Skeul An Yeth 1
Skeul An Yeth 1
Skeul An Yeth 1
LYVER ONAN
BOOK ONE
STEUS DHIEN A'N YETH KERNEWEK
A COMPLETE COURSE IN THE CORNISH LANGUAGE
Wella Brown
Kesva an Taves Kernewek
The Cornish Language Board
Copyright W. Brown
CONTENTS
Contents
General Introduction
Mutations
Contents of Parts 1-39
Parts 1-39
Answers
1
2
3
4
6-121
122-131
The Cornish Language Board are very grateful to Wella Brown for giving permission for this
first book of his Skeul an Yeth course to be put on the web-site for the benefit of all students.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The design of the course has as its basic idea that of a series of themes such as 'existence and nonexistence', 'looking for things' and so on.
The various parts bring in units of grammar as appropriate. The use of grammatical terms is, in my
view, a positive aid to acquiring a language and not an aim in itself and further, far from being an obstacle to
beginners, a working knowledge of grammar makes the process of learning easier and quicker.
Each part of the course is made up of, firstly an explanation of its theme with examples, then a
word list followed by more examples relevant to the theme and finally a section of general examples in
order to keep previously learnt matter under constant review.
A series of exercises has been incorporated as an extension to the main text.
I must here acknowledge the help given by members of the Cornish language class at Saltash who
used the course as it was being constructed and who offered valuable suggestions as it proceeded and in
particular the corrections and amendments proffered by Julian Davey. David Balhatchet painstakingly
scrutinised the provisional edition and I am grateful to him for the care with which he examined every line
of the book. Finally, without the encouragement of Graham Sandercock and his willingness to re-record the
whole manuscript and prepare it for publication, this course would have been very much longer in the
preparation.
THE PHONEMIC SYSTEM AND KERNEWEK KEMMYN
This course is in Kernewek Kemmyn, Common Cornish. Modern Cornish is ultimately based on the
language used in the period centring on the year 1500, the 'golden period' of Cornish literature. The
modern spelling is phonemic, that is to say, the pronunciation of each word is accurately reproduced in the
spelling so that once the system is grasped, reading Cornish is quite straightforward. A full description of
the system will be found in The Pronunciation and Spelling of Revived Cornish by Dr Ken George or in the
first chapter of my A Grammar of Modern Cornish 2nd edition.
Consonants are pronounced as in English but the following should be noted:
dh
the E. 'th' in 'with'
gh
when final is like the Scottish 'ch' in 'loch'. When between two vowels or in the groups 'lgh' and 'rgh' it
is a strongly stressed 'h' as in the E. word 'aha!'. When this sound is doubled it is written ggh
hw
is so written to preserve the influence of the 'h' as in E. 'when' emphatically spoken
th
the E. 'th' in 'thin'. When doubled it is written tth
Vowels should be pronounced pure as follows:
a
the vowel of E. 'ah' when long; when short, the 'a' of E. 'bat'
e
the 'e' of E. 'bet'
eu
the 'eu' as in French 'peur'
i
the 'ee' in E. 'beet'
o
when long the 'ou' in E. 'sought' and when short is as the 'o' in E. 'got'
oe
long, the 'oa' of E. 'boat'; short, the 'u' of E. 'cut'
ou
the 'oo' of E. 'boot'
u
the 'u' of French 'tu'
y
the 'i' of E. 'bit'. Note that this is also a semi-vowel, the E. 'y' in 'yet'
Diphthongs
aw
the 'ow' of E. 'how'
ay
the 'y' of E. 'by'
ew
the 'ew' of Welsh 'tew' 'fat'
ey
the 'ei' of E. 'veil'
iw
the 'ew' of E. 'dew' but narrower
ow
a sound between the 'ow' of E. 'owe' and the 'aw' of E. 'awe'
oy
the 'oy' of E. 'boy'
uw
As u in French tu followed by w
yw
the 'ew' of E. 'flew'
MUTATIONS
In Cornish, as in other Celtic languages, the initial consonant of a word may change in a regular
manner in certain circumstances. These changes are known as mutations. They will be described as they
occur but the table below is provided for reference purposes.
Original letter
2
soft
V
J
DH
B
CH
D
GA
the G
GE
is dropped
GI
and the
GY
next
GL
letter
GR
becomes
GW
the initial
GO
WO
GU
WU
GRO
WRO
GRU
WRU
K
G
M
V
P
B
T
D
There is a special form of the
described in the text.
3
breathed
=A
=E
=I
=Y
=L
=R
=W
4
hard
P
5
mixed
F
5
after 'th
V
T
KA
KE
KI
KY
KL
KR
KW
KO
KU
KRO
KRU
T
HA
HE
HI
HY
T
HA
HE
HI
HY
HW
HWO
HWU
HWRO
HWRU
W
WO
WU
WRO
WRU
H
F
V
F
TH
fifth mutation used after the word 'th 'you', 'your' and this will be
To help the learner, a small numeral after a word and corresponding to the numbered columns
above indicates the mutation change it causes, e.g. war2 'on' causes second state mutation and kyn5
'although' is followed by fifth state mutation. These numbers are not used in ordinary texts, of course.
Niv.
No.
1
2
3
4
5
RANNOW
PARTS
folenn
page
Kortesi - Courtesy
Ottomma
Bosva - Existence:
Yma, eus, ottena
Diblansneth - Definiteness
An - ma/na, moes/an voes
Andhiblansneth - Indefinitenes
Unn, nebonan, neppyth
Hevelepter - Identity
Yw, nyns yw
Hemma, etc.
Pyth? 'what?'
Word order
Studh - State
Yns 'they are'
Adjectives
Word order
Daswrians - Repetition
Py? 'what?'
An gewer 'the weather'
Broyow 'countries'
6
7
9
10
12
16
19
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Lowr 'enough'
Lies tra - Many things; plural of nouns
Onan, dew, tri - One, two, three
Numbers from 1 to 20
An eur - The time
Hwilas traow - Looking for things
Ple'ma, yma, ymons
Moy a niverow - More numbers; 21 to 100
An le may ma traow - Where things are
Prepositions: ryb 'beside'; a-rag 'before'; a-dryv 'behind';
war 'on'; yn 'in'; yn-dann2 'under'; orth 'at'; gans 'with';
der/dre2 'through';
Eus, usi, esons
Meur a... po nebes - Lots of... or not many
Pals, lies
Erghi - 'Gwra hemma!' - Command 'Do this!
Tra 'thing'
My yw ha nyns ov - I am and I am not
The present tense of bos 'to be'
Hwans 'desire', 'want'
Hevelepter ha dihevelepter - Similarity and difference
Haval, (an) keth, arall, dihaval, (an) huni
Liwyow 'colours'
An termyn tremenys - Past time
Imperfect of bos 'be'
Long forms of bos
Verbal particle y5/yth
Perghennieth - Ownership
Possessive adjectives;
Pan 'when'
Hwarvosow tremenys - past time events
The preterite tense of verbs
Verbs in -ya
Verbal particle a2
Nominal sentences
Yn-medh 'say', 'said'
Hwarvosow y'n eur ma - Present events
The present tense of verbs
Verbow dhe les - Useful verbs
Gul 'do'
Mynnes 'will'
Galloes 'can'
Mones 'go'
Dos 'come'
22
24
28
30
32
34
36
39
41
44
47
50
53
55
58
60
64
66
71
74
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
78
82
86
89
91
93
96
100
105
108
112
117
1 KORTESI - COURTESY
A greeting of some sort is usually exchanged when people meet, as a preliminary to
more specific conversation. Here are some commonly used greetings.
Meeting in the evening
Greeting
Response
Gorthugher da!
Good evening!
Fatla genes?
How are you?
Gorthugher da!
Good evening!
Yn poynt da, meur ras - ha ty?
Well, thanks - and you?
Yn poynt da, meur ras.
Well, thanks.
Da lowr, meur ras.
Well enough, thanks.
Response
Nos dha!
Good night!
Nos dha!
Good night!
Response
Dydh da!
Good day!
Myttin da!
Good morning!
Dohajydh da!
Good afternoon!
Dydh da!
Good day!
Myttin da!
Good morning!
Dohajydh da!
Good afternoon!
GERVA - Vocabulary
dohajydh
dydh
Duw
gorthugher
afternoon
day
God
evening
myttin
nos
oll
lowr
morning
night
all
enough
genes
genowgh
with you
(singular)
with you
(plural)
DASWEL - REVIEW
Kernewek
Sowsnek
Oberenn 1.1
Put the following greetings into Cornish, e.g.:
Hullo Yowann - how are you? Fine thanks, and you?
Dydh da Yowann - fatla genes? Yn poynt da, meur ras - ha ty?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. Good-bye John.
7. Good bye everybody.
2 BOSVA - EXISTENCE
There is frequently a need to find out whether or not something exists or to say
that it does exist: 'Is there a post-office here?'; 'Are there people in the room?'
In English the sense of existing is expressed by a tense of the verb 'is' together
with the word 'there': 'There is a bird on the roof'; 'There had been more rain in the night'.
In Cornish the corresponding verb bos 'to be' has special forms to carry the
meaning of existence:
The question:
The answer:
or
eus ..?
eus!
nag eus!
The statements:
positive
negative
yma...
nyns eus...
Question
Response
Eus!
There is!
Eus! Yma karrji ena.
There is. There is a garage there.
Nag eus! Nyns eus karr ena.
There isn't! There isn't a car there.
Notice the absence of words for 'yes' and 'no' in the above. It is usual to answer a
question by repeating the verb of the question.
The same singular verb forms (yma, eus) are used to translate both 'there is' and
'there are':
ottomma
ottena
GERVA - Vocabulary
a-ji dhe
a-rag
aval m.
inside
in front of
apple
ha conj.
and
(hag before a vowel)
jynn-skrifa m.
typewriter
mes conj.
moes f.
omma adv.
but
table
here
avalow pl.
chi m.
eglos f.
ena adv.
gesys adj.
apples
house
church
there
remaining,
left,
kador f.
karr m.
karrji m.
le m.
leow pl.
lyver m.
pluvek f.
cushion,
pillow
pen
pens
beside
surely
chair
car
garage
place
places
book
pluvenn f.
pluvennow pl.
ryb prep.
sur adv.
DASWEL - REVIEW
Ottena eglos!
Yma chi ryb an eglos.
Eus karrji ena ryb an chi?
Nag eus! Nyns eus karrji ena.
Mes yma karr a-rag an chi.
Ottomma lyver!
Yma pluvenn a-ji
dhe'n lyver.
Eus pluvennow genes? Nag eus!
Oberenn 2.1
Make statements by putting yma in place of eus in the following questions, e.g.:
Eus karrji ryb an chi?
Yma karrji ryb an chi.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Eus
Eus
Eus
Eus
pluvek ena?
eglos yn le?
karr a-ji an karrji?
pluvenn ryb an lyver?
Oberenn 2.2
Make questions by putting eus in place of yma in the following statements, e.g.:
Yma leow gesys omma. Eus leow gesys omma?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Yma
Yma
Yma
Yma
aval genes.
jynn-skrifa ena.
moes a-ji an chi.
lyver gesys omma.
Oberenn 2.3
Make a statement by putting ottomma before the following word, e.g.:
Eglos. Ottomma eglos.
1. Karrji
2. Avalow
3. Moes
Oberenn 2.4
Make a statement by putting ottena before the following word, e.g.:
Kador. Ottena kador.
1. Lyver
2. Pluvek
3. Pluvennow
3 DIBLANSNETH - DEFINITENESS
In English when definite things are referred to, words like 'the', 'this', 'that', and so
on are used.
In Cornish the corresponding word is an 'the'. This is the 'definite article'.
an lyver
an karr
an chi
the book
the car
the house
If the short word ma is added to these phrases, the meaning becomes 'this',
'these'. If the short word na is added, the meaning becomes 'that', those'.
an
an
an
an
lyver ma
lyvrow ma
karr na
kerri na
this book
these books
that car
those cars
ma and na never stand alone. They always follow the word they apply to and an
'the' always precedes.
Now let us look at the word moes 'table'. We say moes 'table' but an voes 'the
table', an voes ma 'this table' and an voes na 'that table'. The initial m- of the word
has changed to v- after the word an.
This change is called 'mutation' and is explained at the beginning of this book
where there is a reference table. Don't worry about it. Your attention will be drawn to it
when it occurs.
This particular type of mutation is the commonest and it occurs with certain types
of noun. These nouns are called 'feminine' nouns. All other nouns are 'masculine' but this
topic will be dealt with in detail in Part 8.
Ensamplow
(Examples)
davas
garr
goen
kador
mowes
pluvenn
tesenn
sheep
leg
down
chair
girl
pen
cake
an
an
an
an
an
an
an
dhavas
arr
woen
gador
vowes
bluvenn
desenn
the
the
the
the
the
the
the
sheep
leg
down
chair
girl
pen
cake
D to DH
G dropped
GO to WO
K to G
M to V
P to B
T to D
Oberenn 3.1
Make the following words definite by putting an before them, e.g.:
Gweder. An gweder.
1. Pras
2. Sinema
3. Lestrier
Oberenn 3.2
Make the following feminine words definite by putting an before them, e.g.:
Kador-vregh. An gador-vregh.
1. Leurlenn 2. Goen
3. Tesenn
Oberenn 3.3
Change the meaning of the following phrases from 'this' to 'that', e.g.
An brithel ma.
An brithel na.
1. An arr ma
2. An vowes ma
3. An genter ma
4 ANDHIBLANSNETH - INDEFINITENESS
What happens when there is no word an before the noun? The meaning in that
case is the English 'a' or 'an'.
chi
pluvenn
aval
house or a house
pen or a pen
apple or an apple
Notice that English has to use the word 'a' or the word 'an', whereas Cornish does
not.
We can however say unn chi, unn karr, unn eglos and so on with the meaning 'a
certain house', 'a certain car', 'a certain church'. In this way there is a limit to the
indefiniteness.
10
Ensamplow
(Examples)
This word, unn 'one', 'a certain' has the same effect as an 'the' in that it changes mutates - certain initial letters of feminine words: moes f. 'table'; unn voes 'a certain
table'.
There are several other useful words:
nebonan someone
Yma nebonan a-ji dhe'n eglos na
There is someone inside that church
neppyth something
Yma neppyth a-rag an chi ma
There is something in front of this house
GERVA - Vocabulary
brithel m.
bryntin! excl.
dell hevel
gweder m.
hel an dre fm.
kador-vregh f.
kenter f.
mackerel
fine! grand!
so it seems
glass, mirror
town hall
armchair
nail
lestrier m.
leurlenn f.
mebyl coll.
pras m.
sinema m.
stamp m.
war2 prep.
kitchen dresser
carpet
furniture
meadow
cinema
postage stamp
on
DASWEL - REVIEW
Kernewek
Sowsnek
An brithel ma yw bryntin.
Yma an gador-vregh ena.
Eus sinema ryb hel an dre?
Nyns eus kenter omma, dell hevel.
Ottena - yma an genter war an
leurlenn.
Eus stamp gesys? Nag eus!
Yma mebyl gesys ena y'n chi:
kador-vregh, kador, gweder ha
lestrier mes nyns eus moes ena.
Eus nebonan ena a-ji dhe'n pras?
Eus stamp genes?
Yma pras war an woen hag yma
chi ryb an pras na.
Sur, yma lyver war an voes.
Eus neppyth gesys ena? Eus!
Yma avalow gesys, dell hevel.
Yma an dhavas ena y'n pras na.
11
Oberenn 4.1
Put the following into Cornish, e.g.:
A mirror. Gweder
1. A girl
2. A meadow
3. A stamp
Oberenn 4.2
Change the following phrases from meaning
something', e.g. lestrier. unn lestrier.
1. Pluvenn 2. Tesenn
'a
something'
3. Sinema
Oberenn 4.3
Complete the following sentences by translating the key word, e.g.:
Yma someone ena. Yma neponan ena.
1. Eus something gesys?
2. Eus something war an voes?
3. Yma someone a-ji an karr.
5 HEVELEPTER - IDENTITY
When we say, for example,
or
it is easy to see that we are saying that one thing is identical with another.
The link between them is the word yw which does the same work as the English
word is. It joins the subject of the sentence to the complement (see the Glossary). The
person or the thing about which the information is given or sought is made the subject of
the sentence and may be represented by a noun or pronoun.
Some more examples:
Hemm yw an gegin
Henn yw Frank
Frank yw henna
The first mentioned thing can refer to a number of things, and then the word is
plural. We still use yw as the link word although in English is changes to 'are'.
An losow yw eythin
An traow ma yw prenn
We may want to say that two things are not the same, the statement is negative.
12
To say that two things are not the same, are not identical, we use the following
form of words:
nyns 'not' + yw 'is' = nyns yw is not. This is said first.
Then the two things are mentioned, one after the other:
an chi na - ostel
Nyns yw an chi na ostel
That house is not an hotel
Nyns yw an diwes ma gwin frynkek
This drink is not French wine
In the same way we say:
Nyns
Nyns
Nyns
Nyns
Nyns
yw
yw
yw
yw
yw
henna Frank
hemma an gegin
an losow eythin
an traow ma prenn
Frank henna
If we want to ask if two things are the same, we use the words we already know.
The order of the words and the way in which they are said will show that it is a
question we are asking.
Yw an chi na ostel?
Yw an diwes ma gwin frynkek?
named
The linking word yw is comes first. Then the two things we are enquiring about are
Yw
Yw
Yw
Yw
henna Frank?
hemma an gegin?
an losow eythin?
an traow ma prenn?
Is that Frank?
Is this the kitchen?
Are the plants gorse?
Are these things wood?
Cornish speakers do not say yes or no. They say yw 'it is' or nag yw 'it is not'.
Yw an diwes ma gwin frynkek?
Yw
Yw henna Frank?
Nag yw
Ensamplow
Yw an dre ma Essa?
Yw
then the answer word must show this, since the things are not named in the reply, so
instead of yw, we say yns which by itself means 'they are'.
Yw an gwydh ma derow?
Yns
Yw an chiow na ostelyow?
Nag yns
13
The masculine forms hemma, henna, are used as a kind of neutral reference when the
identity of an object has not been identified or is irrelevant. This can be explained by
assuming that the two pronouns stand for tra 'thing'. See further the notes on page 64. If
the object is identified, then the appropriate gender of pronoun is employed.
Pyth yw hemma?
Pluvek yw
Homm yw da
What is this?
It's a cushion
This (= the cushion) is good
WHAT IS THAT?
Pyth yw henna?
Maylyer gwag yw
What is that?
It's an empty envelope
Pyth yw an re na?
Skeusennow koth yns
If there is no noun accompanying the word 'what' in questions, the Cornish word is
pyth at the head of the sentence. It can stand for either one thing or many. No mutation
follows pyth.
GERVA - Vocabulary
chi m.
chiow pl.
derow coll.
diwes m.
drehevyans m.
eythin coll.
gwin m.
kegin f.
an gegin
house
houses
oak
drink
building
gorse
wine
kitchen
the kitchen
losow coll.
ostel f.
prenn m.
tra m./f.
traow pl.
tre f.
an dre
yn prep.
y'n (= yn an)
plants
hotel
wood (material)
thing, object
things, objects
town, farm, home
the town, etc.
in
in the
DASWEL - REVIEW
Hemm yw pluvenn.
An re ma yw pluvennow.
Henn yw chi.
An re na yw chiow.
An drehevyans na yw eglos.
An eglos yw an drehevyans na.
An dre ma yw Logh.
Homm yw Myrna ha honn yw Pat.
An diwes ma yw gwin.
Pyth yw an dra ma?
Henn yw kenter.
This is a pen.
These are pens.
That is a house.
Those are houses.
That building is a church.
The church is that buuilding.
This town is Looe.
This is Myrna and that is Pat.
This drink is wine.
What is this object?
That is a nail.
14
Oberenn 5.1
Make the following statements negative, e.g. An drehevyans na yw ostel.
Nyns yw an drehevyans na ostel.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Oberenn 5.2
Reply to the following questions positively and then negatively, e.g.:
Yw hemma eythin? Yw/Nag yw.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Yw
Yw
Yw
Yw
hemma kenter?
an voes ma derow?
an diwes ma gwin frynkek?
an re ma mebyl?
Oberenn 5.3
Answer the questions by translating the key word, e.g.:
Pyth yw hemma? (a pen) Pluvenn yw.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Pyth
Pyth
Pyth
Pyth
yw
yw
yw
yw
henna? (a nail)
henna? (a mirror)
henna? (a church)
an re ma? (apples)
15
6 STUDH - STATE
In saying:
An chi yw koth
we are telling someone what state the house is in, the same linking word yw is used as
before to join the subject to the complement. The word following yw is an adjective, koth
'old'.
Again, there is no need to change the linking word if the speaker is talking about a
number of things, that is to say, if the noun is plural.
An chiow yw nowydh
course.
Other examples
Hemm yw brav!
An pluvennow ma yw rudh
This is fine
These pens are red
When it is necessary to deny or to question that a thing has a certain quality, the
same patterns as before are used.
Denying something
yes)
Yw an lyvrow gwerthys?
no)
Asking and answering:
In these last two replies, the words fleghes and lyvrow are not repeated so the
verb has to be plural in each case, yns 'they are', nag yns 'they are not'.
We can also ask a negative question, 'is not?', 'are not?' by beginning the question
with the phrase a nyns:
A nyns yw an boes parys?
A nyns yw an fleghes parow?
GERVA - Vocabulary
brav adj.
byw adj.
dell dybav
den m.
tus pl.
feusik adj.
flogh m.
fleghes pl.
fol adj.
fordh f.
gwann adj.
gwerthys adj.
hweg adj.
koth adj.
fine, excellent
alive
so I think
person
people
lucky
child
children
foolish
road
weak
sold
sweet
old
kul adj.
lemmyn adv.
les m.
dhe les
lowen adj.
maw m.
mes conj.
nowydh adj.
par m.
parow pl.
parys adj.
salow adj.
skav adj.
16
narrow
now
use, advantage
of use, useful
happy
boy
but
new
equal
equals
ready
safe
light, nimble
DASWEL - REVIEW
An den na yw feusik,
dell hevel.
An fordh ma yw kul.
James ha Lowena yw parow.
Yw an mebyl parys? Nag yns.
An lyver ma yw dhe les, dell dybav.
Ottomma kenter war an gador ma.
Homm yw fol, sur.
Hel an dre yw nowydh mes an
eglos yw koth.
17
Oberenn 6.1
Translate into Cornish, e.g.:
The pens are new. An pluvennow yw nowydh.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Oberenn 6.2
Make these negative statements positive, e.g.: Nyns yw hemma brav.
brav.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Nyns
Nyns
Nyns
Nyns
Nyns
Nyns
yw
yw
yw
yw
yw
yw
an maw ma fol.
an losow ma byw.
an den na gwann.
an gegin kul.
an avalow ma hweg.
henna da.
