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 April: 'Arvor'

Look at our sister country of Breten Vyhan and you will see that it is often divided into Argoat – ‘the wooded interior’ and Armor – ‘the coast.’  So do we in Kernow have an Argos and an Arvor?

In these days of mass car ownership the treth is never more than half an hour away but where did the argos and arvor in Kernow fuse together?

Now porth is usually translated as ‘cove’ but there is the land-locked Porkellis from porth ‘gateway’,

Als usually means ‘’sea cliff’ but in Trenault the als appears in Old Cornish guise as alt but here means ‘slope.’

The poll in Polperro is ‘sea pool’ but Polyphant  comes from poll and lefans ‘a toad’ shows this is not a ‘sea pool’ - toads don’t live in the sea!

Only treth ‘beach’ is truly coastal which is why I left it untranslated above.

Enough of place names, evidence that Kernow had Argos and Arvor exists in our national dish – the pasty.  Why?  Because you don’t get pysk - fish (from the Arvor) in a pasty.  Traditionally you have bewin – beef (from the Argos).  So what do you do with pysk and a load of pastry?  Make star gazey pie of course!

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 April: Spring on the Farm

Sheep
Davas

Lamb 
On

Cow
Bugh

Calf
Leugh
 
Pig
Hogh

Piglet
Porhellik
 
Chicken
Yar

Chick
Mabyar
 
Duck
Hos

Duckling
Heyjik

Horse
Margh

Foal
Ebel
 
Cat
Kath

Kitten
Kathik
 
Dog
Ki

Puppy
Kolyn

 

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

Cornish Language and Place Names events April 2020May 2020June 2020July 2020August 2020September 2020October 2020November 2020December 2020January 2021February 2021March 2021        Cornwall10 things to do in Cornwall this monthAir sportsArchaeological SitesArtBeachesBirdwatchingBluebellsChoirs in CornwallChurchesClimbing

 

 

Find accommodation in Cornwall

Cornwall holiday accommodation directory search for hotels, holiday cottages, B&Bs, camp sites, self catering.  All areas Advent Altarnun Ashton Blisland Bodmin Bodmin Moor Area Boscastle Botallack Breage Bude Cadgwith Camborne Camelford Cape Cornwall Carbis Bay Cardinham Carlyon Bay Chacewater Chapel Porth Charlestown Constantine Cot Valley Crackington Haven Crantock Delabole Devoran Falmouth Fowey Germoe Gerrans Gulval Gunwalloe Gwennap Gwithian Harlyn Bay Hayle Helford Helford River Helston Holywell Bay Isles of Scilly Kennack Sands Kilkhampton Kingsand and Cawsand Lamorna Land's End Land's End Peninsula Launceston Lelant Liskeard Lizard Lizard Peninsula Looe Looe and South East Cornwall Lostwithiel Madron Manaccan Marazion Mawgan Mawnan and Mawnan Smith Mevagissey Minions Morvah Morwenstow Mount's Bay Mousehole Mullion Mylor Newlyn Newquay Newquay - Padstow Area Padstow Penberth Pendeen Penryn Penzance Perranporth Perranuthnoe Polperro Polruan Port Isaac Porthcurno Porthgwarra Porthleven Porthtowan Portreath Portscatho Portwrinkle Praa Sands Probus Redruth Redruth - St Agnes Area Rosudgeon Saltash Sancreed Sennen St Agnes St Anthony Head St Austell St Austell - Fowey Area St Breward St Buryan St Dennis St Erth St Ervan St Ives St Just in Penwith St Just in Roseland St Martin's Isles of Scilly St Mawes St Mawgan St Neot Stithians Stratton Tintagel Tintagel and North Cornwall Towednack Trevone Treyarnon Bay Truro Truro - Falmouth Area Tywardreath Wadebridge Watergate Bay Widemouth Bay Zennor All accommodation types Hostels, Surf Lodges B&B / Guest Houses Caravan Parks Cottage Collections Farm Holidays Cottages, Self Catering Holiday Parks Hotels Inn, Pub accommodation Properties to Rent Campsites & Touring Parks    Extra Options   Baby care equipment Bar/Licensed Beach within walking distance Bike Hire Available Biker Friendly Child discount available Childrens facilities Conference venue Cots Provided Countryside/Rural Disabled access Electric Vehicle Charging PointElectric hook-upsFamily and children Games room Gardens Green / Eco friendly Group friendly Gym facilities Hen/Stag Friendly Laundry Facilities Linen Provided Live entertainment Long Let / to rent Open all year Parking Pets welcome Restaurant/Cafe Sea views Shop Smokers welcome Spa Sports facilities Swimming pool Wedding venue Weekend/short breaks Wi-fi/Internet Access

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Cornish Language and Place Names

 

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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:

• 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:

101 Isles of Scilly

 

For more information: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk