WORK IN PROGRESS
Once complete it will also be possible to download a pdf
Here is the vocabulary of the Cara Kernowek course written in the International Phonetic Alphabet.
If you are not familiar with the IPA and are looking for the sounds associated with the various symbols, a good place to find comprehensive information is the Wikipedia article ‘International Phonetic Alphabet’. Click or tap here
Remember that Cornish voiceless stops [k] [p] [t] (except when preceded by [s] in the same word), voiceless sonorants [ɭ̊], [n̥], [ŋ̊], [ɻ̊], and the voiceless glide [ʍ] are all accompanied by a degree of aspiration.
Please bear in mind that the symbol [ɪ], which has bars at top and bottom, may be displayed in web text without its bars on some devices. Web text may also break a word spelled in IPA between two lines of text. If in any doubt, consult the pdf [available once upload complete].
For definitions see the vocabularies at the back of the four Cara Kernowek coursebooks, all of which are available on the lovinglivingcornish website, both as web text and in pdf format. In Cara Kernowek Book Four you will find the entire cumulative vocabulary.
Here are some common variant pronunciations. They apply generally, so have not been shown as specific alternatives in the listed entries.
(A)
For some speakers the sounds [ɪ] and [ɨ] become [ɛ] and [ə]. But this does not occur when [ɪ] and [ɨ] are spelled /u/ indicating that the sound was originally [y].
(B)
Some speakers pronounce as [iʊ] the sound shown in the listed entries as [ɛʊ]; conversely some speakers pronounce as [ɛʊ] the sound shown in the listed entries as [iʊ].
(C)
When the sound shown in the listed entries as [oʊ] occurs at the end of a word (or comprises the entire word), it is pronounced by some speakers (1) as [u] when the preceding vowel-sound in the same word is [oʊ] or [u] and (2) as [ɑ] in other cases. When the sound shown in the listed entries as [oʊ] occurs in other positions, it is pronounced as [o:] by some speakers.
(D)
Some speakers apply the English Great Vowel Shift to Cornish long vowels, especially in loan-words from English, but in native words too. Thus [æ:] may be heard as [e:] or [eɪ], and [i:] may be heard as [aɪ].
(E)
Some speakers reduce to [h] the sound shown in the listed entries as [x]; for some this sound is silent, and a preceding [ɭ̊] or [ɻ̊] will then become [l] or [ɻ].
(F)
When the sound shown in the listed entries as [θ] occurs after [ɻ], some speakers reduce it to [h]. When the sound shown in the listed entries as [ð] occurs after [ɻ], it is silent for some speakers.
(G)
When the sound shown in the listed entries as [s] occurs at the beginning of a word before a vowel, it is pronounced as [z] by some speakers.
(H)
Some speakers devoice word-final [b] and word-final [g] of monosyllables to [p] and [k] respectively.
(I)
Some speakers do not recognize voiceless [ɭ̊], [n̥], [ŋ̊], [ɻ̊] at all, substituting the equivalent voiced sounds [l], [n], [ŋ], [ɻ]. But whereas voiceless [ʍ] is very frequently realized as [w] in English, the voiceless sound is quite faithfully preserved in the Cornish of most speakers.
(J)
Finally it should be noted that some who have learned Cornish choose to apply a spelling pronunciation based on the ‘Standard Written Form’ (SWF) that is taught in certain classes. Since SWF is a less phonetic spelling system, leaning more heavily on etymology, such pronunciation contains elements characteristic of Cornish as spoken earlier than the fourteenth century. If you are attracted to this approach, you should seek further information from those who promote it.
A letter [ˈæː] or [ˈe:]
a conj if [æ] or [ə]
a part [æ] or [ə]
a prep [æ]
Â! interj [ˈæː]
a’n par-ma [æn ˌpæɻ ˈmæ]
a’n par-na [æn ˌpæɻ ˈnæ]
a’n tu’vês [æn ˌtiʊ ˈve:z]
a ble [æ ˈble:]
a bris [æ ˈbɻi:z]
a byle [æ ˌbɨˈle:]
A gev a gafam [ə ˈge:v ə ˈgafəm]
a leungolon [æ ˌlø:nˈgɔlən]
a varhas dhâ [æ ˈvaɻ̊həz̥ ˈdæ:]
a verr speyss [æ ˈvəɻ ˈspəɪs]
a verr spÿs [æ ˈvəɻ ˈspi:z]
a’y eseth [aɪ ˈɛzəθ]
a’y sav [aɪ ˈsæ:v]
a’y wroweth [aɪ ˈwɻɔwəθ]
a’y vodh [aɪ ˈvo:ð]
abàn [əˈbæn]
abarth [əˌbaɻθ]
abarth dhe [əˈbaɻ(ð) ðə]
abecedary [æbɛsɛˈdæɻɨ]
aberth in [əˈbəɻθ ɨn]
aberveth [əˈbəɻvəθ]
aberveth in [əˈbəɻvəθ ɨn]
ablatyf [əˈblætɨf]
ableth [ˈæbləθ]
abma [ˈæbmə]
abma dhe [ˈæbmə ðə]
abrans [ˈæbɻənz] abransow [əˈbɻænzoʊ]
abrës [əˈbɻe:z] or [əˈbɻi:z]
absolût [əpˈsɔlu:t]
abûsyans [əbˈju:zjənz]
abyl [ˈæbɨl]
academyk [ækəˈdɛmɨk]
acceptya [əkˈsɛptjə]
achêson [əˈtʃe:zən]
acord [əˈkɔɻd]
acordya [əˈkɔɻdjə]
acordyng dhe [əˈkɔɻdɨŋ ðə]
acownt [əˈkoʊnt] acowntys [əˈkoʊntɨz̥]
acownt arhow [əˈkoʊnt ˈæɻ̊hoʊ] acowntys arhow [əˈkoʊntɨz̥ ˈæɻ̊hoʊ]
acownt erbysy [əˈkoʊnt əɻˈbɪzɨ] acowntys erbysy [əˈkoʊntɨz̥ əɻˈbɪzɨ]
acownt kesres [əˈkoʊnt ˈkɛzɻəz̥] acowntys kesres [əˈkoʊntɨz̥ ˈkɛzɻəz̥]
acownt profyt ha coll [əˈkoʊnt ˈpɻɔfɨt hə ˈkɔl] acowntys profyt ha coll [əˈkoʊntɨz̥ ˈpɻɔfɨt hə ˈkɔl]
acownt rentys ha mona spênys [əˈkoʊnt ˈɻɛntɨz̥ hə ˈmɔnə ˈspe:nɨz̥] acowntys rentys ha mona spênys [əˈkoʊntɨz̥ ˈɻɛntɨz̥ hə ˈmɔnə ˈspe:nɨz̥]
acowntyades [əkoʊnˈtjædəz̥] acowntyadesow [əkoʊntjəˈdɛzoʊ]
acowntyas [əˈkoʊntjəz̥]
acowntysy [əkoʊnˈtɪzɨ]
act [ˈækt]
actys [ˈæktɨz̥]
adâl [əˌdɒ:l]
adâl dhe [əˌdɒ:l ðə]
adamant [əˈdæmənt]
adamantys [ədəˈmæntɨz̥]
adar [əˈdæɻ] or [əˈdəɻ]
addya [ˈædjə]
addys [ˈædɨz̥]
adenewen [ədəˈnɛʊən]
ader dro [əˌdəɻ ˈdɻo:]
adermyn [əˈdəɻmɨn]
adhedro [əðəˈdɻo:]
adhelergh [əðəˈləɻ̊x]
adhelergh dhe [əðəˈləɻ̊x ðə]
adhesempys [əðəˈzɛmpɨz̥]
adhevîs [əðəˈvi:z]
adhewedhes [əðəˈwɛðəz̥]
adhyhow [əˈðɪhoʊ]
adhyhow dhe [əˈðɪhoʊ ðə]
adhyrag [əðəˌɻæg]
adhyscans [əˈðɪskənz]
adhystowgh [əˈðɪstoʊx]
adran [ˈædɻən] adradnow [əˈdɻædnoʊ]
adre dro [əˌdɻe ˈdɻo:]
adreus [əˈdɻø:z]
adreus dhe [əˈdɻœz ðə]
adrëv [əˌdɻe:v]or [əˌdɻi:v]
adrëv dhe [əˌdɻev ðə] or [əˌdɻiv ðə]
adro [əˈdɻo:]
adro dhe [əˈdɻo ðə]
adroos [əˈdɻu:z] or [əˈdɻo:z]
afîna [əˈfi:nə]
aflythys [əˈfɭ̊ɪθɨz̥]
afreal [əˈfɻ̊eəl]
aga [ægæ] or [ægə] or [əgæ] or [əgə]
agan [ægæn] or [ægən] or [əgæn] or [əgən]
agas [ægæz] or [ægəz] or [əgæz] or [əgəz]
agensow [əˈgɛnzoʊ]
ages [əgɛz]
aglêdh [əˈgle:ð]
aglêdh dhe [əˈgle(ð) ðə]
agria [əˈgɻiə]
agrians [əˈgɻiənz]
aha [ˈæhə]
ahës [əˈhe:z] or [əˈhi:z]
air [ˈe:ɻ]
airbosor [ˌe:ɻˈbɔzəɻ] airbosoryon [ˌe:ɻbəˈzɔɻjən]
airen [ˈe:ɻən] airednow [e:ˈɻədnoʊ]
airêwnans [ˌe:ɻˈɛʊnənz] or [ˌe:ɻˈoʊnənz]
airgelgh [ˌe:ɻˈgɛɭ̊x]
airgelhow [ˌe:ɻˈgɛɭ̊hoʊ]
ajy [əˈdʒi:] or [əˈdʒəɪ]
ajy dhe [əˈji ðə] or [əˈjəɪ ðə]
aken dhewboynt [ˈækən ˈðɛʊboɪnt] akednow dewboynt [əˈkɛdnoʊ ˈdɛʊboɪnt]
aken dhieskynus [ˈækən ðiə’skɪnɪz̥] akednow dieskynus [əˈkɛdnoʊ diə’skɪnɪz̥]
aken grobm [ˈækən ˈgɻɔbm] akednow crobm [əˈkɛdnoʊ ˈkɻɔbm]
alebma [əˈlɛbmə]
alebma rag [əˈlɛbmə ˈɻæ:g]
alegory [æləˈgɔɻɨ] alegorys [æləˈgɔɻɨz̥]
alena [əˈlɛnə]
alergeth [əˈləɻgəθ] alergedhow [ələɻˈgɛðoʊ]
alês [əˈle:z]
alînya [əˈli:njə]
Alman [ˈælmən] Almanas [əlˈmænəz̥]
Almaynek [əlˈmaɪnək]
alowa [əˈloʊə] or [əˈlu:ə]
alowadow [əloʊˈædoʊ] or [əluˈædoʊ]
âls [ˈɒlz]
Alter Non [ˌæltəɻ ˈno:n]
alwhedha [əlˈʍɛðə]
alwhedhor [əlˈʍɛðəɻ] alwhedhoryon [ælʍəˈðɔɻjən]
alwheth [ˈælʍəθ] alwhedhow [əlˈʍɛðoʊ]
alwheth know [ˈælʍəθ ˈknoʊ]
amal [ˈæməl] emlow [ˈɛmloʊ]
amanydna [æməˈnɪdnə]
amanyn [əˈmæənɨn]
amary [ˈæməɻɨ] amarys [ˈæməɻɨz̥]
ambos [ˈæmbəz̥] ambosow [əmˈbɔzoʊ]
amendya [əˈmɛndjə]
amêthyans [əˈme:θjənz]
amortîsans [æməɻˈti:zənz]
amowntyor dêwlin [əˈmoʊntjəɻ ˈdɛʊlɪn] or [əˈmoʊntjəɻ ˈdoʊlɪn] amowntyoryon dêwlin [æmoʊnˈtjɔɻjən ˈdɛʊlɪn] or [æmoʊnˈtjɔɻjən ˈdoʊlɪn]