Oberenn 6.3
Make these statements negative, e.g.:
An re ma yw parow.
Nyns yw an re ma parow.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Honn yw Fiona.
An drehevyans na yw Hel an Dre.
An re na yw gwerthys.
An gwin ma yw hweg.
An gweder ma yw dhe les
An jynn-skrifa yw parys lemmyn.
Oberenn 6.4
Translate the questions, e.g.:
Is that chair light?
Yw an gador na skav?
1. Is the wine ready?
2. Is the furniture sold.
3. Are the things useful?
4. Is that person foolish?
5. Is that building a church?
6. Is the girl happy now?
Oberenn 6.5
Make the following statements into negative questions, e.g.:
An fordh ryb an eglos yw kul. A nyns yw an fordh ryb a eglos kul?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
18
Hemm yw
7 DASWRIANS - REPETITION
Often in ordinary conversation it is necessary to ask people to repeat something
they have said. To do this in Cornish, say;
Arta, mar pleg!
Again please!
You may also want to find out if you yourself have been understood.
A wodhesta konvedhes?
Do you understand?
Na wonn!
In a class or group situation the question might be put to a number of people so the verb
would be plural:
A wodhowgh hwi konvedhes?
Do you understand?
Each person would then probably answer as before with Gonn! or Na wonn!
PY LYVER? Which book?
Py lyver yw henna?
Gerlyver yw.
Py gwin yw gwin bretonek/
Muscadet yw gwin bretonek.
Py mebyon yw drog?
Py re yns?
An re nay w drog, sur.
The word py comes before a noun, singular or plural and translates the English what or
which in questions. It does not cause mutation.
GERVA
Powyow - Countries
Alban f
Albanek adj
Almayn f
Almaynek adj
Breten f
Breten Veur f
Breten Vyghan f
Breton m
Iwerdhon f
Iwerdhonek adj
Scotland
Scottish
Germany
German
Britain
Great Britain
Brittany
Breton (person)
Ireland
Irish
Kembra f
Kembrek adj
Kernow f
Kernow m
Kernewek adj
Kernowes f
Manow f
Pow Frynk m
Pow Sows m
Sowsnek adj
Wales
Welsh
Cornwall
Cornishman
Cornish
Cornishwoman
Isle of Man
France
England
English
The name of a language, Kernewek for instance, will be written with an upper case initial.
If the same form is an adjective, it can be written with either an upper or a lower case
initial, usually the latter: Almaynek the German language, karr almaynek/Almaynek
a German car.
19
GERYOW AN GEWER
awel f
awelek adj
ergh m
ergh a wra hi
glaw m
glaw a wra hi
glyb adj
gwyns m
gwynsek adj
kewer f
Fatell
yw
an
gewer?
kosel adj
Weather terms
wind, gale
very windy
snow
its snowing
rain
its raining
wet
wind
windy
weather
Whats the weather
like?
calm
kommolek adj
niwl m
niwlek adj
oer adj
poeth adj
splann adj
sygh adj
teg adj
toemm adj
yeyn adj
Yma anwoes
warnav
cloudy
mist
misty
very cold
very hot
bright
dry
fine
warm
cold
I have a cold
Hi yw kosel
It is calm
REVIEW
DASWEL KEMMYSKYS
MISCELLANEOUS REVIEW
20
Oberenn 7.1
Answer that you understand/you do not understand these questions, e.g.:
Eus aval gesys? A wodhesta konvedhes?
Gonn/Na wonn.
1. Yw an bluvenn ma koth? A wodhesta konvedhes?
2. Yw an chi na nowydh? A wodhesta konvedhes?
3. Eus karr a-rag an chi lemmyn? A wodhesta konvedhes?
Oberenn 7.2
Translate into Cornish, e.g.:
The child is weak
An flogh yw gwann.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Which
Which
Which
Which
Which
Which
apple is sweet?
ones are useful?
cushion is that?
wine is ready?
children are happy?
stamp is Welsh?
Oberenn 7.3
Introduce the key word into the sentence to complete it, e.g.:
An gewer yw (very cold). An gewer yw oer.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Dasweles
Listen to the conversation.
Dohajydh da, Peder. Fatla genes?
Da lowr, da lowr, mes yma anwoes warnav.
An gewer yw sygh mes yeyn lemmyn. Homm yw da genes, a nyns yw?
Yw, sur. Eus karr genes y'n dre.
Nag eus. Yma an karr y'n karrji lemmyn.
21
brother
uncle
male
man, husband
father-in-law
relative
cousin
son
nephew
father
grandfather
daddy
benow f./adj.
gwreg f.
hweger f.
hwoer f.
kares f.
keniterow f.
mamm f.
mammik f.
mamm-wynn f.
modrep f.
myrgh f.
nith f.
22
female
wife
mother-in-law
sister
relative
cousin
mother
mummy
grandmother
aunt
daughter
niece
In referring to father, mother, etc. when particular persons in a family are being
spoken of, Cornish usually puts the definite article in front: an vamm-wynn grandmother.
GERVA
anwoes m
yma anwoes war
Beder
tiek m.
tioges f.
cold (ailment)
Peter has a cold
farmer
farmwife
le'ti m.
ke m.
koes m.
namoy adj., adv.
dairy
hedge
wood(land)
any more (with neg.
no more)
DASWEL - REVIEW
An broder ha'n hwoer yw parow.
Nyns yw an vamm ha'n vyrgh parow.
An vodrep yw koth.
Yma anwoes war an vamm-wynn.
An tas, an ewnter ha'n mab oll yw
gorow.
An vamm, an vyrgh ha'n vodrep oll
yw benow.
A nyns yw an hweger lowen namoy?
An vowes yw yowynk.
An byskadoryon yw parys lemmyn.
An diogyon na yw feusik, dell dybav.
Yma an dioges yn le'ti lemmyn.
A nyns eus ke ryb an koes? Nag eus!
23
Oberenn 8.1
Make the following masculine words definite by adding an 'the'., e.g.: Tas.
1. Gour
4. Le
7. Tus
2. Brithel
5. Noy
8. Tiogyon
An tas.
3. Kenderow
6. Gorthugher
9. Pyskadoryon
Oberenn 8.2
Make the following feminine words definite by adding an 'the', e.g.:
Mamm.
An vamm.
1. Nos
4. Nith
7. Kegin
2. Keniterow3. Modrep
5. Kenter
6. Kador
8. Gwreg
9. Hwoer.
Oberenn 8.3
Make questions from these statements, e.g.::
Yma mowes y'n gegin.
Eus mowes y'n gegin?
1. An gewer yw teg.
2. Yma ke ryb an koes.
3. An le'ti ma yw nowydh.
Oberenn 8.4
Translate the sentences.
1. Grandmother is old now.
4. Mother is a Cornishwoman.
2. Father has a cold. 5. This family is happy.
3. The weather is warm. 6. It's snowing now.
Although the same adjective, berr, is used in both these statements, in the second
example the noun, notenn, is feminine in gender and singular in number. The adjective is
mutated by softening in such cases. Other examples:
padell goth (koth)
avon dhown (down)
fordh arow (garow)
an old saucepan
a deep river
a rough road
No mutation takes place if the noun ends in -s or in -th and the adjective begins
with k-, p- or t-: eglos teg not *eglos deg, an yeth kernewek not *an yeth gernewek.
The same mutation of an adjective is used when the noun is masculine in gender,
plural and denotes persons:
pyskadoryon vrav (brav)
tus wann (gwann)
fine fishermen
weak people
24
That's Mr Grace
Piw is the Cornish for who in questions. It is not the same as the English word who
in statements like 'That's the man who bought our house', a construction which will be
dealt with later.
GERVA
avon f
benyn f.
benynes pl.
berr adj.
bras adj.
byghan adj.
down adj.
Kelt m
river
woman
women
short
big
small
deep
Celt
keltek adj
kewsys adj.
notenn f.
padell f
tus (an dus)
yeth f.
ytho conj.
Celtic
spoken
note
saucepan
people
language
so, then
DASWEL - REVIEW
Hemm yw aval hweg.
An avon Tamer yw avon vras, down.
Hemm yw koes bras.
Pow teg yw Breten Vyghan.
Ottomma kador-vregh vyghan.
Yma le gesys omma.
Yma kador gesys ryb an voes vras.
Hel an Dre yw drehevyans teg.
An gour yw den da, dell dybav.
A nyns yw hemma gwin almaynek? Ny
wonn!
Yeth dha yw Kernewek.
Tus dha yns, sur.
25
26
Oberenn 9.1
Add the key word to the sentences. (All the nouns are masculine), e.g.:
Yma koes ena (bras). Yma koes bras ena.
1. Ottena drehevyans (nowydh).
4. Kernow yw pow, sur (keltek)
2. Eus aval ena? (byghan).
5. Yma gweder omma (byghan)
3. Yowann yw maw, dell dybav (fol).
6. Nyns yw chi, dell hevel (nowydh).
Oberenn 9.2
Add the key word to the following sentences. (All the nouns are feminine), e.g.:
Homm yw kador (byghan). Homm yw kador vyghan.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Oberenn 9.3
Put the key word into the sentences. (All the nouns are plural), e.g.:
Tus yns (gwann). Tus wann yns.
1. An re ma yw tus. (kernewek)
2. An re na yw tus. (bretonek)
(byghan)
3. Yma pyskadoryon ena. (brav)
4. Pyskadoryon yns. (da)
5. Ottena benynes. (koth)
Oberenn 9.4
Supply the questions to which these sentences are the answers, e.g.:
An tas-gwynn yw. Piw yw henna?
1. Tus koth yns.
2. Mr Karn yw.
3. Flogh fol yw.
4. Benyn gembrek yw
5. Pyskadoryon yns.
6. An vamm yw.
Oberenn 9.5
Put each word into a question introduced by fatell and answer using the word provided,
e.g.:
Chi/nowydh.
Fatell yw an chi? Nowydh yw.
1. An dra/parys. 4. An badell na/plos.
2. Teylu/lowen. 5. An gador-vregh/da.
3. Alban/teg.
6. An re na/bryntin.
Oberenn 9.6
Provide the questions to which the sentences are replies, using the phrase py par, e.g.:
Py par lestrier yw henna?
Kembrek yw.
1. Gwin frynkek yw. 4. Prenn derow yw.
2. Kenderow yw. 5. Rover yw.
3. Yeth keltek yw.
6. Eglos Pow Sows yw.
27
A whole string of ideas can be put togther in the same way. Remember that an
'the' is only used with the last word of the string but not, of course, with the name of a
person or other proper noun:
Toll alhwedh daras hel an dre
Broder tas Kevyn
If an adjective goes with the first noun it keeps its normal place after that noun:
Dorn shyndys an flogh
In these expressions each successive word defines the one before it. If there is no
an before the last word it remains indefinite:
Dorn an flogh
but
Dorn flogh
and
Lost an ki
but
Lost ki
GERVA
daras m.
dorn m.
hel f.
kemmer! vb.
ki m.
kres m.
lost m.
DASWEL
door
hand
hall
take!
dog
centre
tail, queue
lovan f.
penn m.
plos adj.
shyndys adj.
toll m
tour m.
rope
head, end
dirty
hurt, damaged
hole
tower
REVIEW
28
MISCELLANEOUS REVIEW
Oberenn 10.1
Link each pair of words in a 'the / of the' construction, e.g.:
The son/The father. Mab an tas.
1. The door/the hall.
2. The end/the road.
3. The head/the nail.
4.The story/the fisherman.
29
Oberenn 10.2
Link each pair of words in a 'the / of a' construction, e.g.:
Branch/chestnut tree.
Skorrenn kestenenn.
1. The son/a fisherman.
2. The floor/a house.
3. The story/a farmer.
Oberenn 10.3
Link each pair of words in a 'somebody's/something' construction, e.g.:
Peter's house. Chi Peder.
1. Jori's book.
2. Myrna's father.
3. Pol's nephew.
4. Lowena's hand.
I
you (one person)
NI
HWI
we
you (more than one
he or it
she or it
they
As can be seen, there are two Cornish words for the English word you. English
used to have two also, thou used when speaking to one person and you when speaking to
more than one person. In French the similar use of tu 'thou' in speaking to close friends,
relatives and children and vous 'you' for other occasions can give rise to some nice social
questions as to which to use. There is no such problem in Cornish. Simply say TY to one
person and HWI to a group.
EV is he and HI is she but remember that everything in Cornish is considered to be
either masculine or feminine. So in referring to a house, ev in Cornish becomes it in
English. Similarly in speaking of a table you will say hi which again becomes the English it.
An karr yw rudh.
Ev yw nowydh.
Ottomma tesenn.
Hi yw da!
'see you!'
wise
true
yet, still
story
kloppek adj.
rudh adj
teg adj.
warbarth adv.
30
lame
red
fine, pretty
together
DASWEL - REVIEW
My yw lowen.
Ty yw fur.
Ev yw kloppek.
Ev yw gwir.
Hi yw teg.
Hi yw gwag.
Ni yw warbarth.
Hwi yw parys.
I yw koth.
I am happy.
You are wise.
He is lame.
It (a statement) is true.
She is pretty.
It (a basket) is empty.
We are together.
You are ready.
They are old.
31
Oberenn 11.1
Change each of these statements by substituting the key word for the pronoun in each
case, e.g.: Ty yw teg. (she). Hi yw teg.
1. I yw pyskadoryon. (We)
2. My yw kloppek. (He)
Oberenn 11.2
Put the appropriate pronoun in place of the noun in each of the sentences.
e.g.: An koes yw bras. Ev yw bras.
1. An bluvenn yw rudh.
4. An dus yw lowen.
2. An diogyon yw parow.
5. An fleghes yw parys.
3. An vowes yw kloppek.
6. Karol yw teg.
Oberenn 11.3
Put ev or hi in place of the nouns in the sentences, e.g.:Yma leurlenn y'n hel. Yma hi
y'n hel.
1. Yma lyver war an leur.
4. An gwin yw bretonek
2. Yma chi ryb an eglos.
5. An lovan yw berr.
3. Yma eglos yn kres an dre.
6. An dhavas yw gwann.
12 DEGRE - DEGREE
An gegin yw byghan
An gegin yw pur vyghan
Pur2 very mutates all following words by softening where appropriate as in the
table on page v at the beginning of the book:
pur vras (bras)
pur dhu (du)
very large
very black
very rough
very old
An chambour yw re dewl
An fordh yw re arow
Re2 too, excessively mutates all following words by softening where appropriate
just like pur.
re voen (moen)
re boes (poes)
re der (ter)
too thin
too heavy
too eager
short enough
good enough
The same word, lowr, can go with a noun to mean enough of something. It usually
follows the noun:
bara lowr
flows lowr
enough bread
enough silly talk
32
GERVA
bara m.
chambour m.
da adj.
du adj.
flows m
bread
bedroom
good
black
idle talk
hir adj.
moen adj.
poes adj.
tew adj.
tewl adj.
long, tall
thin
heavy
fat
dark
DASWEL - REVIEW
Nyns yw hi pur lowen lemmyn.
Ni yw pur doemm.
Yma fordh pur gul ryb an pras.
A nyns yw an chambour ma pur deg?
An lovan ma yw re verr.
I yw re voen.
Gour Morwenna yw re dew, a nyns yw?
An gewer yw teg lowr.
Yw an gwin ma yeyn lowr?
Hemm yw hweg lowr.
Yw an karr salow lowr lemmyn?
An re na yw lowr, meur ras.
Eus avalow lowr genes?
33
Oberenn 12.1
Put the key word before the adjective in each of the sentences, e.g.:
An ostel yw brav. (pur) An ostel yw pur vrav.
1. Yw an eglos ma koth? (pur)
2. My yw lowen. (pur)
3. An gewer yw sygh. (pur)
Oberenn 12.2
Complete the sentences by putting the word lowr in as appropriate, e.g.:
Yw an gegin bras? Yw an gegin bras lowr?
1. Eus pluvennow ena genowgh?
2. Yw hemma da?
3. Yw an re ma teg?
4. Yns i poes?
house
the house
floor
the floor
and
and
and
and
chiow
an chiow
leuryow
an leuryow
houses
the houses
floors
the floors
Just as in English there are other ways of making the plural, e.g. woman and
women with a change of a to e, so in Cornish there are other plural forms, for instance
flogh child and fleghes children. These will be shown in the lists of words, the Gervaow,
in the following way:
padell, -ow f. saucepan, where the letter f. means feminine and the letters -ow
mean that adding these letters will make the plural, padellow saucepans. So the whole
entry can be read as:
padell saucepan,
padellow saucepans,
Another common way of making the plural, especially when persons are meant, is
by adding -yon to the singular form:
tiek
kaner
farmer
singer
and
and
tiogyon
kanoryon
farmers
singers
34
delenn a leaf. All the words so made are feminine: an dhelenn the leaf. Then by putting
the plural ending on to this word we get delennow individual leaves: Nebes delennow a
goedhas a-dhiworth an skorrenn A few leaves fell from the branch.
GERVA
del coll.
delenn, -ow f
flogh, fleghes m.
gerva, -ow f.
gwydh coll.
gwydhenn f.
kaner,-oryon m.
leaves, foliage
leaf
child
word list
trees
tree f
singer
kesten coll.
kestenenn, -ow f
leur, -yow m.
skorr coll.
skorenn, - ow f
tiek, -ogyon m.
chestnut trees
chestnut tree
floor
branches
branch
farmer
DASWEL - REVIEW
An chiow y'n dre ma yw pur goth.
Kanoryon an eglos yw da. Gwir, kanoryon
dha yns.
Nyns yw leuryow an chi salow lemmyn.
An del y'n koes yw sygh.
Yma delennow hir war an skorrenn verr
na.
Gwydh an koes ma yw koth.
Yma skorrennow bras war an wydhenn na.
Chambours an ostel ma yw byghan.
Yma gervaow yn penn an lyver.
Fleghes dha yns, sur.
An lyvrow yw gwerthys.
Myrghes Tamsin yw teg, pur deg.
35
Oberenn 13.1
Make the singular word plural in each case,
e.g.:An chambour ma yw brav. An chambours ma yw brav.
1. Ottomma lyver kernewek.
3. An flogh na yw lowen..
Oberenn 13.2
Make the plural word singular in each case,
e.g.: Eus pluvennow gesys? Eus pluvenn gesys?
1. Eus chiow ryb an pras?
3. Yw an notennow berr?
2. Yw an trevow bras?
4. Yw an padellow ma plos?
Oberenn 13.3
Read or listen to the following short passages.
1. Margh yw mab Mr ha Mrs Toms. Tiek yw ev. Yma ev lemmyn y'n pras. Hi a
wra glaw ha glyb yw Mark, pur lyb. Nyns yw lowen dell hevel.
2. Yma Hel an Dre yn kres an dre hag yma tus y'n drehevyans na lemmyn.
Kanoryon yns, kanoryon an eglos. Kanoryon dha yns, sur.
Now answer the following questions in Cornish.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. How is Mark?
6. Where is the Town Hall?
7. What are the people inside the Town Hall?
onan
dew
tri
peswar
pymp
6
7
8
9
10
hwegh
seyth
eth
naw
deg
11
12
13
14
15
unnek
dewdhek
tredhek
peswardhek
pymthek
16
17
18
19
20
hwetek
seytek
etek
nawnsek
ugens
It will be seen that the -teens are made by adding ek to forms of the simple number.
Onan is the word to use when one stands by itself. When it accompanies a noun the
word to use is unn which, as mentioned before, acts like an the in mutating the first letter
of a feminine noun by softening, the second state mutation:
Eus hwegynn gesys?
Eus! Yma onan hepken.
Unn hwegynn yw lowr.
36
For the numbers two, three and four there are special forms for use with feminine
nouns. They are:
2
diw
teyr
peder
Dew and diw 2 mutate a following noun by softening and are themselves
mutated after an the:
dew blat
an dhew blat
two plates
the two plates
diw voes
an dhiw voes
two tables
the two tables
Tri and teyr 3 mutate a following noun with the breathed mutation:
k-
h-
tri harr
tri fysk
tri tho
p-
f-
t-
three cars
three fish
three roofs
teyr hador
teyr fluvenn
teyr thigenn
ththree chairs
three pens
three bags
In English numbers are usually followed by a plural noun: six lights. In Cornish the noun
remains singular: hwegh golow and not *hwegh golowys
Gerva
arghans m
boes m
golow, -ys m
hepken adv
hwegynn, -ow m
karrek, kerrek f.
lowarth, -yow m.
plat, -ys m.
pysk, puskes m.
money
food
light
only
sweet
rock
garden
plate
fish
rag prep
redyans m
seythun, -yow f
skon adv
spas, -ow m.
tanow adj.
terrys adj.
tigenn, -ow f
to, -how m.
for
reading
week
quickly
space, opportunity
thin, scarce
broken
wallet, handbag
roof
DASWEL - REVIEW
Yma tri fysk war an plat na.
Onan yw brithel.
Yma teyr gwydhenn y'n lowarth.
Yma diw gestenenn ena.
An arghans yw tanow lemmyn.
Nyns eus arghans lowr rag boes.
An dhew wour na yw parow, dell hevel.
Mes sur, nyns yw an dhiw venyn parow.
Oll an mebyl yw diw voes koth ha peder
kador.
Yma unn karr a-rag an chi.
Eus ostel yn kres an dre?
Eus! Yma pymp ostel ena.
Kemmer teyr henter ytho!
Yma unnek mowes ha trydhek maw oll
warbarth.
37
*The feminine pronoun homma is used to indicate that some condition is referred to
rather than an action. In this latter case, hemma would be used. See also Part 15.
Oberenn 14.1
Translate the phrases into Cornish, e.g.: 3 books
1.
2.
3.
4.
9 chairs
1 person
4 women
20 cars
5.
6.
7.
8.
2 girls
3 boys
3 chairs
15 plates
9. 9 houses
10. 2 dogs
38
tri lyver.
Oberenn 14.2
Put the word an before the phrases, e.g.: dew dhen,
1. Diw vowes.
2. Dew diek
3. Diw bluvenn
an dhew dhen.
4. Dew hwegynn.
5. Dew wolow.
6. Diw gestenenn.
Oberenn 14.3
Increase by 2 the numbers in each case, e.g.: peswar den,
1.
2.
3.
4.
Teyr fordh
Dewdhek toll
Eth chi
Etek pluvenn
5.
6.
7.
8.
hwegh den.
Unn le
Naw karrji
Pymp jynn-skrifa
Unn desenn
Oberenn14.4
Translate the sentences into Cornish, e.g.:
There is one light in the kitchen Yma unn golow y'n gegin.
