. Said of a person of poor character.
Thee’rt some teasy! You’re very bad-tempered.
Deaf as a’ adder. Very deaf.
Where’ee goin’ to? Evasive reply: Tolskitty ‘arbour.
Pisky layd’n. Led by piskies; said jokingly of absent-minded behaviour.

A little jingle:
   Down St Just
   The boiler bust,
   And two poor men were killed.
   Their bodies went up in the air
   And their bones came down in a field!

Flam new Brand new. (cf. Fr. flambant neuf.)
Horse-adder. A dragonfly
Geek. Le’ss ‘ave a geek. Let’s see!
Jailin’ along Hard walking, hurrying.
Fat as a pudd’n Derogatory.
Screech like a whitnick To scream like a whiteneck. (Unknown animal or bird).
Like Darby and Joan Said of an admirable married couple.
Tatty ‘eel A large hole in the heel of a sock.
Poor as church mice. Self-explanatory.
Emmett. An ant. In those day, "upcountry" folk were "furriners".
Nuddick Head. Mind your nuddick! Be careful of your head.
In Barncoose. She/he’s in the local workhouse just outside Redruth.
Pushy. Very forward or demanding.
Put in with the bread, took out with the buns. One brick short of a full load.
Pitygree. So-and-so with ‘er ol’ pitygree; woes, complaints. (Cf. Fr. Petits griefs)
‘ot as a kill. Hot as a kiln. (Old pronunciation)
Clunky. To swallow.
Clidgy. A boiled sugar sweetmeat.
‘obby stankers. Hob-nailed boots.
Choo-choo. Child’s name for steam locomotive.
Piss-a-bed. Dandelion. (Cf. Fr. Pissenlit.)
Pally’ass, A thin type of mattress. (Fr. Paillasse.)
Timber ‘ill. Goin’ up timber ‘ill. Upstairs to bed.
Gookoo (like cuckoo). A bluebell.
Thee’rt a great gookoo! Said jokingly, ‘You’re a big fool!’
Dearer’n saffern. Very expensive.
Grammersow. Wood louse.
Daddy-long-legs. Harvestman.
Jin Jorn. Snail.
Scads. A great deal. Scads o’ money.
Slathered. Slathered in mud. Lagged, covered.
Aiglet. A haw. (Hawthorn berry.)
Planchion. An open ceiling revealing the beams and upstairs flooring.
Talfat. A loft. Often a platform covering part of the space under a pitched roof.



Place name of the Month and This Month's Topical Phrases are published in conjunction with MAGA, the Cornish Language Partnership. 

We will be adding new words and phrases to this page regularly so please visit us again soon.

Cornish Language Books

Cornish Language Books

Useful Links

Agan Tavas - Our Language

Cornish Language Partnership

Kesva an Taves Kernewek - Cornish Language Board

Go Cornish

Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek Warlinenn - Cornish Language Fellowship online

Radyo an Gernewegva

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Cornish Language and Place Names

Maps of Cornwall :

The Ordnance Survey publishes the Explorer series of maps which are ideal for walkers.

Scale 1 : 25 000
2.5 inches to 1 mile /
4cm to 1km.

Available in local bookshops or click on the links below to order online.

Those covering Cornwall:

• 102 Land's End, Penzance and St Ives
  
  
• 103 The Lizard, Falmouth and Helston
  
  
• 104 Redruth and St Agnes
  
  
• 105 Falmouth and Mevagissey
  
  
• 106 Newquay and Padstow
  
  
• 107 St.Austell and Liskeard
  
  
• 108 Lower Tamar Valley and Plymouth
  
  
• 109 Bodmin Moor
  
  
• 111 Bude, Boscastle and Tintagel
  
  
• 112 Launceston and Holsworthy. Roadford Lake
  
  
• 126 Clovelly and Hartland
  
  

Map of Isles of Scilly:

For more information: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk