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 March: 'Polzeath'
There’s a fair bit of celebrating to do in mis Meurth because March 1st is St David’s Day, March 5th is St Piran’s Day and March 17th is St Patrick’s Day. Now places to avoid during this time of drinking toasts to Celtic saints are…
Polzeath (St Minver) the famous surf beach but from poll ‘pool’ and sygh ‘dry’.
Down Truro way there’s a Ventonzeth (Kenwyn) from fenten ‘spring’ + sygh, and up to Clay Country a stream or gover has run dry at Goverseath (St Stephen in Brannel).
Down Resrudh - Redruth way a whole valley is dry, Pensignance (Gwennap) from penn ‘end, head’ + sygh ‘dry’ + nans ‘valley’. The same at Sithnoe (Breage) sygh + tnow which means ‘valley-bottom.’
Now to get ‘dry’ and religious we have Lanzion (Egloskerry) with nans ‘valley’, Polzion (Pelynt) with poll ‘pool’ and Bozion (Egloshayle) with bos ‘dwelling’. This sounds more Jewish than Methodist – but dry never the less.
But seeing as St Piran was renowned for his love of the odd drink or two, I’m sure he’d forgive even people living in these dry places from raising a glass (perhaps of Polgoon Aval?) to him, St David or St Patrick in March.
Pol Hodge
Some words & phrases in Cornish:
... a'gas Dynnergh - Welcome to ...
Gwrys yn Kernow - Made in Cornwall
Onan hag Oll - One and All
Kernow Bys Vykken - Cornwall forever
|
Greetings
Dydh da! - Hello!
Ha sos! - 'Right mate! Myttin da! - Good morning! Dohajydh da! - Good afternoon! Gorthuher da! - Good evening! Fatla genes? - How are you? Pur dha, meur ras. - Very well, thanks. Da lowr, meur ras. - Ok, thanks. Pur dha - Very well Yn poynt da - In good spirits Da lowr - OK Ha ty? - And you? Dha weles! - See you! (to one person) Agas gweles! - See you! (to more than one person) Duw genes! - Goodbye! (to one person) Duw genowgh hwi! - Goodbye! (to more than one person) Nos da! - Good night! Keslowena! - Congratulations! Chons da! - Good Luck! Bydh Gwell yn Skon! - Get Well Soon! Keskalar Gwir - Sincere Condolence Gans Kerensa - With Love Introducing yourself
Oiw os ta? - Who are you?
...ov vy - I'm ... Ple'th os ta trigys? - Where do you live? Trigys ov vy yn... - I live in... Kernow - Cornwall Pow Sows - England Awstrali - Australia Kembra - Wales Traveller - Tremenyas Please & Thank You
Mar pleg - Please
Meur ras - Thank you Gav dhymm - Excuse me Mynnav - Yes please Na vynnav - No thanks Writing a Letter
...hweg - Dear
Sira hweg - Dear Sir Benvas hweg - Dear Madam (Man's name) ker - Dear (man's name) (Woman's name) ger - Dear (woman's name) Yn lel - Yours sincerely Gorhemynadow a’n gwella - Best regards Gans gorhemynadow a'n gwella - With best wishes Oll an gwella - All the best Numbers
Onan - One
Dew - Two Tri - Three Peswar - Four Pymp - Five Hwegh - Six Seyth - Seven Eth - Eight Naw - Nine Deg - Ten Colours
Gwynn - White
Du - Black Rudh - Red Glas - Blue Gwyrdh - Green Melyn - Yellow Gell - Brown Rudhvelyn - Orange Gwynnrudh - Pink Purpur - Purple Fruit & Vegetables
aval - apple
karetysen - carrot kowl - cabbage kegisen hweg - celery keresen - cherry kestenen - chestnut knowen goko - coconut kowlvleujen - cauliflower turnypen - turnip aval kerensa - tomato tanjerin - tangerine routabaga - swede sodonesen - sultana sevien - strawberry kowlennik - Brussels sprout spinach - spinach eyrinen - sloe salad - salad beler lowarth - rocket trenkles - rhubarb owravalik - kumquat poren - leek betysen rudh - beetroot patatys - potatoes onyon - onion ploumen - plum owravel - orange Months of the Year
Genver / mis Genver - January
Hwevrel / mis Hwevrel - February Meurth / mis Meurth - March Ebrel / mis Ebrel - April Me / mis Me - May Metheven / mis Metheven - June Gortheren / mis Gortheren - July Est / mis Est - August Gwynngala / mis Gwynngala - September Hedra / mis Hedra - October Du / mis Du - November Kevardhu / mis Kevardhu - December Days of the Week
dy'Sul - Sunday
dy'Lun - Monday dy'Meurth - Tuesday dy'Mergher - Wednesday dy'Yow - Thursday dy'Gwener - Friday dy'Sadorn - Saturday Seasons of the Year
gwenton - spring
hav - summer kynnyav - autumn gwav - winter Special Occasions
war Bask - at Easter
Pask - Easter Kala’ Me - May Day Penn bloodh Lowen! - Happy Birthday! Nadelik Lowen! - Merry Christmas! Bledhen Nowyth Da! - Happy New Year! Dy'gol Pyran Lowen! - Happy St Piran's Day! Pask Lowen! - Happy Easter! Dy'gol Mammow Lowen! - Happy Mothers' Day! Penn-bloodh Demedhyans Lowen! - Happy Wedding Anniversary! Birdlife
kasek koos - woodpecker
kevelek - woodcock hok karyn - vulture gwennel - swallow golvan - sparrow kiogh - snipe ahwesydh - skylark rudhek - robin troos - starling gelvinek - curlew molgh dhu - blackbird goolan - gull palores - chough sether - gannet nath - puffin Plants and Trees
helygen - willow