1. The light is bright.
2. What is this book?
3. This is a long rope.
39
GERVA
dhe2 prep.
hansel, -yow m
kerdh, -ow m.
koen, -yow f.
korev, -ow m.
kuntelles, -ow m.
kyns adv.
kyttrin, -yow m.
to
breakfast
walk
dinner, cooked
supper
beer
meeting
before
bus
li, livyow f
mynys coll
mynysenn, -ow f.
nessa adj.
lunch
minutes
minute
next
niver,-ow m.
paper, -yow m.
prys, -yow m.
tren, -ow m
number
paper
time, occasion
train
Note that dhe 'to' followed by an 'the' makes dhe'n 'to the'.
DASWEL - REVIEW
Py eur yw hi lemmyn?
Eth eur marnas ugens mynysenn yw
h*i.
Kwarter wosa deg eur yw hi.
Unnek eur poran yw hi.
Teyr mynysenn warn ugens dhe hwegh
eur yw hi.
Pymp eur hanter yw hi.
Hanter dydh poran yw hi.
A-dro dhe gwarter wosa naw eur yw hi.
Dhe by eur yth yw an kuntelles, mar
pleg?
Dhe seyth eur hanter, dell dybav.
Dhe by eur yth yw an nessa kyttrin dhe
Druru, mar pleg?
Nyns eus kyttrin dhe Druru kyns peder
eur.
Dhe by eur yth yw an nessa prys boes?
Ny wonn.
*This and similar phrases may in casual speech be shortened to eth marnas ugens =
'twenty to eight'
DASWEL KEMMYSKYS - MISCELLANEOUS REVIEW
Hemm yw kerdh hir mes brav yw
Yw an li parys?
Yw. Yma hi war an voes y'n gegin.
Py par diwes eus dhe brys koen?
Yma po korev po gwin gans an goen.
Duw genes Tom - dha weles wosa prys
te.
Fatell yw karr Mrs Trewartha?
Pur skav yw ev, dell hevel.
Eus golow lowr rag an redyans?
Nag eus. Re dewl yw hi.
Yma spas lowr y'n le na lemmyn.
Gour kloppek yw ev.
40
An paper ma yw plos.
Py par korev yw da?
Korev kernewek, sur.
To an chi yw rudh.
Kerdh hir yw dhe'n eglos.
Oberenn 15.1
State the times given in Cornish, e.g.: 3 o'clock
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
teyr eur.
6. 4 o'clock exactly.
7. A quarter past eleven.
8. About 6 o'clock.
9. 20 minutes to nine.
10. Midnight exactly.
Oberenn 15.2
Increase these times by 10 minutes in each case, e.g.:
Naw eur marnas pymp mynysenn. Pymp mynysenn wosa naw eur.
1. Teyr eur hanter.
2. Kwarter wosa eth eur.
Oberenn 15.3
State in Cornish the time given for each item,
e.g.: Dhe by eur yw hansel? (At 8 o'clock) Dhe eth eur.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Dhe
Dhe
Dhe
Dhe
Dhe
by
by
by
by
by
eur
eur
eur
eur
eur
yw
yw
yw
yw
yw
You will not be surprised to learn that yma can mean 'there are' when a plural
noun is mentioned.
Yma an fleghes y'n lowarth
Yma avalow y'n ganstell na
If no plural noun is mentioned, then yma becomes ymons to show that the
meaning must be 'they'. Ymons also is stressed on the last syllable, y`mons.
Ymons omma
Ymons ryb an chi
41
If we are asking where a thing or a person is and say, 'Where is?', 'Where are?', we
use the phrase ple'ma.
The phrase ple'ma means both 'where is...?' and 'where are...?'. Ple'ma is short
for ple yma 'what place is...?'.
Ple'ma an ganstell?
In speech this will sound like, pleman ganstell? and in fact this would often be
written, plema'n ganstell?.
Ple'ma an fleghes?
ple:
To reply to these questions, one merely puts the required information in place of
Ple'ma (= ple yma) an lyver?
Where is the book? is answered by:
War an voes (yma an lyver or yma ev)
On the table (is the book or it is)
If the question is about a number of things, i.e. plural, and those things are named,
then the question will be:
Ple'ma an fleghes?
butter
shortening,
abbreviation
as is usual
through
clean
down
lie
basket
42
kibell, -ow f.
kresenn, -ow f.
bath, tub
centre
podik, -igow m.
porth, -ow m.
skath, -ow f.
spisti, -ow m.
tarow, terewi m
jug
port, harbour
small boat
grocery shop
bull
DASWEL - REVIEW
Ple'ma Yowann?
Y'n lowarth (yma ev).
Ple'ma Tamsin?
Y'n gegin (yma hi).
Ple'ma an karr?
Y'n karrji (yma ev).
Ple'ma gweder bras?
Y'n hel (yma onan).
Ple'ma'n skathow?
Y'n porth (ymons i).
Ple'ma spisti Mr Pennros?
Yn kres an dre (yma ev).
Ple'ma an byskadoryon ytho?
Y'n skath (ymons i).
Where is John?
In the garden (he is).
Where is Tamsin?
In the kitchen (she is).
Where is the car?
In the garage (it is).
Where is there a large mirror?
In the hall (there is one).
Where are the boats?
In the harbour (they are).
Where is Mr Penrose's grocery shop?
In the town centre (it is).
Where are the fishermen then?
On board the boat (they are).
43
Oberenn 16.2
Supply short answers to the questions, e.g.: Plema'n karr? In the garage. Yn karrji
1. Plema'n fleghes? (In the garden).
Oberenn 16.3
Make each of the statements plural by substituting Ymons i for ev or hi,
e.g.: Yma ev y'n hel. Ymons i y'n hel.
1. Yma hi gans an tas.
Oberenn 16.4
Answer the questions by translating the phrases given, e.g.:
Plemons i? (They are in the meadow). Ymons i y'n pras.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Plemons
Plemons
Plemons
Plemons
Plemons
i?
i?
i?
i?
i?
(They
(They
(They
(They
(They
are
are
are
are
are
in the cinema).
in front of the hotel).
by the road).
in Brittany).
with John's nephew).
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Notice that the linking word is warn 'on'. This is the only group of twenty in which
this word is used. Subsequent groups of twenty have ha 'and' in its place.
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
71
44
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
In these larger numbers, put the thing numbered after the first part of the number,
remembering to use unn in place of onan and the feminine forms, diw '2', teyr '3' and
peder '4' where necessary: unn hanaf warn ugens '21 cups'; unn venyn warn ugens
'21 women'; tri den ha peswar ugens '83 people'; peder bro ha tri ugens '64
countries'.
GERVA
arghantti, -ow m.
bargen-tir, bargenyow-tir
m.
benyn, -es f
bro, -yow f
chapel, yow m
dons, -yow m
fos, -ow f
hanaf, -ow m
bank
farm
kan, -ow f
keur, -yow m.
song
choir
woman
coutry
chapel
dance
wall
cup
martesen adv
milder, -yow m
pronter, -yon m
skol, -yow f
tavern, -yow m
teylu, -yow m
perhaps
mile
preacher
school
inn
family
DASWEL REVIEW
Yma tri den ha peswar ugens yn keur
an chapel.
Yma pymp tavern warn ugens yn dre.
Yma deg den warn ugens yn teylu bras
na.
A-dro dhe gans lyver yw gwerthys
lemmyn.
Hanter kans milder yw an fordh dhe
Druru.
Hanter peswar warn ugens yw par dhe
dhewdhek.
Yma dewdhek flogh ha tri ugens yn
skol na. re vyghan yw hi martesen.
Pymp chi ha peswar ugens yw chiow
nowydh.
45
Oberenn 17.1
Translate the number phrases, e.g.:26 boats.
1.
2.
3.
4.
39
42
58
61
cups
boys
women
chairs
5. 63 farmers
6. 74 pens
7. 84 tables.
8. 99 sheep
Oberenn 17.2
Increase the numbers by 3, e.g.: Onan warn ugens.
1. 27,
2. 39,
3. 41,
4. 89,
46
6. 97.
Oberenn 17.3
Read or listen to the passage and then answer the questions in Cornish.
An gewer yw brav lemmyn, kosel ha toemm Yma Mr Tamblyn war an woen gans
an deves. Tiek yw ev. Yma dew gi gans Mr Tamblyn. Onan yw Duik ha onan yw
Herdhyer. Yma an dhew gi ma a-dryv Mr Tamblyn. War an woen ena yma a-dro
peswar ugens davas. Etek davas ha tri ugens yw gwynn ha diw dhavas yw du.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Fatell yw an gewer?
5. Plemons i?
Plema Mr Tamblyn?
6. Py lies davas yw gwynn?
Pyth yw ev?
7. Py lies davas yw du?
Eus tri hi gans Mr Tamblyn?
by the cupboard
in front of the cupboard
behind the cupboard
on the cupboard
in the cupboard
under the table
at the fire
through the meadow
with the family
*The form der is used before vowels and the form dre2 before consonants: der an koes
'through the wood'; dre goes 'through a wood'.
As stated in Part 16, in replying to questions of the kind 'Where is...?' there is no
need in ordinary speech to repeat the whole phrase. This is shown in the examples below
where the phrases yma hi, etc. are optional in the answer given.
EXAMPLES
Ple'ma an gath?
Ryb an fos (yma hi).
Ple'ma Jori?
Orth an voes (yma ev).
Ple'ma an hanafow?
Y'n gegin (ymons i).
Ple'ma an karr?
A-rag an karrji (yma an karr).
Ple'ma an eskisyow?
Yn-dann an gweli (ymons i)
Ple'ma an lowarth?
A-dryv an chi (yma ev).
Ple'ma Maria?
Orth an voes (yma hi).
47
In the first statement no particular cat is intended. The noun 'cat' is indefinite and
preceded by 'a', the indefinite article. In the English idiom, the verbal phrase 'there is'
comes before the subject 'a cat'.
In the second statement a particular cat is in the mind of the speaker, the noun is
definite, and preceded by the definite article 'the'. In the English idiom the verb 'is' follows
the subject.
The same idea of one definite thing or of a number of definite things is also
expressed by using pronouns such as ev 'he/it', hi 'she/it', i 'they', hemma 'this', henna
'that', an re ma/na 'these, those', etc.
Cornish also has different ways of expressing these two concepts. You have already
used one, the yma, eus, nyns eus of Part 2, Bosva. This corresponds to statement 1
above. Statement 2 puts usi in place of eus as follows:
The question:
The answers:
The statements:
positive
negative
usi?
a nyns usi?
is?/are?
is not?/are not?
positive
negative
usi!
nag usi!
is/are (yes)
is not/are not (no)
positive
negative
yma
nyns usi
is/are
is not/are not
If the pronoun 'they' is the subject, then usi becomes esons and yma becomes
ymons. The pronoun i 'they' can be added for extra emphasis or clarity: esons i?, nyns
esons i, ymons i.
EXAMPLES
Usi an gath y'n lowarth?
Usi! Yma hi ena.
A nyns usi an boes war an voes hwath?
Nag usi! Nyns usi ev ena hwath.
Usi an lyvrow omma?
Esons i war an voes?
Esons/Nag esons.
GERVA
amari, -s m.
argh-lyvrow, arghow-l.
f.
bleujenn, -ow f.
bolla, -bollow m.
bryjys adj.
dornla, -leow m*
ensampel, -plow m.
eskis, -yow f.
cupboard
bookcase
gorhel, gorholyon m.
kath, -es f.
ship
cat
flower
bowl
boiled
handle
example
shoe
klokk, -ow m.
marghas, -ow f
melyn adj.
oy, -ow m.
a'n par ma/na
py lies
folenn, -ow f.
gaver, gever f
glow m.
page, sheet
goat
coal
tan, -yow m.
ughel adj.
clock
market
yellow
egg
of this/that kind
how many (+ sing.
noun)
fire
high
*Note that nouns which end in -la are derived from the word le 'place' and that the
original sound is restored when the stress falls on it, as in the plural. The meaning 'place'
is implied in these words: dornla = dorn 'hand' + le 'place', hence 'handle'.
48
DASWEL - REVIEW
Ple'ma an lyver melyn?
War an voes (yma) martesen.
Ple'ma an arghantti?
Yn kres an dre yma ev.
Ple'ma an gador lemmyn?
Orth an fos yma hi.
Ple'ma an bollys, mar pleg?
Y'n amari ymons, dell dybav.
Usi hwoer Peder y'n skol na?
Usi! Yma hi ena gans Peder.
Usi an lost a-rag an hel?
Usi! Hag yma lost hir ryb an hel ynwedh.
49
Oberenn 18.1
Link the two concepts with the Cornish preposition, e.g.:
Nyns eus paper/an voes (on).
Nyns eus paper war an voes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Oberenn 18.2
Give the expressions the opposite meaning by changing the preposition in each case.e.g.:
Yma karrek vras a-dryv an koes. Yma karrek vras a-rag an koes.
1. Yma paper war an leurlenn.
2. Nyns eus lowarth a-rag an chi.
Oberenn 18.3
Make the noun definite and change the verb from eus to usi, e.g.:
Eus amari ryb an daras? Usi an amari ryb an daras?
1. Eus kanstell genes?
Oberenn 18.4
Omit the noun subject and change the verb accordingly, e.g.:
Usi an lyvrow y'n amari? Esons i y'n amari?
1. Usi an skorr war an leur?
2. Nyns usi an podigow y'n gegin.
Oberenn 18.5
Make the noun indefinite and change the verb from usi to eus, e.g.:
Usi an eskisyow yn-dann an gweli? Eus eskisyow yn-dann an gweli?
1. Nyns usi an lovan y'n skath.
4. Usi an pronter y'n eglos?
2. Nyns usi an bargen-tir bras yn Kernow. 5. Usi an folennow gwag y'n lyver
ma?
3. Usi an chapel yn kres an dre?
6 Nyns usi an vyrgh tre
hwath.
50
caf, restaurant
meur m./adj.
poor
nebes m./adj.
window
niwl, -ow m.
brown
ors, -es m.
open field
orses, -ow f.
clouds
oyl m.
a cloud
pals adj.
trousers*
plasenn, -ow f.
wide
yntra (ynter) prep
many
ynys, -ow f.
word is singular, the English one plural.
much, many
few, little
mist
bear (animal)
she bear
oil
many, numerous
disc, record
between (before vowels)
island
DASWEL REVIEW
Nebes fordhow yn ynys yw ledan lowr
mes meur a fordhow ena yw re gul.
Yma meur a orses gell yn Amerika.
Nyns eus meur a gommolennow
lemmyn.
Yma meur a wydhennw ha meur a
vleujennow yn lowarth an chi bras na.
Pyskadoryon bals yn porth ma yw
boghosek.
Yma kanoryon bals yn keur an chapel.
Tus bals yw re dew.
Lies ostel yw gwag, dell hevel.
A nyns eus lies aval gesys?
Lies gerva yw re hir, dell dybav.
51
Oberenn 19.1
Put the phrase meur a before the first noun in each sentence, e.g.:
Yma arghans y'n arghantti, sur. Yma meur a arghans y'n arghantti, sur.
1. Platow yw plos.
2. Yma deves y'n pras.
3. Fleghes yw re dew.
Oberenn 19.2
Put the word pals after the plural noun in each case,
e.g.: Kanoryon yw kernewek. Kanoryon bals yw kernewek.
1. Dornleow yw terrys.
2. Tus yw boghosek.
Oberenn 19.3
Put the word lies before the first noun in each sentence, making the plural form singular,
e.g.: Yma chiow y'n fordh ma. Yma lies chi y'n fordh ma.
1. Nyns yw fordhow salow.
2. Hwedhlow yw re verr.
3. Kuntellesow yw re hir.
4. Hwegynnow yw drog.
5. Porthow yw byghan.
6. Delennow yw rudh.
52
Oberenn 19.4
Put the key word in Cornish into the sentence, making it singular to mean 'little, some' or plural
to mean 'few', e.g.: Yma nebes/y'n gegin (wine).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The imperative form of the verb, the form used in giving an order, is usually the
stem of the word.
In speaking to a group of people, or in some circumstances to the public at large,
the plural form is used. This is simply made by adding ewgh to the singular form:
Kemmer! Take!, singular and Kemmerewgh! Take! plural. Sometimes there is a
difference in the vowel of the stem as: Igor! Open!, singular and Igerewgh! Open! This
will be noted as it occurs.
A few common imperatives are irregular and these too will be noted as they occur.
In the vocabulary the verbal noun is given in brackets.
To make a negative imperative, telling someone not to do something, simply put
na2 before the verb: Na ge! Dont go!, Na gemmerewgh an lyvrow! Dont take the
books!
Imperative
singular
Dege!
Deus!
Gwra!
Igor!
Ke!
Kemmer!
Lavar!
Lenn!
Pys!
Ro!
Skrif!
plural
Degeewgh!
Dewgh!
Gwrewgh!
Igerewgh!
Kewgh!
Kemmerewgh!
Leverewgh!
Lennewgh!
Pysewgh!
Rewgh!
Skrifewgh!
Shut!
Come!
Do!
Open!
Go!
Take!
Say!
Read (aloud)!
Plead!
Give!
Write!
degea
dos
gul
igeri
mos
kemmeres
leverel
lenna
pysi
ri
skrifa
53
GERVA
bysi adj
dhiworth prep
e (=ev) pron
kynsa adj
busy, important
from
him, it
first
lavar, -ow m
linenn, -ow f
po conj
tra*, -ow f
saying, phrase
line
or
thing, affair
The word tra thing is one of several in Cornish which have a double gender, that
is to say, in some circumstances it is treated as feminine and in others as masculine.
As feminine it mutates after an the and after unnone. A following adjective is
mutated: tra vras a big thing, an dra vyghan the little thing.
As masculine accompanying numerals are masculine: peswar tra four things.
Referring pronouns are masculine; an dra ma yw plos. Ev yw du. This thing is dirty.
It is black.
DASWEL REVIEW
Dege an daras, mar pleg, yeyn yw hi!
Gwra e lemmyn!
Lenn an lavarow!
Ro an arghans dhe Beder!
Kemmerewgh an re ma!
Skrifewgh hanow an lyver war gynsa
linen an folenn!
Pys e diworth Margh!
Pys Helen a ri e dhe Margh!
Lavar dhymm, pyth yw hemma!
Gwrewgh e warbarth!
Igor an fenester po dege an daras! Re
wynsek yw hi!
Lennewgh an lavar warbarth!
Ke dhen fenester, mar pleg!
Dewgh orth an tan! Oer yw hi!
Kemmerewgh oll dorn nebonan!
54
Oberenn 20.1
Put the appropriate command into the statement in each
form.e.g.:
An lyver ma (take). Kemmer an lyver ma!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Oberenn 20.2
Repeat exercise 20.1, using the plural form in each case. e.g.:
An lyver ma (take). Kemmerewgh an lyver ma!
Oberenn 20.3
Make exercise 20.1 negative, e.g.:
An lyver ma (do not take). Na gemmer an lyver ma!
Oberenn 20.4
Make exercise 20.2 negative, e.g.:
An lyver ma (do not take). Na gemmerewgh an lyver ma!
I am Peter
Morwenna is young
This has been set out in Part 5 Hevelepter and Part 6 Studh. In these sentences the
linking word is yw is, the 3s. present of the verb bos to be and there is a slight emphasis
on the subject, My or Morwenna in the examples, as though the statements were replies
to the questions Piw yw Peder? Who is Peter? and Pyth yw Morwenna? What is
Morwenna?
The other persons of this tense are shown in the table:
ov
I am
on
we are
os
you are
owgh
you are
yw
he/she/it is
yns
they are
These inflected forms are used in questions, in negative statements and in sentences in
which the complement is put first for emphasis.
Question
Reply
Complement First
Negative
Osta lowen?
Ov or Nag ov
Lowen osta?
Lowen ov
Nyns ov lowen
55
Gerva
dell lavarav
devedhys
goes m
gwann adj
gweth adj
an gwettha
gyllys adj
hwans, -ow m
yma hwans dhymm a2
Eus hwans dhis a2?
as I say
arrived
blood
weak
worse
the worst
gone
desire
I want to
Do you want to ...?
ke, -ow m
kevoethek adj
koweth, -a m
kowethes, -ow f
krev adj
lew, -es m
lewes, -ow f
lyverji, -ow m
na(g) conj
seth, -ow m
hedge
rich, powerful
(male) friend
(female) friend
strong
lion
lioness
bookshop
nor
jar, vase
DASWEL REVIEW
Drehevyans an skol ma yw koth.
Nyns ov koth na nyns ov yowynk.
Kowethes Maria os, dell dybav.
Nyns yw an boesti ma onan da.
On ni parys lemmyn?
Py lies owgh hwi oll warbarth?
Yns i ensamplow da?
A nyns yns i kernewek?
56
Oberenn 21.1
Make the following statements negative, e.g.: My yw parys.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
My yw boghosek.
My yw diek.
Ty yw flogh gokki.
Ty yw fur.
Ev yw mab Mr Pennglas.
Ev yw arghantti.
Hi yw benyn deg.
Nyns ov parys.
8. Hi yw delenn ell.
9. Ni yw warbarth lemmyn.
10. Ni yw tiogyon.
11. Hwi yw tus an dre.
12. Hwi yw parow.
13. I yw skorr bras.
14. I yw kanoryon dha.
Oberenn 21.2
Make the negative statements into questions, e.g.: Nyns ov parys.
1. Nyns os Albanek.
2. Nyns yw koes byghan.
3. Nyns yw hi gerva hir.
Ov vy parys?
4. Nyns on tew.
5. Nyns owgh fleghes dha.
6. Nyns yns plos.
Oberenn 21.3
Change the statement putting the complement first, e.g.:
My yw gour.
Gour ov.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ty yw fol.
Ev yw gyllys
Ev yw gow.
Hi yw devedhys lemmyn.
Hi yw bro vras.
6. Ni yw krev.
7. Ni yw shyndys.
8. Hwi yw teg.
9. Hwi yw gwann.
10. I yw lowarthow kul.
Oberenn 21.4
Translate the statements into English.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lowen yns.
Nyns on pyskadoryon.
A nyns yw hi Mrs Bolitho?
I yw an re dhiek.
5.
6.
7.
8.
57
AN KETH means the same, identical and is followed by the word ha and. Compounds
of keth are also followed by ha, for instance kettoeth ha the same speed as or as soon
as; kettermyn ha the same time as; kehys ha the same length as.
Yw hemma an keth plat han huni kyns?
ARALL is used to indicate another one of the same kind. It has a plural form erell used
only after plural nouns.
An plat ma yw plos, ro dhymm onan arall,
mar pleg!
Yma ensamplow erell war folenn 72
but
Lies den arall yw kamm war an dra ma
matter.
The word (an) huni stands for the English the one as a pronoun referring to something
already mentioned: an huni bras the big one. When it refers to something feminine in
gender the mutation of the adjective takes place: an desenn na, an huni vras that cake,
the big one, the word tesenn being feminine. You will also hear an onan used in this
sense but huni is preferable.
