KESCOWS NEBES MOY
CORNISH FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
Second Edition
Ian Jackson
Supplementary to Gerlyver Kescows
and continuously reviewed and expanded
SECTION 11
PEOPLE
Last updated: 28 February 2025 (15:00)
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The purpose of Kescows Nebes Moy is to enable Cornish conversation about most non-specialist subjects without the need to switch into English. A first edition appeared in 2018. Cornish vocabulary items not found in Gerlyver Kescows were presented for the first time in classified lists that take the learner beyond elementary vocabulary, enabling conversation about more technical topics that nonetheless form part of everyday life.
The first edition was necessarily quite experimental, and was confined to just five thousand entries. Much has been learned since the first edition appeared. This second edition is being developed in more comprehensive form on-line. In particular we are considering families wishing to speak Cornish in the home, as well as the challenge of establishing potential for teaching through the medium of Cornish in primary and secondary schools.
You can search for what you want in this section, by Cornish or English word, using find on page or ctrl f.
You can browse the list of sections currently available here
Click or tap here for the Appendix ‘Word Building‘ which explains the principles of compounding, prefixation and suffixation.
We are very grateful to Professor Nicholas Williams and Michael Everson for the opportunity to coordinate these lists with drafts of their Gerlyver Brâs.
If you are supportive of revived traditional Cornish and the Kernowek Standard spelling system, please let us know in the event you find any errors or think something might be improved.
A word has a single stress accent on the penultimate syllable in the absence of any specific indication. When this accent falls elsewhere, the underlined vowel marks the syllable which is stressed. The symbol ‖ after a word indicates that, instead of a single stress accent, two syllables of the word are given prominence. In the case of a disyllabic word the prominence is usually slightly stronger on the adjectival element.
11-A ABOUT TOWN
anedhyas m anedhysy occupant, resident
anedhyas heb cubmyas m anedhysy squatter
arwhythror (musuror) m arwhythroryon surveyor
brygâd dyfudhy m brygâdys fire brigade
bûrôcrat m bûrôcratyon bureaucrat
bûrôcratek adj bureaucratic
chif-gonesyas ‖ m chif-gonesyjy ‖ foreman
covscrefor ‖ m covscreforyon ‖ registrar
creswas dyllas pùb jorna m creswesyon plain clothes policeman
crowdror (person dydô) m crowdroryon homeless person, rough sleeper
curador m curadoryon curator
den atal (den lusow) m tus binman, dustman
den clogh m tus bellringer
dierbynor (recepcyonyst, wolcùbmor) m dierbynoryon receptionist
encledhyor m encledhyoryon undertaker
frankmason