LEARN CORNISH

Revived traditional language
Courses and materials

Over 10,000 Cornish words and phrases Handy for laptop, tablet, smartphone For on-line coursebooks go to Courses page

A CORNISH DICTIONARY FOR CONVERSATION

ON-LINE HERE: Gerlyver Kescows, 2nd edition, full text, completely revised, 5000 words and phrases for conversation + grammar words + 'outbursts' + place-names, easily browsed, easily searched

NEED MORE CORNISH WORDS?

ON-LINE HERE: Kescows Nebes Moy, 2nd edition, work-in-progress but already thousands more words supplementing Gerlyver Kescows, classified by topic, each topic also downloadable in pdf format

Five Hundred Most Useful Words

ON-LINE HERE: Minimum working vocabulary for those wishing to learn just a little Cornish, or a first step for those aspiring to greater things

Conversational Phrases

ON-LINE HERE: Short phrases worth learning for fluent everyday conversation

Try our Cara Kernowek on-line coursebooks For the classroom and for self-study

CARA KERNOWEK 1

ON-LINE HERE: Cara Kernowek Book One is the first in a series of coursebooks specially commissioned for learners of the traditional Cornish language

CARA KERNOWEK 2

ON-LINE HERE: Cara Kernowek Book Two is the second in a series of coursebooks specially commissioned for learners of the traditional Cornish language

CARA KERNOWEK 3

ON-LINE HERE: Cara Kernowek Book Three is the third in a series of coursebooks specially commissioned for learners of the traditional Cornish language

CARA KERNOWEK INDEX

ON-LINE HERE: Bilingual consolidated index to the first three Cara Kernowek coursebooks

CARA KERNOWEK 4

EXPECTED AUGUST 2025: Cara Kernowek Book Four will be the fourth in a series of coursebooks specially commissioned for learners of the traditional Cornish language

KERNOWEK QWYCK

ON-LINE HERE: Quick Cornish, free taster course

Cornish as attested in later historical sources

So called 'Late Cornish' is not really a different language. It is idiomatic Cornish as recorded in the later historical sources. This on-line audio course by Dan Prohaska brings you a colloquial spoken register without requiring you to learn more formal or literary Cornish first.

Blogs based on later historical sources

More on-line materials in revived Cornish based on later historical sources

Cara Kernowek 1 Lesson 1: Model Answers

ON-LINE HERE: Model answers for the exercises in Lesson One of the first Cara Kernowek coursebook

Cara Kernowek 1 Lesson 2: Model Answers

ON-LINE HERE: Model answers for the exercises in Lesson Two of the first Cara Kernowek coursebook

Cara Kernowek 1 Lesson 3: Model Answers

ON-LINE HERE: Model answers for the exercises in Lesson Three of the first Cara Kernowek coursebook

Cara Kernowek 1 Lesson 4: Model Answers

ON-LINE HERE: Model answers for the exercises in Lesson Four of the first Cara Kernowek coursebook

High quality open access material

Our website is dedicated to supporting those who are learning the Cornish language (Kernowek) in LOVING LIVING CORNISH classes and/or self-studying with the coursebooks CARA KERNOWEK or DESKY KERNOWEK; or who just want easy access to Cornish writing, audio, and vocabulary resources.

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Contact Us

The coursebooks CARA KERNOWEK and DESKY KERNOWEK employ the modern spelling system known as Kernowek Standard (KS). Most Cornish written material on this site is spelled in KS.

It is important to realize there are several approaches to revived Cornish, drawing on the historical sources to strike different balances in matters of grammar and vocabulary. There are alternative spelling systems too, most publicly the Standard Written Form (SWF) favoured by Cornwall Council. One may therefore fairly say that revived Cornish is a 'pluricentric' language. Cornish that is written in KS generally takes the Tota Cornicitas approach, which means it reflects all the evidence found in the historical tradition. See Five Principles here.

The weekly lovinglivingcornish class in Newlyn (Lulyn) has its own website kernoweklulyn.com carrying further compatible material. There is also moderncornish.net, the website of Cussel an Tavas Kernôwek who specialize in applying the later historical sources. There is a lively magazine Gweles with a majority of its content in Cornish (KS and SWF with traditional graphs). Additional material appears on its website gweles.com where you can subscribe.

Are you a prospective teacher of a class in traditional Cornish? We offer a full Scheme of Work, as well as classroom kit and logistical support. Don't hesitate to get in touch. And whether teacher or student, you can always contact us with questions about traditional Cornish grammar or vocabulary, or with queries about idiom or style.