Gerva
arall, erell adj
nebonan arall
re erell
bryntin adj
dell leverir
diek adj
dihaval adj
ebron f
enyval,- es m
euryor, -yow f
gokki adj
gwell adj
an gwella
an huni
kamm adj
kemmyn adj
other
someone else
other ones
splendid
as is said, one says
lazy
unlike
sky
animal
watch (timepiece)
silly
better
the best
the one
wrong, bent
common
ken adj
keth adj
an keth tra
an keth tra ma/na
kettermyn ha
kettoeth ha
kyns adj
mor, -yow m
nes adj
ober, -ow m
ogas (dhe) adv
peub pron
plu, -yow f
pub adj
stevell, -ow f
58
other
same
the same thing
this/that same thing
at the same time
as soon as
former
sea
nearer
work, job
near (to)
each, every
parish
each, every
room
LIWYOW COLOURS
liw, -yow m
du
gell
glas
gwynn
colour
black
brown
blue (and green of
plants)
white
gwyrdh
loes
melyn
rudh
DASWEL REVIEW
Leurlenn an chambour yw haval orth
huni an hel; melyn ha gwyrdh yns i.
An enyval nay w haval orth davas mes
nyns yw ev davas.
Na lavar an keth tra arta.
Nyns yw hemma an keth lyver ha huni
Yowann.
Ke yn kettermyn ha Maria!
Yma an ganstell arall yn-dann an voes
ena. Kemmer hi!
A nyns usi an tavern nowydh ogas
dhen huni arall?
Nyns yw an traow ma pur haval orth an
re erell, yns i?
Pleman benynes erell lemmyn?
Yn stevell arall ymons.
Ken termyn, ken hwedhel!
Kemmer ken hwegynn ytho!
Hemm yw kamm.
An lavar ma yw
dihaval diworth an lavar arall.
Broyow erell yw gwell, dell hevel.
Yma kommol yn ebron ha dihaval yns
diworth an re erell.
59
Oberenn 22.1
Compare the two items in each case, using haval orth 'similar to', e.g.:
An karr ma/karr Maria. An karr ma yw haval orth karr Maria.
1. An chi ma/ostel.
2. Broder Jori/mab Lynda.
3. An desenn/bara.
4. Hemm/henna.
5. Euryor Wella/huni Mr Pennglas.
Oberenn 22.2
Substitute the phrase dihaval diworth 'different from' for the phrase haval orth
'similar to' in exercise 1 above, e.g.:
An karr ma/karr Maria. An karr ma yw dihaval diworth karr Maria.
Oberenn 22.3
Translate the following statements into English.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Oberenn 22.4
Put the word ken 'other' before the noun in each case, e.g.:
Kemmer pluvenn! Kemmer ken pluvenn!
1. Ro dhymm plat!
2. Diskwedh dhymm hanaf!
3. Ke dhe jambour!
he is tall
Ev o hir
he was tall
In speaking of past time the verb yw 'is' becomes o 'was'. It is the 3rd person
singular of the Imperfect tense of the verb bos 'be' and, like yw, does not change when
the statement is an affirmative one even when the subject is a plural noun.
An gwydh o glas
The trees were green
The word o is used when talking about a state rather than an action.
An vugh o byghan
The cow was small
The demonstrative pronouns hemma, homma 'this', henna, honna 'that' drop
the -a before o just as they do before yw:
Hemm o pur dha
That was very good
Henn o gwir
That was true
In negative statements, in questions and in statements in which the complement
precedes for emphasis, it is necessary to use the inflected forms of this imperfect tense.
60
These are set out in the table below. Replies to questions repeat the verb of the question
in an appropriate person.
en
es
o
I was
you (s) were
he/she/it was
en
ewgh
ens
we were
you (pl) were
they were
Notice that the same form, en, is used for both 'I was' and 'we were'. To avoid
ambiguity the appropriate pronoun can be added.
Examples
En vy diek?
Esta klav?
O hi kowethes?
Nyns en ni toemm
Ewgh hwi drog pes?
Nyns ens i hwerydh
Fol en vy
Was I lazy?
Were you ill?
Was she a friend?
We were not warm
Were you displeased?
They were not sisters
I was foolish
Es!
Nag en!
O!
You were!
I was not!
She was!
Nag en!
We were not!
Both the present and the imperfect of bos have a long form which is used to show
location and position.
These forms are simply made by adding the syllable es- to the short form, the
exceptions being the third person singular when the present is yma in affirmative
statements and usi or eus elsewhere, as we have already learnt, and esa in the
imperfect.
esov
esos
yma/usi/eus
esen
eses
esa
I am
you are (s)
he/she/it is
I was
you were (s)
he/she/it was
eson
esowgh
ymons/esons
we are
you are (pl)
they are
esen
esewgh
esens
we were
you were (pl)
they were
It is a general rule in Cornish that when the verb begins an affirmative statement it
is preceded by the verbal particle y5 (yth before a vowel or h). The word yma which we
have used frequently is considered to incorporate this particle already. For the fifth
mutation see the table on page v.
It is possible however to put an adverb or an adverbial phrase before this particle:
Dhe unn eur poran y'n nos yth esa tros euthek 'At one o'clock exactly in the night
there was a frightful noise'.
Here are some examples of sentences using this long form.
Yth esov yn chi Karol.
Nyns esons genes, sur
Esesta war an treth?
Yth esen vy yn gorsav an hyns-horn
Nyns esesta ganso
Nyns esa an bel ena
Yth eson y'n lowarth
Esowgh hwi orth an voes?
Yth esen ni y'n dre
Esewgh hwi war an treth?
Nag esen!
I am in Carol's house
They are not with you, certainly.
Were you on the beach?
I was in the railway station
You weren't with him
The ball was not there
We are in the garden
Are you at the table?
We were in town
Were you on the beach?
(No) We were not!
61
Notice that although a speaker can make statements like My yw lowen 'I am
happy' and Hi o mowes 'She was a girl', where an adjective or a noun is the complement,
Cornish does not use, for example, *My yma y'n chi for 'I am in the house' (Yth esov y'n
chi) or *Hi esa genes for 'She was with you' (Yth esa hi genes). These 'positional'
statements with yma and esa and their personal, inflected forms have to have the
construction shown in the examples above, using the verbal particle y(th).
GERVA
bugh, -es f.
drog pes adj.
glawlenn, -ow f.
gorsav, -ow m.
gorsav an
hyns-horn
cow
displeased
umbrella
station
railway station
gorsav an kyttrin
hwoer, hwerydh f.
klav adj.
pel, -yow f.
pes da adj.
treth, -ow m.
bus station
sister
ill
ball
pleased
beach
DASWEL - REVIEW
My o lowen ena mes nyns o Morwenna
lowen martesen
Yth esen vy y'n karr Jori.
An vugh o gwynn ha gell.
Yth esa an vugh y'n pras gans an re
erell.
Nyns esens y'n pras bras.
O ev pes da gans hemma? Nag o!
Esa ev y'n lowarth ytho?
Nyns ewgh parys, dell dybav.
Nyns esewgh a-ji dhe'n drehevyans.
A nyns ens i pes da gans henna?
A nyns esens i yn gorsav an kyttrin?
Esta skwith gans an oberennow?
Esesta y'n Gresenn Gernewek?
Glas o an del y'n koes.
Y'n koes yth esa del gell war an leur.
Kamm en ni.
Yth esen ni yn skath vras Mr Tommas.
A nyns esa an fleghes warbarth yn
gorsav an hyns-horn?
Esens, sur.
Hwi o drog pes y'n prys na.
Yth esewgh yn Truru y'n prys na.
62
Oberenn 23.1
Put the following statements into past time by replacing yw 'is' by o 'was', e.g.:
An gwydh yw marow. An gwydh o marow.
1. My yw drog pes.
2. Lorna yw klav.
3. An re ma yw da lowr.
Oberenn 23.2
Make the following statements into questions by substituting an inflected form of the
verb for o 'was' in each case, e.g.: Ty o boghosek ena. Es jy boghosek ena?
1. I o parow.
2. An vodrep o koth.
3. Hwi o kanoryon dha.
Oberenn 23.3
Put these sentences into the present tense, e.g.:
Yth esa an re ma warbarth y'n keth hel. Yma an re ma warbarth y'n keth hel.
1. Yth esen vy omma.
4. Yth esewgh hwi yn gorsav an hynshorn
2. Nyns eses jy ogas dhymm. 5. Yth esens war an treth.
3. Esens i y'n ostel na?
6. Yth esa an bughes y'n pras arall.
Oberenn 23.4
Translate into Cornish.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
We were displeased.
We were in the same car.
Dad's umbrella is broken.
The church was in the middle of the parish.
This watch is new.
63
24 PERGHENNIETH - POSSESSION
To mark ownership, possession, English uses words like 'my', 'your' and so on.
These are called 'possessive adjectives'. In Cornish these words are as follows.
ow3
dha2
y2
hy3
agan
agas
aga3
my
your (s)
his/its
her/its
our
your (pl)
their
ow ewnter
dha ewnter
y ewnter
hy ewnter
agan ewnter
agas ewnter
aga ewnter
my uncle
your uncle
his uncle
her uncle
our uncle
your uncle
their uncle
p > f,
t > th
your
his
my
her
their
dha2
y2
ow3
hy3
aga3
bread
bara
vara
vara
bara
bara
bara
house
chi
ji
ji
chi
chi
chi
desk
desk
dhesk
dhesk
desk
desk
desk
bed
gweli
weli
weli
gweli
gweli
gweli
car
karr
garr
garr
harr
harr
harr
son
mab
vab
vab
mab
mab
mab
spade
pal
bal
bal
fal
fal
fal
father
tas
das
das
thas
thas
thas
It is a useful exercise to try putting these possessive adjectives with English words,
just to get the hang of it: ow faint (paint), y dhoor (door), etc.
GERVA
bregh, -ow f.
bythkweth adv.
dell glewav
fordh-a-dro, f.
fordhow-a-dro
goedh, -ow f.
gwerther, -oryon m.
horner, -oryon m.
kay, -ow m.
arm
ever, never
(with neg.)
as/so I hear
roundabout
(road)
goose
seller, salesman
ironmonger
platform, quay
kesva, -ow f.
kota, -ow m.
le adj.
(an) lyha adj.
mil2, -yow m.num.
pan2 adv.
peldroes f.
pott, -ow m.
sim, -es m.
tarow, terewi m.
board, organisation
coat
less
(the) least
thousand
when
football game
pot
monkey
bull
*pan2 means 'at the time when'. Pan is always followed by the verb: Pan o
Yowann maw and not *Pan Yowann o maw.
It is not the word used to ask the question 'when?': 'When will she be here?' nor is
it used in a relative sense as in the English sentence 'On the day when (= on which) he
was born, there was a thunderstorm.'
64
The negative is pan na2 (nag before parts of bos and mos which start with a
vowel: Pan nag esov yn ow chi, yth esov yn ow lowarth 'When I am not in my house,
I am in my garden')
DASWEL - REVIEW
Ow hi yw kloppek.
Dha gota yw plos,
dell dybav.
Nyns yw nowydhy ji.
Nyns yw ev y ji nowydh.
Yw hy howethas Myrna ytho?
Agan stevell y'n ostel o re vyghan.
Agas tas yw ow howeth.
Aga fleghes yw klav, dell glewav.
Agan kesva yw onan dha.
Nyns o ow boes parys.
Dha gyttrin yw gyllys lemmyn.
An wydhenn ma yw marow. Hy del
yw gell.
A nyns esa delenn las gesys?
Nag esa!
Pan en maw, ow theylu o
boghesek, sur.
Pan esa drehevyans ena nyns esa
golow lowr yn agan chi.
Pan nag o kevoethek, lowen o ev.
My dog is lame.
Your coat is dirty,
I think.
His house is not new.
It is not his new house.
Is her friend Myrna then?
Our room in the hotel was too small.
Your father is my friend.
Their children are ill, I hear.
Our association is a good one.
My food was not ready.
Your bus is gone now.
This tree is dead. Its leaves
are brown.
Wasn't there a single green leaf left?
No!
When I was a boy. my family was
poor, certainly.
When there was a building there,
there wasn't enough light.
When he was not rich, he was happy.
DERIVAS BERR
Ottomma hwedhel teylu Margh Lawson.
Y das o horner yn Lannstefan. Y dhew vroder o gwerthoryon rag
an tas. An gwerthji o onan bras yn Stret an Eglos.
Yth esa gwerthjiow erell y'n keth stret yn kres an dre, mes nyns
ens pur vras. Byghan ens, dell hevel.
Gwreg Margh o benyn a-dhiworth Aberplymm mes ny wonn vy
piw o hy thas hi. Nyns o an teylu kevoethek mes nyns ens i
boghosek.
Pan o Margh maw yth esa pymp den y'n keth chi warbarth, an
tas, an vamm ha'n tri maw.
Tas Margh ha'y vamm yw marow lemmyn mes yma an dhew vab
erell hwath yn Lannstefan, aga thre.
Oberenn 24.1
Put the key word dha or y before the noun in each case, e.g.:
Ottomma kador (your). Ottomma dha gador.
1. Kemmer diwes (your).
5. Pyth yw bro (your).
2. An traow yw parys (his).
6. My yw keniterow (his).
3. Henn yw maw (your).
7. Yma lyvrow genes (your).
4. An dornleow yw terrys (its).
8. Nyns eus mebyl omma hwath (its).
Oberenn 24.2
Put the key word ow, hy or aga before the noun in each case, e.g.:
65
Oberenn 24.3
Translate into Cornish. Note that the pronoun 'your' can be translated by dha or agas.
You will be told which to use.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Oberenn 24.4
Read or listen to the passage. It will be read twice. Then answer the questions in Cornish.
Pan en vy yowynk yth en lowen. Yth esa agan chi yn kres tre vyghan. Pan esen
ni, agan teylu, warbarth ni o unnek den, ow mamm wynn, ow vamm, hag ow
thas, ow thri broder hag ow feder hwoer. Yth esa ow hi, Duik y hanow, genen ha
diw gath ynwedh mes nyns ens i tus.
1. Fatell en vy pan en yowynk?
2. Ple'th esa agan chi?
3. Py lies den en ni warbarth?
66
The person doing the action (the subject), Peter in this case, is named before the a
brenas phrase and the verb remains singular even when the subject is plural.
Examples
My a werthas an karr koth
An tas a wolghas an ki
Ni a esedhas ena
An keur a ganas
If the word re2 is put before the verb instead of a2 then the meaning is the English
present perfect tense, 'have done', 'has done'. This word is only used in affirmative
statements:
My re werthas an karr koth
An tas re wolghas an ki
Ni re esedhas ena
Sentences with this pattern of noun, a2 + verb are called nominal sentences
because they begin with and slightly emphasise the noun or pronoun subject. The other
type of Cornish sentence construction is called a verbal sentence and will be dealt with
below.
In narratives when the words of a speaker are given directly the verb medhes
'said' or, less usually, 'says' is used with a prefixed yn. It is not used otherwise.
yn-medhav
I said/say
yn-medh ev/Peder/hi/Maria
he/Peter/she/Mary said/says
yn-medhons
they said/say
"Ha lemmyn ni yw parys," yn-medh Tamsyn "And now we are ready," said
Tamsyn
"Deus omma!" yn-medhav
We have seen above that the past tense of a verb for the third person singular is
made by adding -as (sometimes -is) to the stem of the verb. The complete table of this
past tense (the preterite) is as follows:
PRENA TO BUY
prenis
prensys
PRENAS
I bought
you (s) bought
he/she bought
prensyn
prensowgh
prensons
67
we bought
you (pl) bought
they bought
These 'inflected' forms, made by adding various endings to the stem pren-, are used in
the following cases:
1. In questions introduced by a2 or by a ny2.
2. In negative statements introduced by ny2.
3. In statements where the verbal phrase is to be stressed and is placed
at the head of the sentence. The verbal particle is y5.
Examples
Positive statement (nominal sentence with the pronoun subject first to give it a slight
emphasis):
My a brenas jynn-amontya
I bought a computer
= yes or = no
GERVA
de m. adv.
didhanus adj.
ena adv.
hedhyw adv.
hweg adj.
jynn -ow m.
jynn-amontya m.
karr, kerri m.
ki, keun m.
yesterday
amusing
there, then
today
sweet, nice
engine, machine
computer
car
dog
kinyow, -yewow m.
kok, -ow m.
kowl m.
pows, -yow f.
radyo, -yow m.
sagh, seghyer m.
y'n eur ma adv.
y'n eur na adv.
ynwedh adv.
dinner
fishing boat
soup
coat, gown
radio
sack, bag
now
then
as well, also
Many verbal nouns are also the stem and the endings will be added directly to this:
gweres (-as) 'help', 3s. preterite gweresas 'helped'.
Verbs with verbal nouns ending in -ya are very common. They keep the y- in the
3s. preterite and in all parts of the verb except those which have an -s-, an -i- or
another -y- in the ending or in which there is no separate ending: red-ya (-as) 'read':
redis
redsys
REDYAS
I read
you (s) read
he/she reads
redsyn
redsowgh
redsons
we read
you (pl) read
they read
red!
read! (s)
redyewgh!
read (pl)
68
Note also that the stem vowel -a- of verbs like kara will become -e- when the
added ending contains an -i-, -y- or -owgh. So the Preterite (Past) tense of kara 'love' is:
keris
kersys
KARAS
I loved
you loved
he/she loved
kersyn
kersowgh
karsons
we loved
you loved
they loved
In this and in future vocabularies the verbs will be listed separately. The verbal
noun comes first with the verbal noun ending hyphenated for clarity. Then the form of the
preterite ending will be given, thus:
diskwedh-es (-as), show
esedh-a (-as), sit
golgh-i (-as), wash
gorr-a (-as), put
gweres (-as) help
gwerth-a (-as), sell
gwisk-a (-as), wear, dress
kan-a (-as), sing
*The verb mones has a short and a long form of the verbal noun but there is no
difference in meaning. Sometimes the use of the long form makes for greater clarity,
avoiding confusion with bos 'be'. Mos/mones is an irregular verb and will be given in full
later.
DASWEL - REVIEW
A wolghsys jy an hanafow an myttin ma?
Golghis, sur!
Ytho ny wolghsys hemma.
Maria a wolghas henna, dell dybav.
Golgh e arta, mar pleg!
Dy' Sadorn y prenas Wella ki.
Ev re brenas keun kyns.
Piw a leveris henna?
A boensys jy pub dydh?
Poen lemmyn ytho!
An keur a ganas kan gernewek mes
ny gensyn gans an keur.
An vamm re worras an kinyow war an
voes lemmyn. Kynsa yma kowl onyon.
Y'n eur na y hwiskas hi pows las.
Martyn eth dhe'n treth mes nyns* eth dhe
neuvya.
Y'n eur na yth eth ev dhe skol an eglos.
* Note that ny becomes nyns before eth just as it does before the various parts of bos
'be'. Similarly re becomes res: Hi res eth 'She has gone'.
69
DERIVAS BERR
Yethow Kernow ha Breten Vyghan
Yeth Breten Vyghan yw haval orth yeth Kernow ha tus Breten
Vyghan yw haval orth tus Kernow ynwedh.
An ger kernewek yeth yw an keth ger ha'n huni bretonek yezh
ha'n ger brav yw an keth huni ha'n ger bretonek brav.
Mes yn lies ger an lytherenn d yn Bretonek re drelyas dhe s yn
Kernewek. Ensampel da yw an ger tus. Hemm yw tud y'n yeth
vretonek.
Ottomma onan arall, lagas yw an keth ger ha lagad yn Bretonek.
Pan eth tus diworth Kernow war an mor dhe Vreten Vyghan aga
yeth koth eth ynwedh mes gyllys yw hi ken yeth lemmyn.
Oberenn 25.1
Put the verb provided into the phrase in the third person singular of the past tense,
e.g.:
Peder/lyver kernewek (prena). Peder a brenas lyver kernewek.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ty/henna (leverel).
5. Maria/hy sagh ena (gorra).
Hi/an hwedhel (lenna).
6. Y das/y'n mor (neuvya).
Ev/y'n eglos (kana).
7. An gath/war an gweli (esedha).
My/dhis an jynn-amontya (diskwedhes)
8. An re na/an tiek (gweres).
Oberenn 25.2
Put the statements of Exercise 25.1 into the Perfect tense, replacing a by re, e.g.:
Peder a brenas lyver kernewek. Peder re brenas lyver kernewek.
Oberenn 25.3
Translate the following sentences into Cornish. The verb prena 'buy' is used throughout.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Oberenn 25.4
Answer the following questions affirmatively and then negatively, e.g.:
A brensys jy padell nowydh? Prenis!/Na brenis!
1. A esedhas Peder gans y gowethes?
4. A weressowgh hwi agas mamm?
2. A lennsons i an lavarow?
5. A worras an dus aga seghyer war an
voes?
3. A neuvsys jy y'n avon?
6. A leversys jy hemma ynwedh?
70
I buy
you (s) buy
he/she buys
prenyn
prenowgh
prenons
we buy
you (pl) buy
they buy
As can be seen, this present/future tense has its own special endings to indicate
the person involved. These endings are added to the stem of the verb (see the Glossary).
The 3rd person singular usually consists of this stem only: pren.
In the vocabularies the form of the 3s. will be given when, as rarely happens, it
differs from the stem.
Sentence structure is exactly the same as that described in Part 25. This is
repeated here by way of revision.
Affirmative sentences are usually the nominal type (see Part 25), that is one in
which the subject, noun or pronoun, singular or plural, comes before the verb and is linked
to it by the particle a2:
An flogh a bren hwegynnow
An benynes a esedh orth an fenester
Ni a neuv y'n mor
Negative sentences or questions or those in which the verbal phrase comes first,
are verbal sentences and the inflected forms of the verb, as given above, must be used
but note that in these sentences if the noun subject is plural, then the verb remains
singular:
Ny bren an flogh hwegynnow.
A bren an flogh hwegynnow?
Gans y arghans y pren an flogh
hwegynnow.
Gans aga arghans y pren an
fleghes hwegynnow.
Y'n gwerthji na y prenons aga
hwegynnow.
Ny weresav y'n lowarth.
A welydh jy an eglos?
Ena y tiskwedhyn an skeusennow.
War an voes y hworrons i an boes.
71
GERVA
acheson, -ys m.
a-dal prep.
a-dal dhe2
bakken m.
bewin m.
bre, -ow f.
byttegyns adv.
daffar m.
desedhys adj.
drog yw genev
esel, -i m.
ewn adj.
garth, -ow m.
ev-a, yv (-as)
kews-el (-is)
kuntell (-as)
met-ya (-yas)
orth
reason
(+ noun) opposite
(+ pronoun) opposite
bacon
beef
hill
nevertheless
kit, gear
situated
I'm sorry
member, limb
correct, straight
yard, court
drink
speak
collect
meet
with
gwedrenn, -ow f.
gwedrennas, -ow f.
hanow, henwyn m.
howl m.
howlsplann m.
koynt adj.
lester, -tri m.
nans -ow m.
ny vern
pennseythun,
-yow f.
puptra pron.
yn hwir! excl.
mir-es (-as) orth
tenn-a (-as)
yskynn-a (-as)
glass, tumbler
glassful
name
sun
sunshine
strange
vessel (dish or boat)
valley
it doesn't matter
weekend
everything
really!
look at
pull
ascend
A verb may take a preposition to express a particular sense: mires 'look', mires
orth 'look at', leverel dhe 'speak to'.