amowntyor legh [əˈmoʊntjəɻ ˈlɛ:x] amowntyoryon legh [æmoʊnˈtjɔɻjən ˈlɛ:x]
amyss [əˈmɪs]
amyttya [əˈmɪtjə]
an [ən]
an Bardh Meur [ən ˈbæɻð mø:ɻ]
an cans [ən ˈkænz]
an Chanel [ən ˈtʃænəl]
an Cresvor [ən ˈkɻe:zˌvoɻ]
an Dasserghyans [ən dəˈsəɻ̊xjənz]
an dêwdhek [ən ˈdɛʊðək] or [ən ˈdoʊðək]
an dro-ma [ən ˌdɻo ˈmæ:]
an eyl hy ben [ən ˌəɪl hɪ ˈbe:n]
an eyl y gela [ən ˌəɪl ɪ ˈgɛlə]
an Howldrevel [ən ˌhoʊlˈdɻɛvəl]
an Howlsedhas [ən ˌhoʊlˈzɛðəz̥]
an Iseldiryow [ən ˌɪzəlˈdɪɻjoʊ]
an jëdh [ən ˈdʒe:ð] or [ən ˈdʒi:ð]
an jëdh hedhyw [ən ˈdʒe:ð ˈhɛðiʊ] or [ən ˈdʒi:ð ˈhɛðiʊ]
an jowl [ən ˈdʒoʊl]
an Kersegy [ən kəɻˈzɛgɨ]
an keth [ən ˈkeθ]
an keth hedna [ən ˈkeθ ˈhɛdnə]
an kethsam [ən ˌkeθˈsæm]
an nor [ən ˈno:ɻ]
an Norvÿs [ən ˈno:ɻˌviz] or [ən ˈno:ɻˌvez]
an pëth [ən ˈpe:θ] or [ən ˈpi:θ]
an present termyn [ən ˈpɻɛzən(t) ˈtəɻmɨn]
an ragwel wàr an awel [ən ˈɻægwel wəɻ ən ˈæwəl]
An Stâtarhow [ən ˌstatˈæɻ̊hoʊ]
an Tir Uhel [ən ˌtiɻ ˈjuhəl] or [ən ˌtiɻ ˈhju(h)əl]
anal [ˈænəl]
anathves [ənˈæθfəz̥]
anawel [ənˈæwəl]
ancar [ˈæŋ̊kəɻ]
ancombra [əŋ̊ˈkɔmbɻə]
ancombrus [əŋ̊ˈkɔmbɻɪz̥]
ancres [ˈæŋ̊kɻəz̥]
ancresadow [æŋ̊kɻəˈzædoʊ]
androw [ənˈdɻoʊ]
anella [əˈnɛlə]
anedhy [əˈnɛðɨ]
anedhyans [əˈnɛðjənz]
anedhva [əˈnɛðvə]
aneth [ˈænəθ]
anfeus [ˈænfœz̥]
anfeuth [ˈænfœθ]
angra [ˈæŋgɻə]
angùs [ˈæŋgʉz̥]
ania [əˈniə]
anjy [əˈndʒi:] or [əˈndʒəɪ]
anken [ˈæŋ̊kən]
ankevy [əŋ̊ˈkɛvɨ]
anowy [əˈnoʊɨ] or [əˈnu:ɨ]
anperfeth [ənˈpəɻ̊fəθ]
anperfëth [ənˈpəɻ̊feθ] or ənˈpəɻ̊fiθ]
antarlyk [ˈæntəɻlɨk] antarlyckys [æntəɻˈlɪkɨz̥]
antymony [ənˈtɪmənɨ]
anwesy [ənˈwɛzɨ]
anwhecter [ənˈʍɛktəɻ]
anwhek [ˈænʍək]
anwos [ˈænwəz̥]
any [ˈænɨ] aniow [əˈnioʊ]
anyagh [ˈænjəx]
anyêhes [ənˈjɛhəz̥] or [ənˈɛhəz̥]
anyen [ˈænjən]
ap [ˈæp] appyow [ˈæpjoʊ]
aparn [ˈæpəɻn] aprodnyow [əˈpɻɔdnjoʊ]
apert [əˈpəɻt]
Appalachyan [æpəˈlætʃjən]
apperya [əˈpəɻjə]
apposyans [əˈpɔzjənz] apposyansow [æpəˈzjænzoʊ]
arâg adv [əˈɻæ:g]
arâg prep [əˌɻæg]
arâg dorn [əˌɻæg ˈdɔɻn]
aral [ˈæɻəl] erel [ˈəɻəl]