We are not a commercial website. We are however eager to carry well-written literature in Cornish, original or translated. We also welcome interesting podcasts in Cornish. We accept advertising for publications in KS; for scholarly work on the Cornish language and its heritage; and for events suitable for learners where Cornish is spoken. Click on Miscellany for our literary / audio and advertising policies. We are not responsible for the content of any website that may be linked to this site.

Quick access from this page to all our latest additions

RIP VAN WINKLE
Classic tale by Washington Irving
With full vocabulary support
Click or tap here

KEGYN ESTHER
Promotional video released
by Pellwolok an Gernowegva
for new series coming soon
Click or tap here

CARA KERNOWEK 4
for those progressing to
Common European Framework Level B2
Already road-tested in weekly class
Publication expected August 2025

ON-LINE SUMMER SCHOOL
July / August 2025
A Celtic Hobbit
Click or tap here

TRISTAN HAG ISOLT
A.S.D. Smith 'Caradar'
New on-line edition in Standard Cornish
Marking 75 years since the death of the first great writer of Revived Cornish
Click or tap here

TRISTAN HAG ISOLT
as completed by
David Watkins 'Carer Brynyow'
New on-line edition in Standard Cornish
Click or tap here

KESCOWS NEBES MOY
Cornish for Everyday Life
Vocabulary supplementary to Gerlyver Kescows
On-line second edition currently as far as Section 18-J Animals: Fish etc
Each section now also downloadable in pdf format
Click or tap here

On this website you can now listen to more than
500 PODCAST ARTICLES
by Nicholas Williams
Each one accompanied by the full written text
Traditional Cornish, crystal-clear pronunciation
Professor Williams is one of the foremost teachers of the Cornish language
Click or tap here

ANIMAL FARM
Famous satire by George Orwell
With full vocabulary support
Click or tap here

GOOD-BYE, MR CHIPS
Famous novella by James Hilton
With full vocabulary support
Click or tap here

JOWAN CHY AN HORDH
John of Chyannor
New on-line edition in Standard Cornish
Click or tap here

BÊWNANS KE
The Life of St Kea
New on-line edition in Standard Cornish
Click or tap here

BÊWNANS MERYASEK
The Life of St Meriadoc
New on-line edition in Standard Cornish
Click or tap here

CREACYON AN BËS
The Creation of the World
New on-line edition in Standard Cornish
As far as line 200
Click or tap here

CARA KERNOWEK 1
Taking complete beginners to
Common European Framework Level A1
The coursebook may also be downloaded in pdf format
With on-line model answers for the exercises so you can check your own work
Click or tap here

CARA KERNOWEK 2
For those progressing to
Common European Framework Level A2
The coursebook may also be downloaded in pdf format
With on-line model answers for the exercises so you can check your own work
Click or tap here

CARA KERNOWEK 3
For those progressing to
Common European Framework Level B1
The coursebook may also be downloaded in pdf format
With on-line model answers for the exercises so you can check your own work
Click or tap here

CARA KERNOWEK INDEX
Bilingual consolidated index to the first three coursebooks
Click or tap here

FIRST CHAPTERS OF THE CLASSICS
to read in Cornish on this website
All with comprehensive glossary supplementing on-line
GERLYVER KESCOWS
Click or tap here

PASSIO CHRISTI
In Standard Cornish spelling
First 1850 lines
Click or tap here

Find direct links on this website
to every weekly Cornish language radio show
produced by
Matthi ab Dewi
in the past 12 months
Click or tap here

Altogether there are over 50 different works of literature
to read in Cornish on-line on this website
including a whole novel
An Nawnjek Stap warn Ugans
(John Buchan's The Thirty-nine Steps)
and a whole novella
Benatuw, Mêster Chyps
(James Hilton's Good-bye, Mr Chips)
and a whole satire
Amêthva an Bestas
(George Orwell's Animal Farm)
Click or tap here

loving cornish by listening

An Radyô

Radyô an Gernowegva

Literary Sounds

Nicholas Williams Podcasts V

Nicholas Williams Podcasts IV

Nicholas Williams Podcasts III

Nicholas Williams Podcasts II

Nicholas Williams Podcasts I

loving cornish by reading

SCROLL DOWN

Items are in alphabetical order of Cornish title. Alternatively, for items recently added for reading on-line, you can click or tap ON-LINE HERE: MOST RECENTLY ADDED and follow the links.