DASWEL - REVIEW
An tren a as an gorsav dhe eth eur
hanter poran.
one
the
(He
the
72
your
DERIVAS BERR
Gevell Essa Saltash's Twin
Plougastell Daoulas yw tre yn Breten Vyghan ha par dhe Essa yw
hi war lies fordh.
Yma ena pons bras a-dreus dhe avon vras hag yma sita vras,
Brest, a-dal Plougastell.
Tus Plougastell a dh'aga (dhe + aga) ober yn Brest war an keth
pons ma.
Lies den yn Plougastell a woer konvedhes Bretonek mes ny
gewsons i an yeth ma. Styr an hanow yw Plu + Kastell.
Oberenn 26.1
Make the statements negative, e.g.:
Ni a guntell lyvrow koth. Ny guntellyn lyvrow koth.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Oberenn 26.2
Make these questions into affirmative statements, e.g.:
A gews hi Frynkek? Hi a gews Frynkek.
1. A vetyowgh hwi orth an pronter?
4. A viryn ni orth an folenn ma?
2. A yskynnons i an menydh?
5. A bren Wella karr nowydh?
3. A guntellav vy an kaderyow?
6. A yv an fleghes aga leth?
Oberenn 26.3
Translate the sentences into Cornish.
1. I buy a new coat every year.
5. Do you (pl.) buy bacon in Mr Page's
shop?
2. Michael drinks tea with his breakfast. 6. Don't you (s.) look at the television?.
3. They don't speak Cornish.
7. We meet your son on the way to
school.
4. These (people) collect old stamps.
8. They always wait here
73
Oberenn 26.4
Read or listen to the passage. It will be read twice. Then answer in Cornish the questions
which follow.
Pan eth Maria dhe'n varghas y'n dre, hi a welas ena hy howethes, Rita. "Dydh
da dhis, Rita," yn medh hi. "Fatla genes ha fatla gans dhe deylu?"
"Ow gour yw klav," Rita a worthybis, mes yma an fleghes yn poynt da.
Ymons i y'n skol ha'n gour, yma ev tre yn y weli."
"Drog yw genev," Maria a leveris. "Martesen ev a vydh gwell kyns pell."
1. Plema an varghas?
2. Fatell o gans gour Rita?
3. Fatell o gans an fleghes?
I do
you (s) do
he/she does
gwren
gwrewgh
gwrons
we do
you (pl) do
they do
Past (=Preterite)
gwrug
gwrussys
GWRUG
(a wrug)
I did
you (s) did
he/she did
gwrussyn
gwrussowgh
gwrussons
we did
you (pl) did
they did
74
In the 2s. of both the present and the past tenses the verb is usually shortened in
ordinary conversation and the alternative pronoun ending -ta joined on: A wre'ta klewes
an gan? 'Do you hear the song?' A wruss'ta esedha gans Mighal? 'Did you sit with
Michael?'
MYNNES TO BE WILLING
Mynnes is a regular verb like prena. It is used to indicate intention, willingness.
Present
mynnav
mynnydh
MYNN
(a vynn)
I will
you (s) will
he/she will
mynnyn
mynnowgh
mynnons
we will
you (pl) will
they will
Past (= Preterite)
mynnis
mynnsys
MYNNAS
(a vynnas)
I was willing
you (s) were willing
he/she was willing
mynnsyn
mynnsowgh
mynnsons
we were willing
you (pl) were willing
they were willing
I can
you (s) can
he/she can
gyllyn
gyllowgh
gyllons
we can
you (pl) can
they can
Past (= Preterite)
gyllis
gyllsys
GALLAS
(a allas)
I could
you (s) could
he/she could
gyllsyn
gyllsowgh
gallsons
we could
you (pl) could
they could
75
A wodhesta neuvya?
Gonn
Na wonn
A yll'ta kuntell an lyvrow?
Gallav, sur
Na allav
With this word also the commonly used form for a question is A yll'ta? 'can you?'
and the reply will be either Gallav 'I can' or Na allav 'I cannot'.
MONES/MOS TO GO
Mones is irregular. It does not require the particle a2 before the 3s.
Present
av
edh
A
I go
you (s) go
he/she goes
en
ewgh
ons
we go
you (pl) go
they go
Past (= Preterite)
yth
ythys
ETH
I went
you (s) went
he/she went
ethen
ethewgh
ethons
we went
you (pl) went
they went
I come
you (s) come
he/she comes
deun
dewgh
dons
we come
you (pl) come
they come
Past (= Preterite)
deuth
deuthys
DEUTH
(a dheuth)
I came
you (s) came
he/she came
deuthen
deuthewgh
deuthons
we came
you (pl) came
they came
76
GERVA
dowr, -ow m.
ganso prep.
hanafas, -ow m.
hwel, -yow m.
koffi m.
water
with him, it
cupful
work
coffee
yn-bann adv.
yn le* prep.
yn-mes (a2) prep.
yn-nans adv.
upwards
in place (of)
out (of)
downwards
*yn le 'in place of' can have a possessive adjective put before the noun: yn ow le 'in my
place'.
DASWEL - REVIEW
An vowes a wra hy ober omma.
My a vynn esedha yn y le.
Ev a yll gorra y draow ena.
Ni a dhe Druru gans ow thas.
Maria a wrug henna, dell glewav.
Nebonan a allas gweres.
Peub a dheuth gans arghans lowr.
Da o.
Ny vynnas Lowena mones gans hy
hwoer.
A ny allas an venyn gwiska hy hota?
A yll an fleghes neuvya omma?
77
Oberenn 27.1
Translate the sentences into Cornish.
1. I will play with the children .
4. John makes tables.
2. Can he help his mother with the work?
5. Morwenna comes to Saltash every
day.
3. The river goes down to the sea.
Oberenn 27.2
Translate the following sentences, putting the action into the past as shown.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Most common prepositions can have endings added to them to indicate the person
or thing they apply to:
dhe2
dhymm
dhis
dhodho
dhedhi
to
to
to
to
dhyn
dhywgh
dhedha
gans
genev
genes
ganso
gensi
with
with
with
with
on
on
on
on
genen
genowgh
gansa
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
with us
with you (pl)
with them
on
warnon
warnowgh
warnedha
78
to us
to you (pl)
to them
with
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
war2
warnav
warnas
warnodho
warnedhi
to
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
on us
on you (pl)
on them
heb
hebov
hebos
hebdho
hebdhi
without
without
without
without
yn
ynnov
ynnos
ynno
ynni
in
in
in
in
ragov
ragos
ragdho
rygdhi
for
for
for
for
from
from
from
from
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
orth
orthiv
orthis
orto
orti
at
at
at
at
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
without us
without you (pl)
without them
ynnon
ynnowgh
ynna
in us
in you (pl)
in them
ragon
ragowgh
ragdha
for us
for you (pl)
for them
for
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
a2
hebon
hebowgh
hebdha
in
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
rag
ahanav
ahanas
anodho
anedhi
without
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
from, of
ahanan
ahanowgh
anedha
from us
from you (pl)
from them
at
orthyn
orthowgh
orta
at us
at you (pl)
at them
Remember that the 3rd person singular pronouns can mean 'it': ynno 'in it';
warnedhi 'on it', hebdho 'without it', etc.
To add extra emphasis to these and other expressions, the suffixed pronouns can be
employed. For instance, ragov means 'for me' but with an added pronoun it becomes
ragov vy 'for me'. These pronouns added after a word are here given in full:
vy
jy
ev
hi
me
you
him/it
her/it
ni
hwi
i
us
you
them
Note that after a verb the form jy is often replaced by ta which is written with the
verb as one word: osta = os jy 'are you?'.
Examples
ragov vy
genes jy
ynno ev
warnedhi hi
for me
with you (s)
in it/him
on it/her
hebon ni
orthowgh hwi
dhedha i
without us
at you (pl)
to them
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
Examples
Yma an vowes ganso eev
My a vynn esedha gansa ynsi
nyni
hwyhwi
ynsi
us
you (pl)
them
79
Note that the preposition dhe22 'to' has several special forms to which these
suffixed pronouns are attached. They are:
dhymmo to me
dhymmo vy to me dhymmo evy to ME
dhiso to you dhiso jy to you
dhyso tejy to YOU
GERVA
a-hys adv.
als, -yow f.
baner, -yow m.
bownder, -yow f.
chymbla, -blow m.
diwedhes adj.
dyskador, -yon m.
dyskadores, -ow f.
euthek adj.
along
cliff
flag
lane
chimney
late
teacher
teacher
frightful
gour, gwer m.
hoelan m.
lo, -yow f.
loas, -ow f.
nyhewer m./adv.
skol, -yow f.
stret, -ow m.
sugra m.
man, husband
salt
spoon
spoonful
last night
school
street
sugar
dysk-i (-as)
gas-a (-as)
gort-os, gorta (-as)
gwel-es (-as)
learn, teach
leave
wait for
see
klew-es (-as)
hear, perceive,
sense, feel
dig
pal-as (-as)
The ending -es when added to a masculine noun denotes a female of the same
kind: lew 'lion', lewes 'lioness'; mer 'mayor', meres 'mayoress'.
The ending -as added to the name of a container denotes the capacity of that
container, the English '-ful': kalter 'kettle', kalteras f. 'a kettleful'. The derived noun
keeps the gender of the original word.
DASWEL - REVIEW
Henna a dhiskwedhas an folenn dhedha.
Ny worrsons i aga hanstell warnedhi (an
voes).
A ganas Margh genowgh?
My a welas tarow y'n pras.
Yth esa bughes ynno ynwedh.
Kemmer an kowl ma, yma bollas ragos.
Hebdhi nyns ov lowen.
Nyns eth Morwenna hebov.
A leversys jy hemma ragon?
Rygdhi y hwrug ev an dra.
Gwra an hwel gansa!
Ro e dhymmo vy, mar pleg!
Ny dhiskwedhsyn an golow dhedha.
Lavar dhymm piw yw an re ma!
80
*aga hota = 'their coat' = 'their coats'. Cornish asumes that they have only one coat
each. Similarly aga fenn 'their head' = 'their heads' in English.
Oberenn 28.1
Put a preposition with a personal ending in place of the noun in each case, e.g.:
Ro an bluvenn dhe Beder. Ro an bluvenn dhodho.
1. My a dhiskwedhas an skeusenn dhe Helen.
2. Ni a lever an hwedhel dhe'n dus.
3. Ev a vynn eva koffi gans aga thas.
4. Ty a yll esedha gans an re na.
5. Na worr dha arghans y'n gyst!
6. Yma skath vras y'n porth.
7. Eus bollas a gowl war an voes?
8. Hwi a yll gasa agas kota war an kaderyow.
9. Nyns esa le rag Tamsyn.
10. Ty a yll gul henna rag dha vroder.
11. Ny yll an dus mos heb Hykka.
12, Ny wonn konvedhes heb an erva.
13. Kemmer an lyver a Jori!
14. Na evewgh dowr a'n avon!
Oberenn 28.2
Put a single suffixed pronoun after the preposition in each case, e.g.:
Yma ow broder genev. Yma ow broder genev vy.
1. Yma kath gensi.
6. Tri ahanan yw parys.
2. Ro an bluvenn dhymm!
7. Kemmer an gwin ragos!
3. Ev a skrifas ynno.
8. Meur ras dhis!
4. Eus anwoes warnos?
9. A vynn an flogh gwari gensi?
5. Gwra henna hebdha!
10. Ev eth genen.
.Oberenn 28.3
Repeat exercise 2 but use doubled suffixed pronouns in place of single ones, e.g.:
Yma ow broder genev. Yma ow broder genev evy.
81
When an action is going on at the time of speaking, it can be indicated by using the
word ow4 and the verbal noun, koska in the example. This translates the English '-ing' as
in 'sleeping'.
Ow changes certain following letters: b > p; d > t; g > k. This is the fourth
mutation, 'hardening'. See also the table on page v.
ow pywa (bywa) 'living'; ow tybri (dybri) 'eating'; ow karma (garma) 'shouting'.
Ow becomes owth before vowels and h-: owth eva 'drinking'; owth holya
'following'.
This construction is called 'the present participle construction'.
Note that the commonly used verbs mynnes 'be willing' and galloes 'be able' are
not used in this way.
The 3s. of bos is used in its long form, yma when the statement is positive,
whether or not the subject is plural. As the examples show, the verb starts the sentence.
In negative statements and in questions the form to use is usi with definite
subjects and eus with indefinite ones and in the plural, when no noun subject is
expressed, esons 'they are'.
In the past tense (imperfect) the form of bos is, again, the long form.
For other persons, e.g. 'I am', 'I am not', etc., the appropriate forms are used: Yth
esov ow tybri ow hoen 'I am eating my supper'; Nyns eson ow megi 'We are not
smoking'.
These tenses are repeated here for reference:
Present
esov
esos
yma (usi, eus)
yma Maria
yma an kokow
I am
you (s) are
he/she/it is
Mary is
the fishing boats are
eson
esowgh
ymons (esons)
we are
you (pl) are
they are
Imperfect
esen
eses
esa
yth esa Maria
yth esa an kokow
I was
you were
he/she/it was
Mary was
the fishing boats were
esen
esewgh
esens
we were
you were
they were
Remember that these long forms of bos 'be' cannot be used, as the short forms
can, with the subject first:
My yw skwith
and
I am tired
82
Remember that these expressions mean that something is happening (or not
happening) at the time of speaking.
If there is no separate noun subject, the inflected forms of the verb are used. A
pronoun subject may be expressed:
Esowgh hwi ow redya warbarth?
Are you reading together?
A nyns esen ni ow kweres?
Weren't we helping?
Nyns esons ow kwari yn ta.
They are not playing well.
Esos jy ow kasa lemmyn?
Are you leaving now?
Nyns esowgh ow mires orthiv.
You are not looking at me.
Examples - affirmative statements
Yth esov ow powes y'n lowarth.
I am resting in the garden.
Yth esos ow synsi an lovan.
You are holding the rope.
Yma ev ow palas gans an bal derrys.
He is digging with the broken spade.
Yth eson ow terri bleujennow.
We are picking flowers.
Yth esowgh hwi ow nesa an gresenn.
You are approaching the centre.
Ymons owth oberi gans aga thas.
They are working with their father.
Yth esens ow kolghi an lestri plos.
They were washing the dirty dishes.
Yth esa an maw ow megi.
The boy was smoking.
Examples - negative statements
Nyns esov ow skrifa travydh.
I am not writing anything.
Nyns esos jy ow serri, esos jy?
You are not getting angry, are you?
Nyns esen ni ow redya.
We were not reading.
Nyns usi an yeynell owth oberi.
The refrigerator is not working.
Nyns eus nebonan ow kelwel.
There is no one calling.
Nyns eson ni ow megi.
We are not smoking.
Nyns esowgh ow sevel hwath.
You are not standing yet.
Nyns esons ow tos.
They are not coming.
Nyns esen vy ow kana.
I was not singing.
Examples - questions
Esos jy ow koslowes?
Are you listening?
Usi an goel ow lenwel?
Is the sail filling?
Eus flogh ow kewsel?
Is there a child speaking?
Esons i ow kerdhes gensi?
Are they walking with her?
Usi an gerens ow keskewsel?
Are the parents talking together?
Esewgh hwi ow kewsel orti?
Were you speaking to her?
Examples - replies
Esov! or Nag esov!
Usi! or Nag usi!
Eus! or Nag eus!
Esons! or Nag esons!
Esens! or Nag esens!
Esen! or Nag esen!
I am! or I am not!
It is! or It is not!
There is! or There is not!
They are! or They are not!
They were! or They were not!
I was! or I was not! or We were! or
We were not! (depending on
context)
83
Note that English uses forms in '-ing' with two meanings. Compare the following
statements: 'Grandmother likes sitting at the fire' and 'Grandmother is sitting at the fire'.
In the first statement the word 'sitting' names the thing that Grandmother likes and it is a
noun. In the second statement the same word sitting' describes Grandmother and it is an
adjective. In Cornish the two meanings are expressed in completely different ways: An
vamm-wynn a gar esedha 'Grandmother likes sitting' in contrast to Yma an vammwynn owth esedha 'Grandmother is sitting'.
GERVA
dien adj.
complete
kollell, kellylli f.
knife
dyskans, -ow m.
lesson
krys, -yow m.
shirt
glesin, -yow m.
lawn, grass
marghas, -ow f.
market
goel, -yow m.
sail
travydh pron.
anything (with
gorthyp. -ybow m.
answer
neg.) nothing
kar, kerens m.
close relative,
yeynell, ow f.
refrigerator
parent
yn ta adv.
well
aswonn (-is)
byw-a (-as)
dybr-i, deber, (-is)
ev-a, yv (-as)
garm-a, (-as)
goslow-es (-as)
gwari (-as)
harth-a (-as)
hwyth-a (-as)
kerdh-es (-as)
keskews-el (-is)
klapp-ya (-yas)
know, recognise
live, exist
eat
drink
shout
listen (orth) to
play
bark
blow
walk
converse
chatter
kosk-a (-as)
kreg-i (krogas)
lenw-el (-is)
meg-i (mogas)
nes-a (-as)
ober-i (-as)
omguntell (-as)
powes (-as)
res-ek (-as)
serr-i (sorras)
sev-el (-is)
terr-i (torras)
sleep
hang
fill (a2) with
smoke
approach (dhe2)
work
meet together
rest
run
make/be angry
stand, erect, set up
break
84
Oberenn 29.1
Translate the following sentences into Cornish. The verbal noun is supplied in each case,
eg. (The child is playing (gwari). Yma an flogh ow kwari.
1. I am waiting for my friend (gortos). 4. Your brother coming now (dos).
2. John is speaking Cornish (kewsel).
85
Oberenn 29.2
Put the statements into the past, e.g.:
Yma an gwyns ow hwytha. Yth esa an gwyns ow hwytha.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Esos jy ow powes?
6. Yma an ki owth eva dowr.
7. Yth eson ow mos.
8. Eus tren ow nesa?
Oberenn 29.3
Replace the singular form of the verb by the plural, e.g.:
Nyns esov owth eva gwin. Nyns eson owth eva gwin.
1. Esos jy ow kweres?
2. Nyns usi ev ow kewsel dhedhi.
3. Yth esov ow tybri an boes.
fordh.
an wir
Oberenn 29.4
Replace the verbal phrase by the present participle construction in the following
statements. The verbal noun is supplied in each case, e.g.:
Maria a gews Kernewek gans hy gour (kewsel).
Yma Maria ow kewsel Kernewek gans hy gour.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
30 GRASSA - GRATITUDE
Saying 'Thank you'.
The commonest way of saying 'thank you' has already been mentioned:
Meur ras!
Meur ras dhis!
Meur ras dhywgh!
Thanks!
Thank you! (to one person)
Thank you! (to more than one person).
You may want to mention what the thanks are for. So:
Meur ras dhis a'n te
86
The word pandra 'what, what thing' can be used independently standing alone,
whereas py 'what, which' is accompanied by a noun.
Pandra can be followed by a verb and the final -a drops before the particle a2 and
is replaced by an apostrophe as in the example.
Examples
Pandr'a dhybris Peder
y'n boesti chenek na?
Another exclamative is the word ass which is put before a verb, usually yw 'is' or
o 'was'. It can be translated by 'How!'.
Ass yw da an boes ma!
GERVA
dyenn m.
dyenn-rew m.
penn-bloedh m.
gorthyp, -ybow m.
gras, -ow m.
gweres, -ow m.
cream
ice-cream
birthday
answer, reply
thanks
help
mappa, -ow m.
na fors! interj.
synsys adj.
tokyn, -yow m.
uskis adj.
map
it doesn't matter!
held, beholden
ticket
quick, immediate
aswonn (-is)
dehwel-es (-is)
dybr-i deber (-is)
acknowledge
return
eat
kar-a (-as)
klapp-ya (-yas)
syns-i (-is)
love
chatter
hold, seize
DASWEL - REVIEW
Meur ras dhis a'n gweres.
Pandr'a wrug hi gans an
paper-nowodhow?
Ny wrav ow oberenn uskis.
Ass yw ewnter Ralf feusik!
Yma hwans dhymm a weles an eglos
vryntin na.
Fatell o an gewer yn Sen Ostell?
Awelek o, pur awelek, heb mar.
My a wra henna arta.
Py par yeth yw honna?
Ass os gokki, Kernewek yw hi.
Pandr'a wredh jy gans an toll yn to
an karrji?
Aswonnav gras dhywgh hwi ow
kuntell an arghans ragon.
Pandra! A nyns yw henna noy Mr Peters?
Pandr'a evons i? Gwin rudh?
Ro dhymm gwedrennas anodho, mar pleg!
87
DERIVAS BERR
An Bennseythun Gernewek The Cornish Weekend
Le an Bennseythun Kernewek y'n vlydhen mil, naw kans, pymthek ha
peswar ugens yw Aberfal. An le ma yw desedhys ogas dhe'n mor ha brav yw.
Ty a lever, martesen, "Ny wonn konvedhes Kernewek lowr hwath". Ny vern!
Yma dyskadoryon dha ha dyskadoresow da ena. Ty a yll dyski gansa.
Kewgh genen dhe'n Bennseythun vrav!
Oberenn 30.1
Translate the following statements into Cornish.
1. Thank you for the ice-cream.
2. Thank you for the ticket.
3. Thank you for the coffee.
Oberenn 30.2
Make the statements into questions, using pandra 'what?' and changing the person of
the verb if necessary, e.g.: 'Meur ras!' a leveris ev. Pandr'a leveris ev?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Oberenn 30.3
Make exclamations from these statements, e.g.:
Skwith ov. Ass ov vy skwith!
1. Plos yw an wedrenn ma.
2. Da yw an boes omma y'n diwotti.
3. Koynt yns. 6. Klav en vy.
4. Krev os.
5. Drog o an gewer.
88
19th
20th
21st
22nd
30th
41st
50th
51st
100th
kynsa
nessa
trysa/tressa
peswara
pympes
hweghves
seythves
ethves
nawves
degves
unnegves
1a
2a
3a
4a
5es
6es
7ves
8ves
9ves
10ves
11ves
19ves
20ves
21a
22a
30ves
41a
50ves
51ves
100ves
nownsegves
ugensves
kynsa warn ugens
nessa warn ugens
degves warn ugens
kynsa ha dew ugens
hanterkansves
unnegves ha dew ugens
kansves
These ordinal numbers come before the noun: an trysa dydh 'the third day'; an
tressa salm warn ugens 'the twenty-third psalm'; hemm yw an tri ugensves pennbloedh 'this is the sixtieth anniversary'.
