Blue Jellyfish Press. Learn Cornish. Kernewek Kemmynn. Kernowek. Kernuak. Free learning page. The bare necessities, essential phrases, minimum. Beginners. For travellers. For tourists.

Essential Cornish Phrases
Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Cornish words and phrases you need
to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...
The Top 10 ...

Hou.
Hello.
Dyw genes.
Goodbye.
A wodhesta kewsel Sowsnek?
Do you speak English?
Ny wonn konvedhes.
I don't understand.
Nebes.
A little.
Ya. Na.
Yes. No.
Pygemmys yw?
How much is it?
Re ger. Da lowr.
Too expensive. OK.
Mar pleg.
Please.
Meur ras.
Thank you.

Here are ten more phrases that will help you
make new friends and ask for directions.
The Top 20 ...

Pyth yw dha hanow?
What is your name?
... yw ow hanow
My name is ...
Fatla genes?
How are you?
Yn poynt da. Ha ty?
Fine. And you?
Ple'ma ...?
Where is ...?
Ple'ma an privedhyow? Gwer/Benynes
Where is the toilet? Men/Women
Drog yw genev. Gav dhymm.
Sorry. Excuse me.
Heb grev.
No problem.
My a vynn ...
I want ...
Ny vynnav ...
I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a
little more conversation and to get around.
The Top 30 ...

A ble'th esosta?
Where are you from?
Yth esov vy a Ostrali.*
I am from Australia.
An reken, mar pleg.
The bill, please.
Kellys ov vy.
(woman)
I'm lost.
Hedh! Gortos!
Stop! Wait!
Omma, ena, eno.
Here, there, over there.
Taksi. Ostel. Ayrborth. Gorsav.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Da yw genev ...
I like ...
Drog yw genev ...
I don't like ...
un (onan when counting), dew, tri, peswar, pymp.
one, two , three, four, five.
hwegh, seyth, eth, naw, deg.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
*Or choose your country:
a Amerika - from America
a Ganada - from Canada
a Bow Sows - from England
a Iwerdhon - from Ireland
a Vordir Nowydh - from New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful,
especially if you have dietary needs or allergies.
Useful extras ...

Yeghes da!
Cheers!
da / drog
good / bad
bras / byghan
big / small
ogas / pell
near / far
le / moy
less / more
onan arall / lowr
another one / enough
Losowegor ov vy. (man)
Losowegores ov vy. (woman)
I am vegetarian.
Ny dhybrav vy kig.
I don't eat meat.
... kig yar.
... chicken.
... puskes.
... fish.
Yma alergeth warnav orth know.
I am allergic to nuts.
... know dor.
... peanuts.
... puskes.
... fish.
... boes mor.
... seafood.
... oyow.
... eggs.