KESCOWS NEBES MOY
CORNISH FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
Second Edition
Ian Jackson
Supplementary to Gerlyver Kescows
and continuously reviewed and expanded
SECTION 4
FAMILY
Last updated: 27 February 2025 (10:00)
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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.
4-A RELATIVES
altrewan f altrewaneth stepmother
altrow m altrowon stepfather
dyhenvam ‖ f dyhenvabmow ‖ great-great-grandmother
dyhok m dyhogyon great-great-grandfather
els m elsyon stepson
elses f elsesow stepdaughter
goos nessa m close kin
gorhengok m gorhengogyon great-great-great-grandfather
gorhenvam ‖ f gorhenvabmow ‖ great-great-great-grandmother
gorôwnter m gorôwntras great-uncle
gorvodryp f gorvodrebeth great-aunt
hengok m hengogyon great-grandfather
henhenvam ‖ f henhenvabmow ‖ great-grandmother
lesflogh m lesflehes stepchild
lesvap m lesvebyon stepson
lesvyrgh f lesvyrhas stepdaughter
mab wydn m mebyon gwydn grandson
mabm ha tas adoptus phr adoptive parents
mabm ha tas mêthryn phr foster-parents
mamoleth f motherhood, maternity
myrgh wydn f myrhas gwydn granddaughter
nes'hevyn ‖ (nessevyn) m & col close kin
tasegeth m fatherhood
4-B LINEAGE
ahydhieth f genealogy
bos devedhys a2 phr be descended from
gorvap m gorvebyon descendant
hendas ‖ m hendasow ‖ forefather, ancestor (also used in sense 'grandfather')
henvam ‖ f henvabmow ‖ ancestress (also used in sense 'grandmother')
lydnyath f lineage, parentage
lynaja m lineage, parentage
4-C MARRIAGE ETC
ambos demedhy m engagement, betrothal
avês dhe briosoleth phr extramarital
bacheler (bachler) m bachelers unmarried man, bachelor
benyn brias (benyn nowyth) f bride
benyn dhydhemeth f benenes dydhemeth unmarried woman, spinster
bysow ambos m besewow engagement ring
bysow demedhyans m besewow wedding ring
den dydhemeth m tus dhydhemeth unmarried man, bachelor
den nowyth m bridegroom
dydhemeth adj unmarried
gool demedhyans m golyow wedding reception
gour prias m bridegroom
gwas prias m best man
gwiasva cafos carorieth f gwiasvaow dating website
interdemedhy ‖ v intermarry
kerdhes in mes gans phr date (sb)
kerensa gudh f affair
kescar m/v separation; separate intr
kesparneth dynasek m civil partnership
lies gourek ‖ adj polyandrous
liesgourieth ‖ f polyandry
liesgwregek ‖ adj polygamous
liesgwregieth ‖ f polygamy
maghteth prias f meghtydhyon bridesmaid
maryach m maryajys marriage (event or state); wedding
mis mel m honeymoon
paja m pajys pageboy
priosol adj marital
priosoleth f marriage (state)
ro demedhyans m royow wedding present
tanta v woo, court (incl figuratively)
tesen demedhyans m wedding cake
trevnor maryach m trevnoryon matchmaker
4-D IN-LAWS
broder dâ m breder dhâ brother-in-law
deuv m deuvyon son-in-law
gùhyth f gùhydhow daughter-in-law
whor dre laha f wheryth sister-in-law
4-E CHILDREN
benefyt flehes m child benefit
daslif m reflux
dyreth adj illegitimate
dyrethter m illegitimacy
dywynsa flehyk phr burp a baby
flogh bohes y vloodh m flehes toddler
floghcovia ‖ v babysit
floghva dëdh f floghvaow day nursery
floghwith ‖ m childcare
gwith mêthryn m foster care
leth brodn m breast milk
leth furvel m formula [milk]
mageres f mageresow nursemaid, nanny
tasecter m paternity
wardhegor m wardhegoryon teenager
4-F BAPTISM
mab besyth m mebyon godson
mabm besyth f mabmow godmother
myrgh besyth f myrhas goddaughter
tas besyth m tasow godfather
4-G MISCELLANEOUS VOCABULARY
côta arvow m côtys coat of arms
loscagh ‖ m incest
loscahus ‖ adj incestuous (incl figuratively)
omdhevatty m omdhevatiow orphanage
scochon m scochons coat of arms
serhak (serghyas) m serhogyon dependant