There is no special form used for the feminine nor is there any mutation.
GERVA
a-ugh* prep.
askloes pl.
bresel, -yow f.
bronn, -ow f.
desk, -ow m.
dien adj.
diworth prep.
dres prep.
edhen, ydhyn f.
es adj.
fest adv.
fest da
fos, -ow f.
fylm, -ow m.
ger, -yow m.
gwerthji, -ow m.
gwyns, -ow m.
gwynsek adj.
haneth adv.
heb prep.
heb mar adv.
above
chips
war, strife
hill
desk
full, complete
from
over, beyond
bird
easy, comfortable
very
very good
wall
film
word
shop
wind
windy
this evening, tonight
without
certainly
89
hwath adv.
isel adj.
kig m.
kiger, -oryon m.
kikti, -ow m.
koloven, -yow f.
krev adj.
leun (a2) adj.
losow coll.
losowenn -ow f.
losow-kegin coll.
losowenn-gegin f.
losowennowkegin pl.
lyther,-ow m.
nevra adv.
park, -ow m.
park kerri m.
selsik coll.
selsigenn, -ow f.
tredan m.
still, yet
low
meat
butcher
butcher's shop
column
strong
full (of)
plants
a plant
vegetables
vegetable
vegetables
letter
ever/never
field, park
car park
sausages
sausage
electricity
above
above
above
above
dannvon (-as)
send
diwedh-a (-as)
drehedh-es (-as)
gwel-es (-as)
kews-el (-is)
finish
reach
see
speak
above
a-ughon
a-ughowgh
a-ughta
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
above us
above you (pl)
above them
lenw-el (-is) a2
ober-i (-as)
pellgews-el (-is)
trel-ya (-yas)
trelya yn
fill (with)
work
telephone
turn, translate
translate into
DASWEL - REVIEW
Hi re dhrehedhas hy hansves penn-bloedh.
Ny dhiwedhis vy an trysa lyver hwath.
An degves ger y'n ugensves linenn
yw 'kath'.
Ev a redyas y hanow y'n peswara koloven
war an pympes folenn a'n papernowodhow.
Hanterkansves penn-bloedh diwedh Nessa
Bresel
an
Norvys
o
ha
seytegves
pennbloedh ha tri ugens diwedh Kynsa
Bresel an Norvys.
Ottena! kommol loes a-ugh an koes.
Yma Breten Vyghan dres an mor.
My re welas ydhyn pals y'n lowarth
haneth.
Fest da o an boes y'n ostel na.
Piw a bellgewsis orthis haneth?
90
Oberenn 31.1
Change the ordinal number in each sentence by the amount shown, e.g.:
An degves linenn yw hir (+ 8). An etegves linenn yw hir.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Dy' Yow
Dy' Gwener
Dy' Sadorn
Dy'
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
is short for dydh
January
February
March
April
May
June
mis-Gortheren
mis-Est
mis-Gwynngala
mis-Hedra
mis-Du
mis-Kevardhu
July
August
September
October
November
December
1st March
24th December
The word for 'year' is blydhen, blydhynyow f., so an vlydhen 'the year'.
An vlydhen yw mil, naw kans, pymthek ha peswar ugens
The year is one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-five
The four seasons are:
Gwenton
Hav
Spring
Summer
Kynyav
Gwav
Autumn
Winter
91
GERVA
a-dreus dhe2 prep.
a-dro dhe2 prep.
a-dryv dhe2 prep.
arvor, -yow m.
bloedh m.
bys, -yes m.
bys prep.
bys vykken adv.
dalleth m.
diwotti, -ow m.
fals adj.
genys adj.
a veu genys
across, athwart
about, concerning
behind
shore, coast
year of age
finger
until
for ever
beginning
inn, pub
false
born
was born
herwydh prep.
kernewek adj.
Kernewek m.
kroust m.
loer, -yow f.
lytherva, -ow f.
lyverva, -ow f.
rev, -ow f.
splann adj.
skwith adj.
taves, -vosow m.
tir, -yow m.
yagh adj.
according to
Cornish
Cornish language
picnic meal, crib
moon
post-office
library
oar
splendid, shining
tired
tongue, language
land
healthy
klew-es (-as)
poen-ya (-yas)
rev-ya (-yas)
splann-a (-as)
run hard
row (a boat)
shine
pareus-i (-as)
across
around
inside
outside
a-dreus dhedhi
a-dro dhodho
a-ji dhedhi
a-ves dhodho
across it
around it
inside it
outside it
Other phrases govern the noun directly but pronouns through dhe2:
a-barth
a-dal
a-dryv
a-hys
a-barth Jori
a-dal an chi
a-dryv an gwydh
a-hys an treth
a-barth dhodho
a-dal dhodho
a-dryv dhedha
a-hys dhodho
Nouns ending with the suffix -va which gives the idea of the place where something
is or where something happens, are always feminine and make a plural with -ow:
lytherva vras (bras) 'a big post-office', lythervaow bras 'big post offices'.
DASWEL - REVIEW
Mis Genver yw oer, mis Est yw poeth, dell
vydh usys.
Yma deg dydh warn ugens yn
mis-Metheven hag unnek dydh warn
ugens yn mis-Gortheren.
Hemm yw unn jydh*(dydh) ha tri ugens
warbarth.
Yma tri mis yn Gwenton
Py dydh yw an pympes warn ugens a
vis Kevardhu?
Dy' Mergher yw an degves, dell dybav.
Y'n vlydhen mil, naw kans ha pymp ha
dew ugens Nessa Bresel an Norvys a
dhiwedhas.
Py dydh yw ev hedhyw?
Dy' Gwener an nownsegves a vis-Genver
y'n vlydhen mil, naw kans, pymthek ha
peswar ugens yw.
*dydh, day; an jydh, the day; unn jydh one day; but dew dhydh, two days.
92
Oberenn 32.1
Translate the following dates into Cornish, e.g.:
Tuesday 26th March. Dy' Meurth 26es a vis Meurth.
1. Wednesday 2nd October.
2. Saturday 15th June.
3. Monday 21st August.
Oberenn 32.2
What day will it be a week after each of the above dates (in 32.1)? e.g.:
Tuesday 26th March. Dy' Meurth 2a a vis Ebrel.
The phrases da yw genev and drog yw genev are widely used to convey
approval and disapproval respectively.
Da yw genev redya
Da yw gans Loveday kana
Da yw genes mires orth an bellwolok
Drog yw ganso eva gwin
Da yw gensi dybri boes da
Da yw genen kerdhes
Da yw genowgh donsya
Drog yw gansa oberi y'n lowarth
I like to read
Loveday likes to sing
You like to watch the television
He doesn't like to drink wine
She likes to eat good food
We like to walk
You like to dance
They do not like to work in the garden
In all these expressions the leading elements are da yw 'it is good', drog yw 'it is
bad'. The person who is expressing approval or disapproval is indicated by gans 'with'.
Gans can be changed to show a particular person as in the examples.
The thing that pleases, the subject of the sentence, is expressed by a verbal noun,
e.g. kana 'singing'. Notice that the English versions of these expression uses 'to' before
the verbal noun. This is not translated in the Cornish, that is, we do not say *Da yw genev
dhe dhonsya but Da yw genev donsya.
Negative and interrogative forms are freely used as in the examples below. Saying
drog yw gans... is not quite the same as saying nyns yw da... which is a less definite
way of expressing dislike.
Da yw genev neuvya
I like swimming
93
There are a number of handy expressions which can be constructed in the same
way. Use gwell for 'preferable', kas for 'hateful', poes ('heavy') for 'reluctant':
Gwell yw gans Jori kewsel Kernewek
Kas yw gans pubonan esedha
re hir
Poes o gansa bos unnver gensi
Yw gwell genes jy kavoes
dha dokyn lemmyn?
Nyns o re boes gansa esedha
rag aga the, dell hevel
Remember that the thing, action and so on which is pleasant or unpleasant, is the
subject of the sentence, and is expressed by a verbal noun in most cases. Gans indicates
the person involved.
GERVA
a-ves adv.
herwydh prep.
kas m.
pellgowser, -ow m.
pellwolok f.
pubonan pron.
pupprys adv.
rudhvelyn adj.
taklow pl.
gorfenn-a (-as)
gwari (-as)
kerdh-es (-as)
outside
according to
hate
telephone
television
everyone
always
orange
things, gear
finish
play
walk
trigys adj.
tu, -yow m.
unnver adj.
usadow m.
herwydh usadow
yet, -tow f.
yndella adv.
ystynnans, -ow m.
settled, resident,
occupying
side, direction
in agreement
use, usage
as usual
gate
thus
extension, appendix
trig-a (-as)
ystynn-a (-as)
live, dwell
extend
DASWEL - REVIEW
Da yw gans Maria gwari gensi,
herwydh usadow.
Kas yw genev kerdhes tre hebos.
Gwell o genen bos unnver ganso.
Drog yw genen triga yn mes a'n dre.
Poes yw gansa poenya re bell.
Ystynn dha dhorn dhymm, da yw
genev synsi dha dhorn.
Poes o gans an fleghes gwari a-ves
pan wrug hi glaw mes da o gansa
gul henna pan wra hi ergh.
94
Oberenn 33.1
Translate the key phrase and complete the sentence with it, e.g.: ....
donsya (Loveday likes) Da yw gans Loveday donsya.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
95
Oberenn 33.2
Read or listen to the passage. It will be read twice. Then answer in Cornish the questions
which follow.
"My a vynn daskorra dha lyver" yn medh Kolan.
Da o gans Pol klewes an nowodhow ma. "Yma hwans dhymm a redya an keth
lyver ma arta," ev a leveris. Onan didhanus yw."
"Ny dhiwedhis vy an hwedhel, " Kolan a leveris. "Gwell yw genev redya
hwedhlow yn kever Kernow."
1.
2.
3.
4.
34 PERGHENNIETH - POSSESSION
Asking someone if they own something:
Eus karr dhis?
to use.
What is really being said in Cornish is 'Is there a car to you? and this is the pattern
Eus chi dhis?
Eus ki dhis?
Reply:
Esa!
96
The question may merely be whether or not a person has something with them at
the moment of speaking. In this case we use gans 'with' in place of dhe 'to'.
Eus ki ganso?
It will have been noticed that in the questions asked so far, the question has been about
an indefinite 'something': 'Has she a child?'.
By a slight change in words, by using the short form of bos in place of the long form, we
can ask whether a particular, definite thing is the property of a person. We do this
because the complement is regarded as being like an adjective:
Yw an bluvenn ma dhis?
Is this pen yours?
Word for word this is:
Is this pen to you?
The answer will be either:
Yw! An bluvenn yw dhymm
or:
or
GERVA
ammeth f.
bal, -yow m.
bowji, -ow m.
davas, deves f.
dewweder pl.
dhe-ves adv.
diwedh m.
esedhva, -ow f.
estyllenn, -ow f.
fenten, -tynyow f.
gerlyver, -vrow m.
gover, -ow m.
gweli, -ow m.
gwlas, -ow f.
hager adj.
heyl, -yow m.
agriculture
mine
cowshed
sheep
spectacles
away (motion)
finish, end
sitting-room
shelf
fountain, spring
dictionary
brook
bed
country, land
ugly
estuary
hogh, -es m.
hyns, -yow m.
igor adj.
kales adj.
kleudh, -yow m.
lent adj.
medhyk, -ygyon m.
melin, -yow f.
nowodhow pl.
pasti, -ow m.
perghenn, -ow m.
pons, -yow m.
rewl, -ow f.
rewler, -oryon m.
skiber, -yow f.
97
pig
path
open
hard
ditch
slow
doctor
mill
news
pasty
owner
bridge
rule
manager
barn
glan-he (-has)*
kell-i (kollas)
kosk-a (-as)
kyrgh-es (-as)
clean
lose
sleep
fetch
lamm-a (-as)
mag-a (-as)
omglew-es (-as)
terr-i (torras)
jump
rear, nourish
feel, be aware
break, pick
* Many useful verbs are made from adjectives by adding a suffix -he to the adjective. The
present future in these cases ends in -ha and the stress always falls on the syllable
beginning with -h. Examples: hir adj. 'long'; hirhav 'I lengthen', hirhydh 'you lengthen',
hirha 'he/she lengthens', hirhyn 'we lengthen', hirhowgh 'you lengthen', hirhons 'they
lengthen'. The past tense is equally simple since the endings are the usual ones added to
the syllable -as- in each person except the 1s and 3s: hirhis 'I lengthened', hirhasys 'you
lengthened' hirhas 'he/she lengthened', hirhasyn 'we lengthened', hirhasowgh 'you
lengthened', hirhasons 'they lengthened'. Again the syllable beginning with -h- takes the
stress.
DASWEL - REVIEW
Eus jynn-amontya dhis? Nag eus!
Eus kadoryow-bregh dhedhi? Eus!
Yma diw gador-vregh dhedhi.
Nyns eus tigenn nowydh dhymm.
Yma nebes pelyow dhe'n fleghes.
Eus hanow dhe'n ki ma?
Esa le'ti dhe'n bargen-tir na?
Nyns esa keow ledan dhe'n pras.
Eus esedhva vras dhe'n chi na?
Eus! Yma onan pur vras dhodho.
Eus kath gensi? Nag eus lemmyn.
Esa aga broder gansa?
Yw an dhewweder ma dhis?
Yns. I yw dhymm, meur ras.
Yw an wedrenn ma dhedhi? Yw!
A nyns yw an nessa karr dhe Vr Martyn?
Yw! Ev yw dhe Vr Martyn, dell dybav.
O an eskisyow dhedha? Ens!
A nyns o an diwes na dhe Wella?
Nag o! Dhe Gerensa o.
My a verrhas ow hows mes ny
verrhasons aga hows ynsi.
98
Oberenn 34.1
Provide questions to which the replies are given, e.g.:
Eus! Yma broder dhymm. Eus broder dhis?
1. Eus! Yma kath dhedhi.
4. Nag esa! Nyns esa hwoer dhedha.
2. Nag eus! Nyns eus skath dhodho.
5. Eus! Yma tokyn genes.
3. Esa! Yth esa euryor dhe'n gour na.
6. Nag eus. Nyns eus kollel-boket
genev.
Oberenn 34.2
Put the statements into the past tense, e.g.:
Yma goel ledan dhe'n skath. Yth esa goel ledan dhe'n skath.
1. Yma lowarth bras dhe Vr Collings.
2. Nyns eus lyverva dhe'n dre.
tiek?
Oberenn 34.3
Put each statement into the past tense, e.g.:
An mappa ma yw dhe'n dyskador. An mappa ma o dhe'n dyskador.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
An gador ma yw dhymm.
Oll an mebyl ma yw dhe Vtrs Palmer.
An ki drog na yw dhodho.
Nyns yw an kota loes ma dhymm.
Yw an jynn-amontya nowydh dhe Beder?
A nyns yw an koffi ma dhis?
Oberenn 34.4
Make the indefinite noun definite in each case, changing the verb and the word order
where required, e.g.: Yth esa kweth teg dhedhi. An gweth teg o dhedhi.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
99
Oberenn 34.5
Translate the sentences into Cornish using the key verb which is given together with the
adjective from which it is derived, e.g.: He lowered his voice. (isel/iselhe) Ev a iselhas
y lev.
1.
2.
3.
4.
All is lost
An dre oll
Ragon ni oll
Hemma oll
The grammatical distinction is that in the first set of Cornish statements the word
oll is part of a possessive construction and in the second set it is in apposition to what
precedes it.
Thus
and
Oll an dus
An dus oll
100
MANN m. 'nothing':
There are several ways of expressing the meaning 'none at all'.
1.
In a negative statement the noun is followed by the word vyth 'any' (=
bydh) in this permanently mutated form:
Tra 'thing' + vyth = travyth 'anything'
The negative may be implied rather than explicitly stated:
Nyns eus karr vyth y'n fordh
A leveris ev travyth?
Ger vyth!
A welsys jy an edhen na?
Travyth!
2.
He said nothing
By making the statement negative and using the word onan 'one':
Not
one
of
them
turned
COMPOSITION
To say that something is made of a certain material or to say that a specific
number of a group is meant, the preposition a2 'of' is used:
Ev a welas ros a horn
Yw an amari ma gwrys a brenn-derow?
Ugens a'n fleghes a wortas a-dhelergh
Kans anedha a dhehwelis
MORE PREPOSITIONS
The prepositions which have personal ending can be grouped according to the
vowel which occurs in the ending of the first and second persons singular. This is most
usually -o- as in the preposition yn 'in', 'on' (see Part 28).
Like yn are the following prepositions.
yn-dannov
yn-dannos
yn-danno
yn-danni
a-dhannov
a-dhannos
a-dhanno
a-dhanni
yn-dann2
under me
under you (s)
under him/it
under her/it
from
from
from
from
'under'
yn-dannon
yn-dannowgh
yn-danna
a-dhann2
under me
under you (s)
under him/it
under her/it
'from under'
a-dhannon
a-dhannowgh
a-dhanna
under us
under you (pl)
under them
from under us
from under you (pl)
from under them
a-ugh
'above'
a-ughov
above me
a-ughon
above us
a-ughos
above you (s)
a-ughowgh
above you (pl)
a-ughto
above him/it
a-ughta
above them
a-ughti
above her/it
Heb 'without' and rag 'for' also with -o- final, have been set out in Part 28, and a-rag 'in
front of' is like rag.
101
'beside'
rybon
rybowgh
rybdha
beside us
beside you (pl)
beside them
dres
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
'beyond', 'over'
dreson
dresowgh
dresta
beyond us
beyond you (pl)
beyond them
dre2
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
'through'
dredhon
dredhowgh
dredha
through us
through you (pl)
through them
'between'
yntredhon
yntredhowgh
yntredha
between us
between you (pl)
between them
rybov
rybos
rybdho
rybdhi
beside
beside
beside
beside
dresov
dresos
dresto
dresti
beyond
beyond
beyond
beyond
dredhov
dredhos
dredho
dredhi
through
through
through
through
yntredhov
yntredhos
yntredho
yntredhi
yntra/ynter
between me
between you (s)
between him/it
between her/it
The prepositions a2 'of', 'from' and war2 'on' have been set out in Part 28 and
have 1s. and 2s. endings in -a-. Like war are diwar and a-dhiwar 'from off'.
The prepositions orth 'at' and diworth 'from' have the same endings in -i. Orth is
repeated here from Part 28 for ease of reference:
orth
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
orthiv
orthis
orto
orti
at
at
at
at
diworthiv
diworthis
diworto
diworti
from
from
from
from
diworth
me
you (s)
him/it
her/it
'at'
orthyn
orthowgh
orta
at us
at you (pl)
at them
'from'
diworthyn
diworthowgh
diworta
from us
from you (pl)
from them
The prepositions dhe2 'to' and gans with have endings peculiar to themselves and have
been set out in Part 28.
Some prepositions are made up of two parts. Yn kever 'about', 'regarding' is an example.
It comes before a noun without mutation: yn kever an hwedhel na 'concerning that
story'. If however it is to be followed by a pronoun, then the possessive adjectives are put
before the second part of the preposition with any mutation which is appropriate: yn ow
hever, yn dha gever, yn y gever, yn hy hever, yn agan kever, yn agas kever, yn
aga hever, 'concerning me', etc. Other, similar, prepositions will be noted in the
Vocabularies as they occur.
102
GERVA
a-barth dhe prep.
on behalf of
a-dhelergh adv.
behind, to the rear
a-dhistowgh/distowgh adv immediately
a vydh
3s. of bos 'will be'
ankor, -s m.
anchor
bedh, -ow m.
grave, tomb
blew coll.
hair
blewynn, -ow m.
a hair
dans, dens m.
tooth
derwenn, -ow f.
an oak tree
dhe les
useful
meur dhe les
very useful
efan adj.
wide, spacious
goel, -yow m.
sail
gols coll.
the hair of (head)
govynn, -ow m.
question
gwrys adj.
made, done
gwynnrudh adj.
pink
bryj-yon, bros (brojyas)
dri, dre (dros)
fisten-a (-as)
garm-a (-as)
boil
bring
hurry
shout
howldrevel m.
howlsedhes m.
kalter, -yow f.
kansblydhen,-ynyow f
leth m.
marow adj.
nown m.
yma nown dhymm
poder adj.
puber m.
rewer, -oryon m.
ros, -ow f.
skentel adj.
syghes m.
yma syghes dhymm
yeynell ,-ow f.
yn kever prep
.
goel-ya (-yas)
gorthyb-i (-is)
govynn (-as)
sail
answer
ask
DASWEL - REVIEW
Ystynn dhymm nebes leth, mar pleg.
Yma syghes dhymm.
Oll ahanan a yll gorthybi dhe'n govynn na .
Oll an gerens (pl. of kar) yw marow lemmyn.
Nebes a'n hynwyn yw kernewek, dell hevel.
A-barth oll ahanan, 'Meur ras!'
Yw oll ahanowgh parys?
Nyns eus denvydh omma kynth yw
hi seyth eur lemmyn.
Nyns yw onan ahanowgh krev lowr
dhe sevel an men ma.
An pastiow da ma yw gwrys a vewin. An
vamm a brenas an kig yn kikti Mr Ross, an
kiger. Ev a werth an gwella bewin.
An bowjiow yw gwrys a brenn.
An hwegynnow na o gwrys a sugra gwynnrudh
103
Oberenn 35.1
Translate the key phrase and use it to complete the sentence, e.g.:
..a dheuth dhe'n kuntelles. (All the members) Oll an eseli a dheuth dhe'n kuntelles.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
104
Oberenn 35.2
Convert the sentences so that they have the opposite meaning to that given, using the
key phrase given in place of oll, e.g.: Oll an dus a evas koffi du. Ny evas den vydh
koffi du.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
BEFORE and AFTER The two words most frequently used here are kyns 'before' and wosa
'after':
Golgh dha dhiwleuv kyns dybri dha voes!
food
In the first two examples the words kyns 'before' and wosa 'after' are used with a
verbal noun.
In the third example a possessive adjective, y2 'his', is used to give the meaning
'his being'.
In the last example a possessive adjective, agan, 'our', is used to give the literal
meaning 'our seeing' and this is equivalent to the English 'seeing us'.
GERVA
a'y
a'y
a'y
a'y
anvodh
esedh
sav
vodh
a'y wrowedh
breus, -ow m.
bys vykken adv.
diwleuv dual
diwysek adj.
dydhlyver, -vrow m.
euth m.
forn, -ow f.
gwari, -ow m.
gwithyas gwithysi m
gwithyas kres
hal, -ow f.
hos, heyji m.
105
morthol, -ow m.
pal, -yow f.
pell adj.
plos adj.
poll, -ow m.
pow, -yow m.
prysk coll.
pryskenn, -ow f.
res yw
rych adj.
serrys (orth) adj.
soedh, -ow f.
soedhva, -ow f.
soweth excl.
strel, -yow m.