fawen - beech spernen wynn - hawthorn derwen - oak bleujen tulyfant - tulip ben - trunk gwedhen - tree moren dhu - blackberry korynt du - blackcurrant moren - berry larchwedhen - larch besowen - birch merywen - juniper |
Food and Drink
spis - spice
pyment - spiced wine safran - saffron kosfinel - thyme oy - egg backen, kig mogh - bacon selsik - sausage skampi - scampi boos - food bara - bread kanel - cinnamon choklet - chocolate greunvos - cereal pysk hag asklos - fish and chips keus - cheese kresigow - crisps tesen - cake tesen gales - biscuit dehen rew - ice cream Astronomy
Howl - Sun
Loor - Moon Plouton - Pluto Merher - Mercury Norves/Norvys - Earth Meurth - Mars Uranus - Uranus Jubyter/Yow - Jupiter Sadorn - Saturn Gwener - Venus Nevyon - Neptune Pets
kath - cat
ki - dog ki bleydh - German Shepherd dog kanari - canary hamster - hamster logosen - mouse rath - rat konin - rabbit Farm Animals
lodhen - bullock
bugh - cow tarow - bull leugh - calf kulyek - cockerel yar - chicken hogh - pig davas - sheep margh - horse gavar - goat goodh - goose Animals
kowrvargh - camel
hunegen - dormouse sort - hedgehog godh - mole logosen - mouse rath - rat tiger - tiger lew - lion olifans - elephant kowrgarow - elk jiraf - giraffe kangarou - kangaroo ors - bear lostledan - beaver kevnisen - spider bulhorn - snail pryv - worm brogh - badger lowarn - fox kwilkyn - frog Insects
hwil - beetle
gwenenen - bee tykki Duw - butterfly pryv del - caterpillar Fish and Shellfish
morgi - dogfish
roha - ray barvus - cod ehek - salmon lith - plaice truth - trout brenigen - limpet legest - lobster gaver vor - crawfish kanker - crab koklys - cockles meyl - mullet mesklen - mussel Parts of the Body
glin - knee
penn glin - knee-cap garr - leg troos - foot bregh - arm kasel - armpit penn - head leuv - hand frigow - nose frig - nostril ganow - mouth Meat
kig yar - chicken meat
kig bewin - beef kig mogh - pork Mealtimes
hansel - breakfast
livyow - lunch kroust - picnic lunch kinnyow - dinner prys soper - supper time soper - supper Christmas
Nadelik - Christmas
Dydh Nadelik - Christmas day Nadelik lowen! - Merry Christmas podyn Nadelik - Christmas pudding gwedhen Nadelik - Christmas tree Dy'gol Stefan - Boxing day Family
modrep - aunt
mamm - mother tas - father hwegron - father-in-law gohydh - daughter-in-law hwor - sister broder - brother ewnter - uncle flogh gwynn - grandchild tas gwynn - grandfather mamm wynn - grandmother kerens wynn - grandparents mab wynn - grandson myrgh - daughter mab - son Allsorts
Jynn amontya - Computer
Negys - Business Kesrosweyth - Internet Ygor - Open Deges - Closed Privedhyow - Toilets Gwer - Gents Benenes - Ladies Sportow - Sports
Pel droos - Football
Rugbi - Rugby Krycket - Cricket Tennis - Tennis Pelganstel - Basketball Gwari pelyow - Bowling Pel dhorn - Handball Pel vas - Baseball Mordardha - Surfing Astelwolya - Windsurfing Diwrosa ha Menydh-diwrosa - Cycling and Mountain biking Golya - Sailing Kayaka - Kayakking Astel sarf-neyja - Kitesurfing Golya uskis - Speedsailing Krambla - Climbing Marhogeth - Horse riding Pyskessa - Fishing Resek gyg - Gig racing Rostella - Skateboarding |
Topical phrases of the month March: Pirantide
St Piran
Synt Peran
Happy St Piran’s Day!
Gool Peran Lowen!
St Piran’s Flag
Baner Synt Peran
Pasty
Pasti
Saffron cake
Tesen safron
Yeast bun
Tesen vurm
Hevva cake
Tesen hevva
Patron saint
Sans tasek
Cornwall
Kernow
Cornish
Kernewek
Made in Cornwall
Gwrys yn Kernow
I love Cornwall
My a gar Kernow
I speak Cornish
My a gows Kernewek
I’m a Cornish man
Kernow ov vy
I’m a Cornish woman
Kernowes ov vy
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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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:
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102 Land's End, Penzance and St Ives
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103 The Lizard, Falmouth and Helston
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104 Redruth and St Agnes
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105 Falmouth and Mevagissey
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106 Newquay and Padstow
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107 St.Austell and Liskeard
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108 Lower Tamar Valley and Plymouth
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109 Bodmin Moor
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111 Bude, Boscastle and Tintagel
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112 Launceston and Holsworthy. Roadford Lake
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126 Clovelly and Hartland
Map of Isles of Scilly:
101 Isles of Scilly
For more information: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