ON-LINE HERE: MOST RECENTLY ADDED

Click or tap and follow the links for open access on-line literature recently added to this website

FIRST CHAPTERS OF THE CLASSICS

ON-LINE HERE: Catalogue of famous First Chapters available to read in Cornish on this website with full vocabulary support

CATALOGUE OF PUBLISHED WRITINGS IN STANDARD CORNISH

Link to a comprehensive list of published material available in Kernowek Standard (KS)

Adro dhe’n Bÿs in Peswar Ugans Dëdh

Jules Verne's Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours (Around the World in Eighty Days), abridged for young readers

Amêthva an Bestas

ON-LINE HERE: George Orwell's Animal Farm, with Cornish-English glossary

An Beybel Sans

The Holy Bible (Old Testament, New Testament)

An Brynces wàr an Bysen

ON-LINE HERE: Hans Christian Andersen's Prinsessen paa Ærten (The Princess and the Pea), with Cornish-English glossary

An Canker Neb'rug Gwary gans an Mor

ON-LINE HERE: Rudyard Kipling's The Crab that Played with the Sea (a 'Just So' story), with Cornish-English glossary

An Corn Tan

ON-LINE HERE: Hans Christian Andersen's Fyrtøjet (The Tinderbox), with Cornish-English glossary

An Cronyclys a Bow Bara

ON-LINE HERE: Chapter 1 of The Warden by Anthony Trollope, being the first volume of The Chronicles of Barsetshire, with Cornish-English glossary

An Dus Fur

ON-LINE HERE: The Wise Men, being the Cornish translation of the Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 2, Verses 1-20, by William Rowe (William Kerew), transcribed into Standard Cornish in three styles, and also into the Main Form of the Standard Written Form

Events advertised here take a 'whole Corpus' approach: tota Cornicitas For other events see the calendar at www.speakcornish.com

17Jul

SUMMER SCHOOL

07/17/2025 08:00 PM
Online Event

This is the third meeting of our Summer School 'A Celtic Hobbit'. Meetings will be on-line by Zoom at 20:00 every Thursday through July and August 2025. We're reading J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit in the Cornish translation by Nicholas Williams (An Hobys, published by Evertype), both to enjoy the story and to improve everyone's fluency in Cornish. There will also be the opportunity to make comparisons with the Irish translation by Nicholas Williams (An Hobad, published by Evertype), the Scottish Gaelic translation by Moray Watson (A' Hobat, published by Evertype), the Breton translation by Alan Dipode and Joshua Tyra (An Hobbit, published by Evertype), and the Welsh translation by Adam Pearce (Yr Hobyd, published by Melin Bapur). The convenor is Ian Jackson. There is no charge for the Summer School, but students should provide their own copies of the book. Contact Us if you would like to join the Summer School.

24Jul

SUMMER SCHOOL

07/24/2025 08:00 PM
Online Event

This is the fourth meeting of our Summer School 'A Celtic Hobbit'. Meetings will be on-line by Zoom at 20:00 every Thursday through July and August 2025. We're reading J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit in the Cornish translation by Nicholas Williams (An Hobys, published by Evertype), both to enjoy the story and to improve everyone's fluency in Cornish. There will also be the opportunity to make comparisons with the Irish translation by Nicholas Williams (An Hobad, published by Evertype), the Scottish Gaelic translation by Moray Watson (A' Hobat, published by Evertype), the Breton translation by Alan Dipode and Joshua Tyra (An Hobbit, published by Evertype), and the Welsh translation by Adam Pearce (Yr Hobyd, published by Melin Bapur). The convenor is Ian Jackson. There is no charge for the Summer School, but students should provide their own copies of the book. Contact Us if you would like to join the Summer School.

ALPHABET

ON-LINE HERE: The Standard Cornish alphabet and how to spell out words

PRONUNCIATION

ON-LINE HERE: A practical guide to pronouncing Cornish

IPA Spellings

ON-LINE HERE: Cornish words spelled in the International Phonetic Alphabet

Cara Kernowek 1: Verb forms

ON-LINE HERE: Handy reference chart of the inflected verb forms in Cara Kernowek 1

Conversation Patterns

ON-LINE HERE: Basic verb patterns with bos, gwil, mydnas, gallos, godhvos

Four Decades of Prose Development

ON-LINE HERE: Famous prose passage written 40 years ago, and how it might look if written today

Inflected Imperatives

ON-LINE HERE: Ready-reference guide

Questions

ON-LINE HERE: Ready-reference guide

Reported Speech

ON-LINE HERE: Ready-reference guide

Introduction to Simple Drills

Simple Drills

An gyst wag

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 1

Dëdh dâ, Wella

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 2

Man-gows

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 3

Dëdh dâ, pyw osta?

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 4

Me a wra marhogeth

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 5

Myttyn dâ

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 6

In chy Wella ha Tamsyn

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 7

An fyt pel droos

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 8

An delgolyow hâv

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 10

Eus gloos dhis?

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 12

Dëdh dâ, Morwena

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 14

Pandra wrussys gwil?

Playlet for use with Skeul an Tavas Lesson 17