araya [əˈɻaɪə]
arayans [əˈɻaɪənz] arayansow [æɻaɪˈænzoʊ]
arbednyk [əɻˈbɛdnɨk]
arbenygya [æɻbəˈnɪgjə]
Arctek [ˈæɻktək]
arenep [əɻˈɛnəp] arenebow [æɻəˈnɛboʊ]
areth [ˈæɻəθ] arethyow [əˈɻɛθjoʊ]
arethor [əˈɻɛθəɻ] arethoryon [æɻəˈθɔɻjən]
arethorieth [æɻəˈθɔɻiəθ]
arethva [əˈɻɛθfə]
arethya [əˈɻɛθjə]
arethyk [əˈɻɛθɨk]
arfedhor [əɻ̊ˈfɛðəɻ] arfedhoryon [æɻ̊fəˈðɔɻjən]
arfeth [ˈæɻ̊fəθ]
argemydna [æɻgəˈmɪdnə]
argemydnans [æɻgəˈmɪdnənz]
argh atal [ˈæɻ̊x ˈætəl] arhow atal [ˈæɻ̊hoʊ ˈætəl]
argraf [ˈæɻgɻəf]
argya [ˈæɻgjə]
arhadow [əɻ̊ˈhædoʊ]
arhadow parhus [əɻ̊ˈhædoʊ ˈpæɻ̊hɪz̥]
arhansek [əɻ̊ˈhænzək]
arhanty [əɻ̊ˈhæntɨ] arhantiow [æɻ̊hənˈtioʊ]
arhasa [əɻ̊ˈhæzə]
arhow [ˈæɻ̊hoʊ]
arlenwel [əɻˈlɛnwəl]
arlodhes [əɻˈlɔðəz̥] arlodhesow [æɻləˈðɛzoʊ]
arlùth [ˈæɻlʉθ] arlydhy [əɻˈlɪðɨ]
arlyw [ˈæɻliʊ] arlywyow [əɻˈliʊjoʊ]
army [ˈæɻmɨ] armys [ˈæɻmɨz̥]
arnowyth [əɻˈnoʊɨθ] or [əɻˈnu:ɨθ]
arolegydhes [əɻɔləˈgɪðəz̥] arolegydhesow [æɻəlɛgɨˈðɛzoʊ]
arolegyth [æɻəˈlɛgɨθ] arolegydhyon [əɻɔləˈgɪðjən]
arta [ˈæɻtə]
artykyl [ˈæɻtɨkɨl] artyclys [ˈæɻtɨklɨz̥]
arv [ˈæɻv]
arva [ˈæɻvə]
arvor [ˈæɻvəɻ]
arvrusy [əɻˈvɻɪzɨ]
Arwednak [əɻˈwɛdnək]
arweth [ˈæɻwəθ]
ascendya [əˈsɛndjə]
asclas [ˈæskləz̥] asclejen [ə’sklɛdʒən]
ascor [ˈæskəɻ]
ascorn [ˈæskəɻn] eskern [ˈɛskəɻn]
ascoryans [əˈskɔɻjənz]
asectour [əˈzɛktʉɻ] asectours [əˈzɛktʉɻz]
asen [ˈæzən] asenas [əˈzɛnəz̥]
askel [ˈæskəl] eskelly [əˈskɛlɨ]
askellek [əˈskɛlək]
asper [ˈæspəɻ]
asperyta [əˈspəɻɨtə]
aspia [əˈspiə]
aspias [əˈspiəz̥]
ass ˈæs
Ass yw dieth! [ˈæs ˌiʊ ˈdiəθ]
assa [ˈæsə]
assaultya [əˈsɒltjə]
assay [ˈæsaɪ] assayes [əˈsaɪəz̥]
assaya [əˈsaɪə]
assayva [əˈsaɪvə] assayvaow [əsaɪˈvæoʊ]
assentya [əˈsɛntjə]
assenyans [əˈsɛnjənz]
astel ober [ˈæstəl ˈɔbəɻ]
astell [ˈæstəl] estyll [ˈɛstɨl]
astell cres [ˈæstəl ˈkɻe:z] estyll cres [ˈɛstɨl ˈkɻe:z]
astell mordardhya [ˈæstəl ˌmoɻˈdæɻðjə] estyll mordardhya [ˈɛstɨl ˌmoɻˈdæɻðjə]
astell wydn [ˈæstəl ˈwɪdn] estyll gwydn [ˈɛstɨl ˈgwɪdn]
