The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies

The Organisation for those who love Cornwall.

 "Cuntelleugh an brewyon us gesys na vo kellys travyth"

(Gather up the fragments that are left that nothing be lost.)

The Dialect of Cornwall in Conjunction with Brian Stevens Recorder of Dialect

Introduction

Discovering Dialect

A - Z of Dialect Words

 Cornish Dialect Phrases Dialect Poetry  Dialect Stories
 
Dialect Songs West Penwith West Cornwall Mid Cornwall East Cornwall North Cornwall
 
Books Quizzes

Latest News - Words, from Porthleven added, see West Cornwall

Links Listen to some dialect Cornish Gorsedd   Dialect Competition
 

Discovering Dialect

 

The alphabet as spoken in ordinary English and in the Cornish language.
 

 

 English Cornish
b bee bee
c see zee
d dee dey
e ee ai
f ef aaf
g jee jee
h aitch aatch
i i or eye i or eye
j jay jaa
k kay kaa
l el ael
m em ame
n en ane
o o o
p pee pey
q cue koo or kiew
r ar ar
s ess ess
t tee tay
u u or you oo or yiew
v vee vey
w double u double yew
x eks ex
y wy whye
z zed zad
&c et cetera anpassy, also passy
     
The numerals are pronounced just as follows:

1 - Wawn

2 - Tew

3 - Dree

4 - Fower or vower

5 - Vyve

6 - Zix

7 - Zebbin

8 - Ite

9 - Nyne

10 - Tane

11 - Levv'n or Lebb'n

12 - Twaelve
 
 
Conjugation of the auxillary and neuter verb to be, in the Cornish Dialect.

Indicative Mood

Present Tense
Singular Plural

1. I be.

1. We be.

2. Thee airt, or thee'rt.

2. Yew be.

3. A es, she es, et es.

3 They be.
 
Imperfect Tense
Singular Plural

1. I waz.

1. We waz

2. Thee or Yew waz.

2. Yew waz.

3. A waz.

3. Thay waz.
 
Perfect Tense
Singular Plural

1. I haave a ben.

2. We haave, or wee've a ben.

2. Thee'st a ben.

2. Yew haave, or you've a ben.

3. A haave a ben.

3. Thay haave, or thay've a ben.
 
Pluperfect Tense
Singular Plural

1. I haad a ben.

1. We haad a ben.

2. Thee haad, or theed a ben.

2. Yew haad a ben.

3. A haad a ben.

3. Thay had a ben.
 
First Future Tense
Singular Plural

1. I shaal, or shul be.

 1. We shaal, shul, or wel be.

2. Thye shust, wust, or wol be.

 2. Yew shaal, shul or wol be.
 
Second Futuer Tense
Singular Plural

1. I shaal, or shul a ben.

1. We shul a ben.

2. Theelt a ben.

2. Yew wol a ben.

3. A wol a ben.

3. Thay wol a ben.
 
Imperative Mood
Singular Plural

1. Lemme, or laiv ma be.

1. Laiv us be

2. Be tha.

2. Be yew, or be'ee.

3. Lett'n, or laiv'n be.

Lett'm, or laiv'm be
 
Potential Mood
Present Tense
Singular Plural

1. I may, or caan be.

1. We may, or cann be.

2. Thee mayst, wust or cust be.

2. Yew may, or caan be.

3. A may, or caan be.

3. Thay may, or caan be
 
Imperfect Tense
Singular Plural

1. I might, cud, wud, or shud be.

1. We might, cud, wud, or shud be.

2. Thee mights, cudst, wudst, or shudst be.

2. Yew might, cud, wud, or shud be.

3. A might, cud,wud, or shud be.

3. Thay might, cud, wud, or shud be.

 
Perfect Tense
Singular Plural

1. I may, or caan a ben

1. We may, or caan a ben.

2. Thee mayst, wust or cust a ben.

2. Yew may, or caan a ben.

3. A may or caan a ben.

3. Thay may, or caan a ben.

 

Pluperfect Tense

Singular

Plural

1. I might, cud, wud, or shud a ben.

1. We might, cud, wud, or shud a ben.

2. Thee mights, cudst, wudst, or shudst a ben.

2. Yew might, cud, wud, or shud a ben.

3. A might, cud, wud, or shud a ben.

3. Thay, might, cud, wud, or shud a ben.

 

Subjunctive Mood

Present Tense

Singular

Plural

1. Ef I be.

1. Ef we be.

2. Ef thee be, or airt, or thee'rt.

2. Ef yew be.

3. Ef a be, or a es.

3. Ef thay be.

 

Imperfect Tense

Singular

Plural

1. Ef I Waz.

1. Ef we waz.

2. Ef tha, or thee waz.

2. Ef yew waz.

3. Ef a waz.

Ef thay waz.
 
The remaining Tenses are in accordance with similar ones in the previous moods.
 
Infinitive Mood
Present Tense - To be. Perfect Tense - To haav a ben.
 
Participles
Present - Bein Perfect - Ben
Compound Perfect - Haavin, or Hevving a ben.