Syllan f.
tamm, temmyn m.
tamm ha tamm
hammer
spade
far
dirty
pool, pit
country(side)
bushes
bush
it is necessary
rich
angry (with)
work, office
office (place)
unfortunately
mat, rug
Isles of Scilly
piece, bit
bit by bit
kert, -ow m.
keskows, -ow m.
kornell, -ow f.
kweth, -ow f.
lin, -yow m.
linenn, -ow f.
lin coll.
linenn, -ow f.
lynn, -ow m.
menydh, -yow m.
mogh pl.
daskorr (-as)
dons-ya (-yas)
gwith-a (-as)
jynnskrif-a (-as)
keskews-el (-is)
liw-ya (-yas)
meg-i (mogas)
lorry
conversation
corner
cloth, garment
line
line, thread
linen, flax
a piece of linen,
lake
mountain
pigs
tasik m.
tas-gwynn,
tasow-wynn m.
towlenn,-ow f.
treweythyow adv.
tros, -yow m.
uvel adj.
yeyn adj.
yowynk adj.
yn mysk prep.
return, restore
dance
guard
type
converse
colour
smoke
omwisk-a (-as)
omwolgh-i (-as)
pleg-ya (-yas)
serr-i (sorras)
serri orth
tyl-i, tal (tylis)
daddy
grandfather
programme, plan
sometimes
noise
humble
cold
young
amongst (like yn
kever)
dress oneself
wash oneself
fold, bend,
be pleasing to
make/be angry,
be angry with
pay, owe
DASWEL - REVIEW (a'm = a+ow; ha'y2 = ha+y or ha+hy; a'y3 = a+y or a+hy;
a'ga3 = a+aga; y'ga3 = yn+aga)
Yth esen a'm esedh hag i ow tonsya.
Yma Peder ow kolghi fos yn unn stevell ha'y
wreg ow liwya fosow an stevell arall.
Yth esa an vamm a'y sav ha'n fleghes ow
kwari.
Yma perghenn an boesti ow jynn-skrifa gans
unn bys hag ev ow megi yn keth prys.
Yth esens i a'ga gorwedh y'ga gweli ha'n
vamm ow pareusi aga hansel.
Omwolgh ha my owth omwiska!
Wosa redya an dowlenn my a geskewsis yn
hy hever gans ow gour.
An drehevyans o melin goth kyns y vos
diwotti, herwydh y berghenn.
Karol a lanhas an lestri kyns aga daskorr
dhe'n lestrier.
106
a Note that the future tense of bos, a vydh, is also used to express an habitual action.
b The word dydh m. 'day' becomes jydh after an 'n' at the end of the previous word. So
an jydh 'the day' and unn jydh 'one day'. The plural remains unchanged: an dydhyow
'the days'.
Hwedhel Agan Taves III
The Story of Our Language III
Wosa kelli pennow hy geryow -os ha re erell, an yeth Predennek
koth a drelyas hag yndella y sevis tamm ha tamm Kembrek koth ha
Predennek koth a'n Howlsedhes.
Wosa mones tus pals a-dreus an mor yn kres an pympes
kansblydhen hag arta orth penn an hweghves kansblydhen yth esa
teyr rann a'n yeth Predennek koth.
Der an kansblydhynyow an teyr yeth a dheuth ha bos (=
became) dihaval, Kembrek, Kernewek ha Bretonek.
Yma genen lyver ha'y hanow yn Latin yw
Vocabularium
Cornicum, henn yw Gerva Gernewek. Yma ynni lies ger a Gernewek
koth ha rybdha aga far yn Latin.
Ottomma nebes ensamplow anedha ha'ga (ha'ga = ha+aga) far
yn Kernewek Kemmyn:
arluit
arloedh
cuit
koes
guirion
gwiryon
diskient
diskians
skuid
skoes
menit
menydh
107
Oberenn 36.1
Link each pair of sentences together using ha or hag, e.g.:
Margh a veg. Yma ev ow liwya fos an chambour.
Margh a veg hag ev ow liwya fos an chambour.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Oberenn 36.2
Replace kyns with wosa in the sentences, e.g.:
An tas a veg unn sigaretenn kyns mones dh'y weli.
An tas a veg unn sigaretenn wosa mones dh'y weli.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Oberenn 36.3
Translate the following sentences into Cornish.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
avelon
as us
avelowgh
as you (pl)
avella as them
One person or thing may exceed another in some way. In English this is expressed
by words like 'taller', 'shorter'.
Janet yw hirra es Lisa
108
English adds the syllable '-er' to the adjective. In Cornish the same meaning is
given by doubling the last consonant and adding -a. If the consonant is already double
this remains.
Some final consonants are 'hardened' as well as being doubled, for example a final
-b becomes -pp-, a final -v becomes -ff-. The vocabularies will give the comparative form
of each adjective.
The second member of the comparison is introduced by the word es or ages. They
have the same meaning, 'than'. There are personal endings to es and ages also.
(ag)esov
than I
(ag)eson
than we
(ag)esos
than you (s)
(ag)esowgh than you (pl)
(ag)esso
than he/it
(ag)essa
than they
(ag)essi
than she
Note that the forms of the third person have -ss-.
The words moy 'more' and (an) moyha are sometimes put before the adjective to
make the comparison. This is necessarily so with awkward words like a-varr 'early', so
moy a-varr 'earlier' and with past participles like parys 'ready', an moyha parys 'the
most ready', moy terrys 'more broken'. In all other cases the regular comparative is
preferable, e.g. kernewekka 'more Cornish'.
When the comparative adjective is used to denote the highest degree of the
quality, it comes before its noun without any mutation.
Bronn Wennili yw an ughella
menydh yn Kernow
good
bad
much, many
little, few
near
gwell
gweth
moy
le
nes
better
worse
more
less
nearer
(an)
(an)
(an)
(an)
(an)
gwella
gwettha
moyha
lyha
nessa
(the)
(the)
(the)
(the)
(the)
best
worst
most
least
nearest
DASWRIANS - REPETITION
In English the prefix 're-' can mean 'again' as in 're-do': 'I'll re-do the garden'. In
Cornish the same meaning is given by prefixing das2 or as2 to a verb. Das- is more usual
and mutates some letters as the vocabularies will show:
gul
do, make
daswul
redo, remake
leverel
say
dasleverel
say again
GERVA
a-wosa adv.
a'n par ma/na
bys (yn/dhe2) prep.
den bal, tus bal m.
dihwans adv.
edhen, ydhyn f.
gwivrenn, -ow f.
hware adv.
kelorn, kelern f.
afterwards
of this/that kind
up to
miner
eagerly
bird
wire
suddenly
bucket
kepar ha
kepar ha dell2
krow, -yow m.
medhyk, -ygyon m.
mil, -yow m.
milvil, -yow m.
mowes, -i f.
our, -yow m.
res yw
109
adj.
brav
bryntin
byghan
diwedh
es
feusik
fol
glan
glyb
hweg
isel
comp. adj.
braffa
bryntinna
byghanna
diwettha
esya
feusikka
folla
glanna
glyppa
hwekka
isella
adj.
koth
krev
kul
lowen
nowydh
oer
poeth
salow
skav
trist
ughel
finer
finer
smaller
later
easier
luckier
more foolish
cleaner
wetter
sweeter
lower
comp. adj.
kottha
kreffa
kulla
lowenna
nowyttha
oerra
poettha
salwa
skaffa
trista
ughella
older
stronger
narrower
happier
newer
colder
hotter
safer
lighter
sadder
higher
The common word tre which was formerly trev, has the original meaning
'farmstead', 'settlement'. It now means either 'home' or 'town'. These are differentiated
thus:HOME tre or yn tre at home
TOWN y'n dre in town
dhe-dre homewards,
dhe'n dre to town
The word kyn5 'though' comes before a verb. If the verb starts with a vowel or with h-,
then kyn becomes kynth:
Kyn hwelas an lyther, ny redyas ger anodho
Though he saw the letter, he did not read a word of it
Kynth o an gewer toemm, nyns eth hi dhe'n dre mes gortos tre
Though the weather was hot, she did not go to town but stayed home
diskwedh-es (-as)
diwisk-a (-as)
doen, deg, dug
goslow-es (-as)
(orth)
gwesk-el (-is)
show
undress
bring, carry
listen
(to)
strike
kar-a (-as)
nij-a (-as)
syw-ya (-yas)
sen-i (sonas)
dysk-i (-as) (dhe)
dysk-i (-as) (gans)
love
fly
follow
ring, sound
teach (to)
learn (with, from)
DASWEL - REVIEW
An re ma yw mar dha avel hemma,
dell glewav.
Nyns yw an wivrenn mar hir avel an
huni arall.
Bys dhe'n eur ma nyns yw an gewer
mar lyb dell o hi de.
Nyns ov mar dhrog avella, dell dybav.
Yw Margh mar drist dell o ev Dy' Sul?
Hware yth omglewis mar lowen avel edhen.
A nyns yw hy chi mar vyghan avel
krow den bal?
Puptra a vydh mar salow avel chi pronter.
Nyns on ni mar feusik avelli.
Na gows mar fol!
Lowena o mar skav avelov ow tonsya.
Dell glewav, an korev na yw kepar
ha dowr toemm.
Esta mar oer dell leverydh?
Mar es yw dyski Kernewek avel
dyski ken yeth.
Dew our diwettha o pan dheuth hi.
Milvil yw moy es naw kans mil a gans mil.
110
111
Oberenn 37.1
Translate the key phrase and complete the sentence with it, e.g.:
An chi ma yw...chi Mr Toms. (as large as)
An chi ma yw mar vras avel chi Mr Toms.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Oberenn 37.2
Translate the key phrase and complete the sentence with it, e.g.:
Tour an eglos yw .... ages to ow chi. (higher than)
Tour an eglos yw ughella ages to ow chi.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Oberenn 37.3
Translate the following phrases into Cornish, e.g.: The nearest house. An nessa chi.
1. The weakest child.
2. The least money.
3. The cleanest room.
Oberenn 37.4
Read or listen to the passage. It will be read twice. Then answer in Cornish the questions
which follow.
Pol a drig yn Truru mes ev a ober yn Sen Ostell. Pub dydh ev a dh'y ober yn y
garr. Nyns yw an karr ma an nowyttha y'n Kernow na nyns yw an gwettha. Skav
lowr yw, kynth yw koth. Ny yll Pol prena onan gwell hwath, onan kreffa
martesen. Kepar ha lies den yw agan Pol. Ev a yv korev ha mos dhe dhonsya
pub Dy' Sadorn gans y gowethes, Salli.
1. Ple'ma chi Pol?
2. Ple'ma y ober?
3. Fatell yw karr Pol?
In this last statement the pronoun y 'his' takes the place of the noun maw in the
first statement. When auxiliary verbs are used in a periphrastic sentence (see Glossary)
the pronoun objects, 'me', 'you', 'him', 'her', 'us', 'you' 'them' become in Cornish the
possessive pronouns 'my', 'your', 'his', 'her', 'our', 'your', 'their' before the verbal noun, so
that the sentence given as an example is, word for word, 'Pearl did his helping'. These
possessive adjectives cause mutations as described in Part 24.
Peder a wrug ow gweles
Hi a vynn dha glewes (klewes)
Peter saw me
She will hear you
112
If the sentence is a question introduced by piw, py, pyth, pandra, etc., then the
construction is as above:
Piw a vynn ow gweres?
Py flogh a wra y dhyski?
Pyth a wra y lanhe?
Pandr'a yll y dhaskorr?
When these words denote the object, then the possessive adjective must still be
used:
Piw a vynn'ta y weles?
Py chi a wrug Mr Potter y brena?
Pandr'a yllons i y wul?
to
and
in
dhe'm
ha'm
y'm
dhe'th5
ha'th5
y'th5
dh'y2
ha'y2
yn y2
dh'y3
ha'y3
yn hy3
your (pl)
agas
a'gas
their
aga3
a'ga3
dh'agan
ha'gan
y'gan
dh'agas
ha'gas
y'gas
dh'ag3
ha'ga3
y'ga3
d>t
g>h
go > wo
gw > w
m>v
113
CONSECUTIVE ACTIONS
In the English statement
Pam came into the room and sat down and read a book
three actions are named as being performed one after another by the same person. The
Cornish equivalent is:
Pam a dheuth y'n stevell hag esedha ha redya lyver
You will notice that the Cornish uses a verbal noun for the second and third actions,
the person and tense having been shown by the first, inflected verb, a dheuth.
This is only done when the statement is affirmative, when the same person is
involved and when there is no change of tense indicated. If there are such changes or if
the actions are to be separately emphasised, then the subsequent actions must indicate
this by use of inflected verbs. The conjunction is usually ha(g) but others occur e.g. mes
'but', po 'or'.
Consecutive actions linked:
Pam a dheuth y'n stevell hag esedha ha redya lyver
Pam came into the room (and) sat down and read a book
Consecutive actions separately emphasised:
Pam a dheuth y'n stevell hag a esedhas hag a redyas lyver
Pam came into the room and sat down and read a book
or
Pam a dheuth y'n stevell ha hi a esedhas ha hi a redyas lyver
Pam came into the room and she sat down and she read a book
Negative statement:
Pam a dheuth y'n stevell mes ny redyas hi lyver
Pam came into the room but she did not read a book
Consecutive actions with a change of tense:
Pam a dheuth y'n stevell hag yma hi ena hwath
Pam came into the room and she is still there
Consecutive actions with a change of person:
Pam a dheuth y'n stevell ha my a gewsis orti
Pam came into the room and I spoke to her
GERVA
bywnans, -ow m.
dasserghyans m.
gradh, -ow m.
gwari, -ow m.
heskenn, -ow f.
lugarn, lugern m.
medhel adj.
byw-a (-as)
dassergh-i (-as)
drehev-el (-is)
herdh-ya (-yas)
hwerth-in
(hwarthas)
hwil-as, hwila (-as)
kav-oes, kyv (-as)
kudh-a (-as)
life
revival
step, grade
stage play
saw
lamp
soft
live
revive
build, raise
push
laugh
look for, try
have, get
hide
mernans m.
sans, sens m.
tassans m.
sebon m.
skeul, -yow f.
skubell, -ow f.
tansys, -yow m.
merw-el, merow (-is)
minhwerth-in
(minhwarthas)
pes-ya, pys (-yas)
prev-i (provas)
skub-a (-as)
toell-a (-as)
tregh-i (troghas)
114
death
saint
patron saint
soap
ladder
brush
bonfire
die
smile
continue
prove, test
sweep
deceive
cut
DASWEL - REVIEW
Plema'n boes, mar pleg? Meg a
wra y bareusi.
Ny allav y drelya yn Sowsnek.
Piw a yll aga dannvon dhodho
dh'aga frevi.
Ni a vynn y dhiwedha a-dhistowgh.
Kemmer an wedrenn arta. Ny
wrug Jenni hy lenwel a win.
A wre'ta agan aswonn? Drog yw
genev! Ny wrav agas aswonn.
Ottomma an selsigennow ma! Re goth
yns, sur. Piw a vynn aga dybri lemmyn?
A wra an venyn na ow hara? Ny
wonn! Ny wonn!
Pubonan a synsis an lovan ha'y thenna.
Yma an tas ow palas y'n lowarth.
Piw a vynn y weres?
115
goth
skrifas
oberow
pals,
gwariow,
yn
Mes yma nebes oberow gesys dhyn hwath. Yma dhyn dew wari
an oesow kres ha bardhonieth ynwedh. Yma tri gwari yn-dann
hanow An Ordinale.
An kynsa gwari anedha yw Origo Mundi, hemm yw dalleth an by,
an nessa yw Passio Domini, hemm yw mernans Krist, han trysa,
Resurrexio Domini, hemm yw dasserghyans Krist.
Yma ynwedh gwari, Bywnans Meriasek. Meriasek yw tassans
Kammbronn ha lemmyn yma genen Bywnans Ke, nowydh kevys.
An bardhonieth yw Passhyon Agan Arloedh, hemm yw
mernans ha dasserghyans Krist.
Oberenn 38.1
Replace the noun which is underlined with a possessive adjective in each case, e.g.:
Pam a vynnas gweres hy gour. Pam a vynnas y weres.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
116
Oberenn 38.2
Translate the sentences into Cornish. The verbal noun is given in each case, e.g.:
Tamsyn a yll .... (help you [sing.] (gweres). Tamsyn a yll dha weres.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Oberenn 38.3
Translate the key words and use them to complete the sentences, making any necessary
mutation changes, e.g.:
Diskwedh e .... koweth! (to my). Diskweth e dhe'm koweth!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The reason why is introduced either by drefenn because and the verbal noun bos
to be with a possessive adjective before it (Example 3), or by a noun in the possessive
construction after it (Example 4). You have already met this construction with kyns and
wosa in Part 36.
Prag y trigas Mighal tre?
Alternatively, to emphasise the subject, it may be put first and joined to the verbal
noun by dhe2 to. Examples 5 and 6:
5 Drefenn ev dhe vos skwith
6 Drefenn y wreg dhe vos klav.
If a verb other than bos is required in the reply, then the construction with dhe2 is
used. Example 7:
7 Drefenn ev dhe weres y wreg
ow kolghi an lestri.
The statements which provide these answers are open in that there is nothing to
indicate at what time the action occurred. This has to be taken from the context.
117
from here/now
from there/then
unwise, more unwise
examination
baby
poetry
forecast
awake
bicycle
shape, form
mouth
playground
cover
fellow
factory
well disposed (to)
better disposed
late
aeroplane
camera
appos-ya (-yas)
dargan-a (-as)
gwayt-ya (-yas)
hwarvos, hwer (hwarva)
kampoell-a (-as)
examine
forecast
expect
happen
mention
kay, -ow m.
ker, adj. kerra
Kerneweger, -oryon m
kert, -ow m
kloes, -yow f
kons, -yow m
kowrvargh, kowrvergh m
lows adj lowsa
lewyer,lewyoryon m
managh, menegh m
managhti, -ow m.
olifans, -es m.
ranndir, -yow m.
seulabrys adv.
sewen adj.
sewenna
souder, -oryon m.
soweth interj.
taksi, -s m.
toth da
trigva, -ow f.
tynn adj. tynna
lesk-i (loskas)
perth-i (porthas) kov a2
sewen-i (-as)
skoedh-ya (-yas)
tyb-i (-is)
quay, platform
dear, dearer
Cornish speaker
lorry
rack
pavement
camel
loose, looser
driver
monk
monastery
elephant
region, district
formerly
successful
more successful
soldier
alas
taxi
quickly
address
tight, intense tighter
burn
remember
succeed, prosper
support
think
118
DASWEL - REVIEW
Prag y prenas Pol an korev?
Drefenn ow bos heb arghans.
Prag y teuthons i ena?
Drefenn bos hwans dhedha a'gan gweles.
Prag y targanas an gwas kewer deg
hag yma hi ow kul glaw?
Drefenn ev dhe vos gokki, sur.
Prag y hworfennowgh agas ober dhe
beder eur pub Dy' Gwener?
Drefenn bos hwans dhyn a vones tre
moy a-varr.
Prag y tybydh yndella?
Drefenn nag eus ken fordh dhe dybi.
Prag nag esosta ow skoedhya dha goweth?
Drefenn nag ov mar anfur dhe wul
henna y'n prys ma.
Prag y tregh ev an skorrennow na?
Drefenn ev dh'aga leski war an tansys.
Prag na worr Hykka y basti y'n forn?
Drefenn ev dh'y dhybri yeyn.
119
(Kernewek Kemmyn)
Oberenn 39.1
Make the following questions negative, e.g.:
Prag y tybons i yndella? Prag na dybons i yndella?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Prag
Prag
Prag
Prag
Prag
Prag
Prag
Prag
y hwre'ta y skoedhya?
y hworfennowgh agas ober dhe beder eur?
y hwaytydh jy gorthyp?
y leskons i del marow y'ga lowarth?
y perthyn ni kov a henna?
y sewenas hi?
y fynn'ta esedha omma?
yth igoras Kolan y anow y'n kuntelles?
120
Oberenn 39.2
Match the answers given below (a to f) to the questions (1 to 6).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Prag
Prag
Prag
Prag
Prag
Prag
na worthyp ev?
a. Drefenn hy mamm dhe bareusi hy hoen.
yth eth hi tre?
b. Drefenn na vynnons i dos.
yth evas Jori dew hanafas a de?
c. Drefenn bos hy throes shyndys.
na dheuthons i genowgh?
d. Drefenn na yll ev klewes.
yth yw an fleghes plos?
e. Drefenn bos seghes bras dhodho.
na dhons hi?
f. Drefenn i dhe wari y'n pras
Oberenn 39.3
Read or listen to the following passage. It will be read twice. Then answer, in Cornish,
the questions which follow.
Ass o Pedrik anfur! Nyns eth dhe'n dre gans y wreg drefenn ev dhe oberi yn y
lowarth. Yth esa hwans dhodho a wortos tre.
"Gwith an baban ytho!" yn medh y wreg, Lynda.
"Prag na vynn'ta doen an baban genes tejy?" Ev a wovynnas.
"Drefenn hi dhe vos lowenna omma genes es bos genev yn gwerthjiow leun a
dus." Lynda a worthybis. "Duw genes!"
Nyns o Pedrik hegar orth y wreg mes ny sorras orti, drefenn ev dhe vos gour
da.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Fatell o Pedrik?
Prag ma vynnas Pedrik mos dhe'n dre?
Prag na vynnas Lynda doen an baban gensi?
Fatell o Pedrik wosa lavarow y wreg?
Prag na sorras Pedrik orth y wreg?