astevery [æstəˈvəɻɨ]
asteveryans [æstəˈvəɻjənz]
asthmatek [əsθˈmætək]
astranj [əˈstɻændʒ]
astronomek [æstɻəˈnɔmək]
aswon [ˈæzwən]
aswonvos [əzˈwɔnvoz]
aswy [ˈæzwɨ]
atla [ˈætlə] atlion [ətˈliən]
Atlantek [ətˈlæntək]
atorny [əˈtɔɻnɨ] atornys [əˈtɔɻnɨz̥]
attal [ˈætal]
attendya [əˈtɛndjə]
attendyans [əˈtɛndjənz]
attês [əˈte:z]
attêsva [əˈte:zvə] attêsvaow [æte:zˈvæoʊ]
attyly [əˈtɪlɨ]
auctoryta [ɒkˈtɔɻɨtə]
auctour [ˈɒktʉɻ] auctours [ˈɒktʉɻz]
audycyon [ɒˈdɪʃən] audycyons [ɒˈdɪʃənz]
a-ugh [əˈju:x] or [əˈhju:x]
a-uhon [əˈjuhən] or [əˈhju(h)ən]
Austol [ˈɒstəl]
automatek [ɒtəˈmætək]
aval [ˈævəl] avallow [əˈvæloʊ]
aval kerensa [ˈævəl kəˈɻɛnzə] avallow kerensa [əˈvæloʊ kəˈɻɛnzə]
aval paradîs [ˈævəl pəˈɻædi:z] avallow paradîs [əˈvæloʊ pəˈɻædi:z]
avàn [əˈvæn]
avarr [əˈvæɻ]
avauncya [əˈvɒnsjə]
avell [əˈvɛl]
aventur [əˈvɛntɪɻ] aventurs [əˈvɛntɪɻz]
aventuryans [ævənˈtɪɻjənz]
avês [əˈve:z]
avês dhe [əˈve:z ðə]
avîsment [əˈvi:zmənt]
avîsyans [əˈvi:zjənz]
avîsyor [əˈvi:zjəɻ] avîsyoryon [ævi:ˈzjɔɻjən]
avîsyores [ævi:ˈzjɔɻəz̥] avîsyoresow [əvi:zjəˈɻɛzoʊ]
avorow [əˈvɔɻoʊ]
avow [əˈvoʊ]
avowa [əˈvoʊə] or [əˈvu:ə]
avy [əˈvi:]
awartha [əˈwæɻθə]
awayl [əˈwaɪl] awaylow [əˈwaɪloʊ]
awedhya [əˈwɛðjə]
awedhyans [əˈwɛðjənz]
awel [ˈæwəl] awellow [əˈwɛloʊ]
awen [ˈæwən]
awhêr [əˈʍəɻ]
Awhêr vëth! [əˈʍəɻ ˈve:θ] or [əˈʍəɻ ˈvi:θ]
awhesyth [əˈʍɛzɨθ] awhesydhas [æʍəˈzɪðəz̥]
awoles [əˈwɔləz̥]
awos [əˈwɔz]
awot [əˈwɔt]
awotta [əˈwɔtə]
aysel [ˈaɪzəl]
aysel triakel [ˈaɪzəl tɻiˈækəl]
baby [ˈbæbɨ] babiow [bəˈbioʊ]
bachelerieth [bætʃəˈləɻiəθ]
backa [ˈbækə]
backen [ˈbækən]
bad [ˈbæ:d]
bad- [ˌbæd]
badhya [ˈbæðjə]
badna [ˈbædnə] banahow [bəˈnæhoʊ]
bad-ober [ˌbædˈɔbəɻ] bad-oberow [ˌbædəˈbəɻoʊ]
bagas [ˈbægəz̥] bagasow [bəˈgæzoʊ]
bagas ilow [ˈbægəz̥ ˈɪloʊ] bagasow ilow [bəˈgæzoʊ ˈɪloʊ]
bagh [ˈbæ:x] bahow [ˈbæhoʊ]
baily [ˈbe:lɨ] bailys [ˈbe:lɨz̥]
balad [ˈbæləd] baladys [bəˈlædɨz̥]
balek [ˈbælək]
ballyer [ˈbæljəɻ] ballyers [ˈbæljəɻz]