Cornish Slang | Royal Duchy Hotel | Falmouth (2024)

Do you speak Cornish?

Trying to get through a conversation with a local in Cornwall can be a little confusing if you don’t know your ‘wassons’ from your ‘geddons.’ With so many quirky and phrases, it might be worth taking a look at our keywords and phrases so you can get to grips with Cornish slang before your next stay in Cornwall.

Ansum– Describes something that is top-notch. A positive way to greet someone, unisex, is derived from ‘handsome’. Example: ‘“alreet me ansum”.

See Also
piskie

Bird– same as maid. Is not exclusively used for women, more affectionate than the English phrase used to call women ‘birds’. The Cornish phrase is a lot friendlier.

Bleddy– a Cornish way to say ‘bloody’, not necessarily in a bad way, more to emphasise a point. Example: ‘bleddy good pasty that was‘.

Dreckly -At some point in the future; soon, but not immediately. Example: ”I’ll do it dreckly!”

Geddon- Good show / well done

Helluva –meaning extremely big or great. Example ‘helluva swell coming in’.

Maid –the name given to a Cornish female, a positive greeting.

My lover / Me Lover –An affectionate greeting that can be used for men and women, not romantic in any way - similar to how ‘my dear’ is used. Example: “thanks for popping round my lover”.

Proper -Satisfactory. Example: “proper job”

Rich –meaning lush or lovely, nothing to do with money or luxury.

Shag –used to call someone, usually a face to face greeting, a term of endearment.

Teasy -Bad-tempered

Wasson?- What's going on?

Where you to? –Where are you?

Can you think of any that we've missed? Let us know!

Cornish Slang | Royal Duchy Hotel | Falmouth (2024)

FAQs

What does Geddon mean in Cornwall? ›

Geddon. This one has three meanings in the Duchy. You can either use it as a way of greeting a mate, to describe something amazing or as a way of saying 'goodbye' at the end of a conversation.

What do Cornish call tourists? ›

Emmet (alt. spellings emmit, emit) is a word in the Cornish dialect of English that is used to refer to tourists or holidaymakers coming to Cornwall.

How do you say hello in Cornish slang? ›

Give these easy Cornish phrases a try..
  1. Hello: Dydh da.
  2. Cornwall: Kernow.
  3. The Cornish language: Kernewek.
  4. Welcome to Cornwall: Kernow a'gas Dynnergh.
  5. Good morning: Myttin da.
  6. Good afternoon: Dohajydh da.
  7. Good evening: Gorthuher da.
  8. How are you? Fatla genes?

What does chacking mean in Cornish? ›

Chacking

Meaning thirsty, as in “I'm chacking for a cider – if you need me I'll be at the kiddlywink.”

What does goon mean in Cornwall? ›

goon = flatish downland, unenclosed pasture, usually.

What does penzance mean in Cornish? ›

For example, the name “Penzance” is a combination of two Cornish words: Pen means head or headland and Sans Page 2 Information Classification: CONTROLLED means holy or saintly. So Penzance means holy headland.

What do the Cornish call outsiders? ›

Emmet – A nickname for tourists or outsiders. Literally meaning ant, it's used by the Cornish locals to describe the summer influx of visitors – often red with sunburn and seen scurrying around the countryside.

What is the Cornish motto? ›

Cornwall's motto 'Onan hag Oll' which in English means 'One and All', is a sentiment of unity that pervades the Cornish spirit and has defined its character over millennia.

What do you call a Cornish person? ›

The Cornish people or Cornish (Cornish: Kernowyon, Old English: Cornƿīelisċ) are an ethnic group native to, or associated with Cornwall and a recognised national minority in the United Kingdom, which (like the Welsh and Bretons) can trace its roots to the Brittonic Celtic ancient Britons who inhabited Great Britain ...

How do you say "I love you" in Cornish? ›

My a'th kar (I Love You in Cornish)

What is the Cornish word for beer? ›

Korev (cor-eff) is a traditional Cornish word meaning. beer. They have included the finest barley malt grown. in Cornwall and classic hops; Magnum, Hersbrucker. and Saaz.

How do you say thank you in Cornish? ›

Meur Ras! (Cornish for 'thank you')
  1. Splendid. £3.00.
  2. Red Cornishware. £3.00.
  3. Pups on the Prom. £3.00.
  4. Cornish Seagull Greeting Card. £3.00.

What is shut up in Cornish? ›

'syns dha glap'......' shut up' 'taw tavas'..............' hold your tongue' 'bram an gath'......'

What does Gurt Licker mean? ›

Girt licker – very large object, as in "That fish you caught is a girt licker" Giss on! – don't talk rubbish!

What is bye in Cornish? ›

Greetings
HelloDydh da
Good byeDuw genes
See youDha weles
Thank youMeur ras
PleaseMar pleg
8 more rows

What is the meaning of Geddon? ›

Detailed word origin of -geddon

(Christianity, Islam) The site of a prophesied final battle between the forces of good and evil.. (by extension) The battle itself. -geddon. English (en) Denoting a catastrophic event caused by or related to the stem word.

What does Geddon Bey mean? ›

'Geddon' A popular saying, used as a form of greeting or encouragement. Often accompanied by 'bey'. Looking down at his scratch card, the man realised he had just won £100. "Geddon bey," he said.

What do Cornish people call each other? ›

Commonly used as an affectionate way to greet a friend, 'geddon' more or less just means hello, and 'bewty' (pronounced boo-dee) is another term for friend. 'Bewty' can also be substituted with 'ansum,' meaning handsome. Person 1: “Geddon me bewty!” Person 2: “Wasson, shag!”

What do Cornish call outsiders? ›

Emmet – A nickname for tourists or outsiders. Literally meaning ant, it's used by the Cornish locals to describe the summer influx of visitors – often red with sunburn and seen scurrying around the countryside.

References

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