Cornish Language
The Cornish language is a direct descendent of the Celtic tongue of the Ancient Gauls and Pre-Roman Britons. It closely resembles both Welsh and Breton and has a relationship to Irish, Scottish and Manx Gaelic. Many of the words sound and look very similar. During the last 150 years the language faded out but is now being actively encouraged. One of the last true Cornish speakers was Dolly Pentreath of Mousehole in 1768; although it is recorded that Cheston Marchant of Gwithian who died in 1676 spoke no other language than Cornish. It is claimed that John Davey of Zennor who died in 1891 was the last surviving native speaker of the language. His memorial stone reads "John Davey 1812-1891 of Boswednack in this parish…who was the last to possess any tradition considerable knowledge of the Cornish language."
Some
common Cornish place names
Als…....cliff
An.…....the
Bal….....mine
Bos...…dwelling
Brea…...hill
Carn…...pile of rocks
Carrick…rock
Chy…….house
Dinas…...fort
Crows….cross
Dour……water
Eglos…...church
Ennis…...island
Gear…...walled village
Gew…...walled field
Goon…..downs
Gwin…...white
Hal……..moor
Henver…old road
Lan…….holy place
Loe……creek
Men…...stone
Mor…....sea
Mul…….bare
Nance….valley
Noweth...new
Par……..cove
Parc……field
Pedn……top, head
Pean……little
Pol……...pool
pons….…bridge
porth……cove
praze……meadow
ros………heath
ruth………red
scawen…..eldertree
Seasons
Gwaynten.......Spring
Haf.................Summer
Kynyaf...........Autumn
Gwaf..............Winter
Months
Genver……..January
Whevrer……February
Merth………March
Elrel………..April
Me………....May
Metheven…..June
Gortheven….July
Est…………August
Gwyngala......September
Hedra……...October
Du……........November
Kevadhu…...December
Days
De Sul……..…Sunday
De Lun…….…Monday
De Merth…….Tuesday
De Mergher….Wednesday
De Yow……...Thursday
De Gwener…...Friday
De Sadom….....Saturday