KESCOWS NEBES MOY
CORNISH FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
Second Edition
Ian Jackson
Supplementary to Gerlyver Kescows
and continuously reviewed and expanded
SECTION 19
PLANTS
Last updated: 20 November 2025 (16:00)
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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.
19-A TREES, SHRUBS
avalwëdh ‖ col avalwedhen ‖ apple trees
besow col besowen birches
besow arhans col besowen silver birches
box m byxyn box
ceder col cederen cedars
collwëdh ‖ col collwedhen ‖ hazels
crisedhel ‖ col crisedhlen aspens
derow col derowen [pedunculate] oaks
edhel col edhlen poplars
elow col elowen elms
enwëdh ‖ col enwedhen (onen) ‖ ashes
ew col ewen yews
faw col fawen beeches
fygbren ‖ m fygbrednyer ‖ fig tree
glastan col glastanen holm-oaks, evergreen oaks
gwëdh crabbys col gwedhen crabbys crab apple trees
gwëdh know Frynk col gwedhen walnuts
gwëdh keres col gwedhen cherry trees
gwëdh larch col gwedhen larches
gwëdh per col gwedhen per pear trees
gwëdh rudh col gwedhen rudh redwoods, sequoias
gwern col gwernen alders
gwynyol col gwynyolen maples
helyk col helygen willows
kerdhyn col kerdhynen rowans
kesten margh col kestenen horse-chestnuts
kyprùs m kyprùsow cypress
merew col merewen junipers
merhelyk ‖ col merhelygen osiers
myrtwëdh ‖ col myrtwedhen ‖ myrtles
olewbren ‖ m olewbrednyer ‖ olive tree
owrwern ‖ col owrwernen ‖ limes, lindons
pînwëdh ‖ col pînwedhen ‖ pines
planwëdh ‖ col planwedhen plane-trees
plùmbren ‖ col plùmbrednyer ‖ plum tree
sab col saben conifers
scaw col scawen elders
skeuswëdh ‖ col skeuswedhen ‖ privet
spern gwydn col spernen wydn hawthorns
spern melen col spernen velen barberries
sprûswëdh ‖ col sprûswedhen ‖ spruces
sybwëdh ‖ col sybwedhen ‖ firs
sycamorwëdh ‖ col sycamorwedhen ‖ sycamores
yêwbren ‖ m yêwbrednyer ‖ hornbeam