121
RANN 5 HEVELEPTER
Oberenn 5.1
1. Nyns yw an dra ma prenn, dell hevel
2. Nyns yw honna Maria.
3. Nyns yw an eglos ma bryntin
4. Nyns yw an re ma losow
Oberenn 5.2
1. Yw hemma kenter? Yw/Nag yw.
2. Yw an voes ma derow? Yw/Nag yw.
3 Yw an diwes ma gwin frynkek? Yw/Nag yw
4. Yw an re ma mebyl? Yw/Nag yw
Oberenn 5.3
1. Kenter yw
2. Gweder yw
3. Eglos yw
4. Avalow yns
RANN 6 STUDH
Oberenn 6.1
1. An eglos yw koth, dell dybav.
2. An traow yw parys, sur.
3. An fleghes ma yw feusik
4. An vowes yw lowen lemmyn
5. An mebyl yw gwerthys, dell hevel
6. An fordh ma yw kul
Oberenn 6.2
1. An maw ma yw fol.
2. An losow ma yw byw
3. An den na y w gwann
4. An gegin yw kul
5. An avalow ma yw hweg
6. Henn yw da
Oberenn 6.3
1. Nyns yw honna Fiona.
2. Nyns yw an drehevyans na Hel an Dre.
3. Nyns yw an re na gwerthys.
4. Nyns yw an gwin ma hweg.
5. Nyns yw an gweder ma dhe les.
6. Nyns yw an jynn-skrifa parys lemmyn.
Oberenn 6.4
1. Yw an gwin parys?
2. Yw an mebyl gwerthys?
3. Yw an draow dhe les?
4. Yw an den na fol?
5. Yw an drehevyans na eglos?
6. Yw an vowes lowen lemmyn?
Oberenn 6.5
1. A nyns yw an lyver ma dhe les?
2. A nyns yw Hel an Dre nowydh?
3. A nyns yw an vowes salow lemmyn?
4. A nyns yw an re ma parys?
5. A nyns yw an den ma feusik?
6. A nyns yw an gweder gwerthys?
122
RANN 7 DASWRIANS
Oberenn 7.1
1. Gonn. Na wonn. 2. Gonn. Na wonn
3. Gonn. Na wonn
Oberenn 7.2
1. Py aval yw hweg?
2. Py re yw dhe les?
3. Py pluvek yw honna?
4. Py gwin yw parys?
5. Py fleghes yw lowen?
6. Py stamp yw kembrek?
Oberenn 7.3
1. An gewer yw poeth.
2. Hi a wra glaw
3. Hi a wra ergh.
4. An gewer yw splann
5. Hi yw niwlek
.6. Hi yw awelek
RANN 8 GOROW HA BENOW
Oberenn 8.1
1. An gour
2. An brithel
3. An kenderow
4. An le
5. An noy
6. An gorthugher
7. An dus
8. An diogyon
9. An byskadoryon
Oberenn 8.2
1. An nos
2. An geniterow
3. An vodrep
4. An nith
5. An genter
6. An gador
7. An gegin
8. An wreg
9. An hwoer
Oberenn 8. 3
1. Yw an gewer teg?
2. Eus ke ryb an koes?
3. Yw an le'ti ma nowydh?
4. Eus anwoes war an den na?
5. Yw an tiek na feusik?
6. A nyns eus pluvek war an gador?
Oberenn 8.4
1. An vamm-wynn yw koth lemmyn.
2. Yma anwoes war an tas.
3. An gewer yw toemm.
4. An vamm yw Kernowes.
5. An teylu ma yw lowen.
6. Hi a wra ergh lemmyn
RANN 9 DESKRIFA TRAOW
Oberenn 9.1
1. Ottena drehevyans nowydh.
2. Eus aval byghan ena?
3. Yowann yw maw fol, dell dybav.
4. Kernow yw pow keltek, sur.
5. Yma gweder byghan omma.
6. Nyns yw chi nowydh, dell hevel.
Oberenn 9.2
1. Eus benyn goth ena?
2. Lanstefan yw tre vras.
3. Pyth yw hemma? Kador gembrek yw
4. Leurlenn vrav yw honna
5. Ottena an eglos teg!
6. Yma moes vyghan omma.
7. An Tamer yw avon dhown.
Oberenn 9.3
1. An re ma yw tus kernewek.
2. An re ma yw tus vretonek.
3. Yma pyskadoryon vrav ena.
4. Pyskadoryon dha yns.
5. Ottena benynes koth.
6. Benynyes kembrek yns.
7. A nyns yw an re na fleghes vyghan?
8. Fleghes lowen yns.
9. Pluvennow byghan yns.
10. Eus chiow bras ena?
Oberenn 9.4
1. Piw yw an re na?
2. Piw yw henna?
3. Piw yw henna?
4. Piw yw honna?
5. Piw yw an re na?
6. Piw yw honna?
Oberenn 9.5
1. Fatell yw an dra? Parys yw.
2. Fatell yw an teylu? Lowen yw.
3. Fatell yw Alban? Teg yw.
4. Fatell yw an badell na? Plos yw.
5. Fatell yw an gador-vregh? Da yw.
6. Fatell yw an re na. Bryntin yns.
Oberenn 9.6
1. Py par gwin yw hemma?
2. Py par kar yw henna?
3. Py par yeth yw homma?
4. Py par prenn yw hemma?
5. Py par karr yw henna?
6. Py par eglos yw honna?
RANN 10 PEGHENNIETH
Oberenn 10.1
1. Daras an hel
2. Penn an fordh
3. Penn an genter
4. Hwedhel an pyskador
5. Dorn an maw
6. Kares an vamm-wynn
7. Flows an flogh
8. Gwydh an koes
Oberenn 10.2
1. Mab pyskador
6. Yn kres an dre.
3. Hwedhel tiek
7. Kanoryon
5. Broder tioges
6. Penn koes
Oberenn 10.3
1. Lyver Jori
3. Peder benyn
3. Noy Pol
5. Diw vowes
123
Oberenn 14.2
1. An dhiw vowes.
2. An dhew diek
3. An dhiw bluvenn
4. An dhew hwegynn
5. An dhew wolow
6. An dhiw gestenenn
Oberenn 14.3
1. Pymp fordh
2. Peswardhek toll
3. Deg chi
4. Ugens pluvenn
5. Tri le
6. Unnek karrji
7. Seyth jynn-skrifa
8.Teyr thesenn
Oberenn 14.4
1. An golow yw splann
2. Pyth yw an lyver ma?
3. Homm yw lovan hir.
4. Py maw yw henna?
5. Ev yw kenderow Jori.
6. Nyns yw an hwedhel ma gwir.
RANN 15 AN EUR
Oberenn 15.1
1. Deg mynysenn wosa deg eur.
2. Deg eur marnas ugens mynysenn.
3. Seyth eur hanter
4. Pymp mynysenn warn ugens wosa
dewdhek eur.
5. Eth eur marnas kwarter.
6. Peder eur poran.
7. Kwarter wosa unnek eur.
8. A-dro hwegh eur.
9. Naw eur marnas ugens mynysenn
10. Hanter nos poran
Oberenn 15.2
1. Peder eur marnas ugens mynysenn
2. Pymp mynysenn warn ugens wosa eth eur
3. Dewdhek eur marnas pymp mynysenn
4. Ugens mynysen wosa deg eur.
Oberenn 15.3
1. Dhe bymp eur hanter.
2. Dhe gwarter wosa hwegh eur.
3. Dhe dhiw eur.
4. Dhe dhewdhek eur hanter
5. Dhe seyth eur poran
RANN 12 DEGRE
Oberenn 12.1
1. Yw an eglos ma pur goth?
2. My yw pur lowen
3. An gewer yw pur sygh
4. Yw an voes ma re boes?
5. Ev yw re voen.
6. An hwedhel ma yw re hir.
Oberenn 12.2
1. Eus pluvennow lowr ena genowgh?
2. Yw hemma da lowr?
3. Yw an re ma teg lowr?
4. Yns i poes lowr?
RANN 13 LIES TRA
Oberenn 13.1
1. Ottomma lyvrow kernewek
2. Yma an kentrow omma
3. An fleghes na yw lowen
4. Kemmer an avalow, mar pleg
Oberenn 13.2
1. Eus chi ryb an pras?
2. Yw an dre bras?
3. Yw an notenn berr?
4. Yw an badell ma plos?
Oberenn 13.3
1. Margh.
2. Tiek
3. Y'n pras
4. Glyb. Hi a wra glaw
5. Glyb
6. Yn kres an dre.
7. Kanoryon
RANN 14 NIVEROW
Oberenn 14.1
1. Naw kador.
3. Peder benyn
5. Diw vowes
7. Teyr hador
9. Naw chi
2. Unn den
.
4. Ugens karr
6. Tri maw
8. Pymthek plat
10. Dew gi
124
Oberenn 16.4
1. Ymons i y'n sinema.
2. Ymons i a-rag an ostel
3. Ymons i ryb an fordh
4. Ymons i yn Breten Vyghan.
5. Ymons i gans noy Yowann.
Oberenn 18.4
1. Esons i war an leur?
2. Esons i y'n gegin?
3. Esons i y'n stret ma?
4. A nyns esons i war an plat?
Oberenn 18.5
1. Nyns eus lovan y'n skath.
2. Nyns eus bargen-tir bras yn Kernow.
3. Eus chapel yn kres an dre?
4. Eus pronter y'n eglos?
5. Eus folennow gwag y'n lyver ma?
6. Nyns eus myrgh tre hwath.
RANN 20 ERGHI
Oberenn 20.1
1. Ro an lyver dhe Beder!
2. Igor an fenester, mar pleg!
3. Gwra an oberenn ma!
4. Lavar dhymm an hwedhel!
5. Lenn an erva!
6. Dege daras an chambour!
7. Deus omma dhymm!
8. Ke dhe'n gegin!
9. Pys an bluvenn diworth Jori!
10. Skrif an lavar!
125
Oberenn 20.2
1. Rewgh an lyver dhe Beder!
2. Igerewgh an fenester, mar pleg!
3. Gwrewgh an oberenn ma!
4. Leverewgh dhymm an hwedhel!
5. Lennewgh an erva!
6. Degeewgh daras an chambour!
7. Dewgh omma dhymm!
8. Kewgh dhe'n gegin!
9. Pysewgh an bluvenn diworth Jori!
10. Skrifewgh an lavar!
Oberenn 20.3
1. Na ro an lyver dhe Beder!
2. Na igor an fenester, mar pleg!
3. Na wra an oberenn ma!
4. Na lavar dhymm an hwedhel!
5. Na lenn an erva!
6. Na dhege darasa an chambour!
7. Na dheus omma dhymm!
8. Na ge dhe'n gegin!
9. Na bys an bluvenn diworth Jori!
10. Na skrif an lavar!
Oberenn 20.4
1. Na rewgh an lyver dhe Beder!
2. Na igerewgh an fenester, mar pleg!
3. Na wrewgh an oberenn ma!
4. Na leverewgh dhymm an hwedhel!
5. Na lennewgh an erva!
6. Na dhegeewgh an chambour!
7. Na dhewgh omma dhymm!
8. Na gewgh dhe'n gegin!
9. Na bysewgh an bluvenn diworth Jori!
10. Na skrifewgh an lavar!
Oberenn 21.2
1. Osta Albanek?
2. Yw ev koes byghan?
3. Yw hi gerva hir?
4. On ni tew?
5. Owgh hwi fleghes dha?
6. Yns i plos?
Oberenn 21.3
1. Fol os.
2. Gyllys yw ev.
3. Gow yw ev.
4. Devedhys yw hi lemmyn.
5. Bro vras yw hi.
6. Krev on.
7. Shyndys on.
8. Teg owgh
9. Gwann owgh.
10. Lowarthow kul yns.
Oberenn21.4
1. We are happy.
2. We are not fishermen.
3. Isn't she Mrs Bolitho?
4. They are the lazy ones.
5. Am I safe here? You are!
6. Is this carpet new? No!
7. You are Welsh perhaps. We are!
8. Are they not good dances? They are!
RANN 22 HEVELEPTER HA DIHEVELEPTER
Oberenn 22.1
1. An chi ma yw haval orth ostel.
2. Broder Jori yw haval orth mab Lynda.
3. An desenn yw haval orth bara.
4. Hemm yw haval orth henna.
5. Euryor Wella yw haval orth huni Mr
Pennglas.
Oberenn 22.2
1. An chi ma yw dihaval diworth ostel.
2. Broder Jori yw dihaval diworth mab
Lynda.
3. An desenn yw dihaval diworth bara.
4. Hemm yw dihaval diworth henna.
5. Euryor Wella yw dihaval diworth huni
Mr Pennglas.
Oberenn 22.3
1. Write the same story again!
2. They are in the same house.
3. The weather is the same to day as the
weather yesterday.
4. Take the same road as the one before!
5. The boats are in the same harbour
together.
6. Green is not the same colour as green.
RANN 21 MY YW...NYNS OV
Oberenn 21.1
1. Nyns ov boghosek
2. Nyns ov diek.
3. Nyns os flogh gokki
4. Nyns os fur.
5. Nyns yw ev mab Mr Pennglas.
6. Nyns yw ev arghantti.
7. Nyns yw hi benyn deg.
8. Nyns yw hi delenn ell.
9. Nyns on warbarth lemmyn.
10. Nyns on tiogyon.
11. Nyns owgh tus an dre.
12. Nyns owgh parow.
13. Nyns yns skorr bras.
14. Nyns yns kanoryon dha.
126
Oberenn 22.4
1. Ro dhymm ken plat!
2. Diskweth dhymm ken hanaf!
3. Ke dhe gen chambour!
4. Pys ken amanenn diworth an vamm!
5. Gwra ken tra, mar pleg!
6. Leverewgh ken hwedhel!
RANN 23 AN TERMYN TREMENYS
Oberenn 23.1
1. My o drog pes.
2. Lorna o klav
3. An re ma o da lowr.
4. I o pur dhiek
5. Hemm o an keth tra.
6. Piw o an gwettha flogh?
Oberenn 23.2
1. Ens i parow?
2. O an vodrep koth?
3. Ewgh hwi kanoryon dha?
4. O dornla an hanaf terrys?
5. En vy gokki?
6. O ev bargen-tir bras?
Oberenn 23.3
1. Yth esov vy omma.
2. Nyns esos jy ogas dhymm.
3. Esons i y'n ostel na?
4. Yth esowgh hwi yn gorsav an hynshorn.
5. Yth esons i war an treth.
6. Yma an bughes y'n pras arall.
Oberenn 23.4
1. Ni o drog pes.
2. Yth esen y'n keth karr.
3. Glawlenn an tas yw terrys.
4. Yth esa an eglos yn kres an blu.
5. An euryor ma yw nowydh.
6. Nyns esens y'n lyverva.
7. I yw gever, dell hevel.
8. An kommol yw loes.
9. Hwerydh Pam yw feusik.
10. Nyns yw an dus lowen.
RANN 24 PERGHENNIETH
Oberenn 24.1
1. Kemmer dha dhiwes!
2. Y draow yw parys.
3. Henn yw dha vaw.
4. Y dhornleow yw terrys
5. Pyth yw dha vro?
6. My yw y geniterow.
7. Yma dha lyvrow genes.
8. Nyns eus y vebyl omma hwath.
127
Oberenn 24.2
1. Nyns yw aga flat glan.
2. Yth esa aga tharow yn mes.
3. Ow hoen yw parys dhe seyth eur.
4. Nyns yns i ow flasennow.
5. Hy fenn o shyndys
6. I o ow howethesow.
7. Ple'ma aga fleghes?
8. Gorr ow hansel war an voes!
9. Ple'ma hy thas?
10. Pyth yw aga arghantti?
Oberenn 24.3
1. Gwrewgh agas ober!
2. Plema ow lavrek?
3. Dha ji yw koth, dell hevel.
4. Yw agan treth glan?
5. O aga thas pes da?
6. Plema agan glawlenn?
7. Ow henderow yw Jori.
8. Usi dha hwoer genes?
Oberenn 24.4
1. Lowen en.
2. Yn kres tre vyghan.
3. Unnek den.
4. Tri.
5. Duik.
RANN 25 HWARVOSOW TREMENYS
Oberenn 25.1
1. Ty a leveris henna.
2. Hi a lennas an hwedhel.
3. Ev a ganas y'n eglos.
4. My a dhiskwedhas dhis an jynnamontya
5. Maria a worras hy sagh ena.
6. Y das a neuvyas y'n mor.
7. An gath a esedhas war an gweli.
8. An re na a weresas an tiek.
Oberenn 25.2
1. Ty re leveris henna.
2. Hi re lennas an hwedhel.
3. Ev re ganas y'n eglos.
4. My re dhiskwedhas dhis an jynnamontya.
5. Maria re worras hy sagh ena.
6. Y das re neuvyas y'n mor.
7. An gath re esedhas war an gweli.
8. An re na re weresas an tiek.
Oberenn 25.3
1. Ny brenis an radyo
2. A brenas hi pows rudh?
3. Ny brensyn an plasennow.
4. A ny brensons i boes y'n dre?
5. A brensys jy lavrek y'n gwerthji nowydh
na?
6. Ny brenas Jori an korev.
7. Ny brensowgh agas mebyl. Prensyn!
8. A ny brenas an fleghes hwegynnow? Ny
brensons!
Oberenn 25.4
1. Esedhas/Na esedhas.
2. Lennsons/Na lennsons
3. Neuvis/Na neuvis.
4. Gweressyn/Na weressyn.
5. Gorrsons/Na worrsons
6. Leveris/Na leveris.
RANN 26 HWARVOSOW Y'N EUR MA
Oberenn 26.1
1. Ny brenav glawlenn nowydh.
2. Ny evydh dowr.
3. Ny gews ev flows.
4. Ny guntell hi plasennow.
5. Ny vetyn orth agan koweth.
6. Ny virowgh orth an re ma.
7. Ny dennons an lovan warbarth.
8. Ny yskynn Mona an vre.
9. Ny guntell an byskadoryon arghans.
10. Ny gews hemma kernewek da.
11. Ny vir ev orth an bellwolok.
12. Ny bren hi boes y'n dre.
Oberenn 26.2
1. Hwi a vet orth an pronter.
2. I a yskynn an menydh.
3. My a guntell an kaderyow.
4. Ni a vir orth an folenn na.
5. Wella a brenn karr nowydh.
6. An fleghes a yv aga leth.
Oberenn 26.3
1. My a bren kota nowydh pub blydhen.
2. Mighal a yv te gans y hansel.
3. Ny gewssons Kernewek.
4. An re ma a guntell stampow koth.
5. A brenowgh hwi bakken yn gwerthji Mr
Page?
6. A ny virydh jy orth an bellwolok?
7. Ni a vet orth dha vab war an fordh dhe'n
skol.
8. I a worta omma pupprys.
Oberenn 26.4
1. Y'n dre.
4. Y'n skol yth esens.
2. Klav o.
5. Tre yn y weli.
3. Yn poynt da ymons.
128
129
RANN 34 PERGHENIETH
Oberenn 34.1
1. Eus kath dhedhi?
2. Eus skath dhodho?
3. Esa euryor dhe'n gour na?
4. Esa hwoer dhedha?
5. Eus tokyn dhymm?
6. Eus kollel-boket genes?
Oberenn 34.2
1. Yth esa lowarth bras dhe Vr Collings.
2. Nyns esa lyverva dhe'n dre.
3. Esa dewweder dhedhi?
4. A nyns esa meur a dir dhe'n tiek?
Oberenn 34.3
1. An gador ma o dhymm.
2. Oll an mebyl ma o dhe Vtrs Palmer.
3. An ki drog na o dhodho.
4. Nyns o an kota loes dhymm.
5. O an jynn-amontya nowydh dhe Beder?
6. A nyns o an koffi ma dhis?
Oberenn 34.4
1. Yw an bal gernewek dhis?
2. An soedhva yw dhe'n gesva.
3. Nyns o an radyo dhedha.
4. Nyns yw an seghyer dhe'n spiser
5. An bel yw dhe'n fleghes ma.
6. An bows dhu o dhe'n vamm.
7. Nyns yw an lawlenn dhymm.
8. An plasennow yw dhe'n vowes ma.
Oberenn 34.5
1. An dhydhyow a hirha y'n hav
2. An pyskador a verrhas an lovan.
3. Ny lanhasyn an karr.
4. An howl a doemmha an tir.
RANN 35 OLL, NEBES po MANN
Oberenn 35.1
1. Oll anedha o gwann, pur wann.
2. Nebes sethow o terrys.
3. Nebes ahanan re wrug an ober
4. Ny dheuth oll an gorholyon dhe'n porth.
5. Nebes lowarthow yw teg.
6. Kemmer nebes gwin y'n wedrenn.
7. Hwi oll a vydh ena a-dhistowgh
8. Oll an amaris yw leun a draow.
Oberenn 35.2
1. Ny worthybis flogh vydh.
2. Nyns o delenn vydh glas.
3. Nyns yw lyver vydh dhe les.
4. Ny vrojyas hi oy vydh.
5. Ny lammas davas vydh dres ke
130
Oberenn37.3
1. An gwanna flogh
2. An lyha arghans
3. An glanna stevell.
4. An lowenna benyn.
5. An nowyttha lyver.
6. An hwekka tesenn.
Oberenn 37.4
1. Yn Truru y trig ev.
2. Yn Sen Ostell yth ober ev.
3. Skav yw kynth yw koth.
4. Mos dhe dhonsya a wra ev.
5. Korev a yv ev.
6. Salli yw hanow y gowethes.
RANN 38 Y WERES
Oberenn 38.1
1. My a wrug y asa a-rag Hel an Dre.
2. Y nith a vynn hy gorra war hy hador.
3. Piw a yll hy gorfenna?
4. Oll anedha a wra hy dyski.
5. Yowann a vynn hy gweres.
6. Py flogh a wrug hy skrifa dhymm?
7. Ny allav y weles lemmyn.
8. Ow heniterow a allas y dhiwedha kyns
prys koen.
Oberenn 38.2
1. Gwra ow gweres!
2. A vynn'ta y dhoen dhymm?
3. Ny vynnons i aga sywya.
4. Na wra hy gweskel!
5. A wre'ta y gara?
6. A yllyn ni y dhaswul?
7. Ny wrussowgh hwi agan klewes.
8. Ny yllis vy dha weles.
Oberenn 38.3
1. I yw dha vamm ha'th tas.
2. Yw an lyver ma onan a'y lyvrow?
3. Agan mamm-wynn a drig y'gan chi.
4. My a gar ow fleghes ha'm fleghes-wynn.
5. Kemmer an arghans ma y'th torn!
6. Morwenna a leveris, " Fatla genes?" dh'y
broder.
131
RANN 39 AN ACHESON
Oberenn 39.1
1. Prag na wre'ta y skoedhya?
2. Prag na worfennowgh agas ober dhe
beder eur?
3. Prag na waytydh jy gorthyp?
4. Prag na leskons i del marow y'ga
lowarth?
5. Prag na berthyn ni kov a henna?
6. Prag na sewenas hi?
7. Prag na vynn'ta esedha omma?
8. Prag na igoras Kolyn y anow y'n
kuntelles?
Oberenn 39.2
1. Prag na worthyp ev?
d. Drefenn na yll ev klewes.
2. Prag yth eth hi tre?
a. Drefenn hy mamm dhe bareusi hy
hoen.
3. Prag yth evas Jori dew hanafas a de?
e. Drefenn bos syghes bras dhodho.
4. Prag na dheuthons i genowgh?
b. Drefenn na vynnons i dos.
5. Prag yth yw an fleghes ploes?
f. Drefenn i dhe wari y'n pras.
6. Prag na dhons hi?
c. Drefenn bos hy throes shyndys.
Oberenn 39.3
1. Anfur o.
2. Drefenn bos hwans dhodho a oberi yn y
lowarth.
3. Drefenn an baban dhe vos lowenna
gans Pedrik es bos gans Lynda yn
gwerthjiow leun a dus.
4. Nyns o ev hegar orth y wreg.
5. Drefenn ev dhe vos gour da.