KESCOWS NEBES MOY
CORNISH FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
Second Edition
Ian Jackson
Supplementary to Gerlyver Kescows
and continuously reviewed and expanded
SECTION 2
HEALTH
Last updated: 27 February 2025 (10:00)
You can download this section in pdf format here
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.
2-A GENERAL
alergen m alergenow allergen
alergeth m alergedhow allergy
anafylaxys m anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock
anatomy m anatomy
any m aniow complaint (illness)
chy henys m treven care home
clâv anedhys m clevyon in-patient
clâv avês m clevyon out-patient
cleves anhedhek m clevejow chronic illness
cleves gwenerek m clevejow sexually transmitted disease (STD)
cleves mortal m clevejow terminal illness
cleves newro-dylynlathek m clevejow neuro-degenerative disease
clynycal adj clinical (incl figuratively)
codha clâv phr fall ill
dasvêwans colon ha skevens phr cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
diagnostek adj diagnostic
diagnôsya v diagnose
diagnostyk m & f diagnostics
diagnôsys m diagnôsysow diagnosis
diely adj incurable
dosbartha v triage
dosbarthans m triage
dygnaster m abnormality
dysês m dysêsys ailment; disease (often figuratively)
dysforya reydhak m gender dysphoria
fysek lestus f preventive medicine
fysiologyl adj physiological
heb remedy phr incurable
hypoalergenek adj hypoallergenic
imûnya v immunize
imûnyans m immunization
in yêhes dâ phr in good health
infyrmyta m infirmity
mar yagh avell an jëdh phr as fit as a fiddle
medhegieth dastenethy f regenerative medicine
pandemyk (plag bÿs-efan) m pandemygyon pandemic
rol gortos f rolyow waiting list
sawadow adj curable
scodhyans bêwa m life support
sentry cûr m residential care
spyty m spytiow hospice, infirmary
tardh m tardhow outbreak (of disease)
termyn gortos m termynyow waiting time
yahuster m wellness
yêhes gwadn m ill health
yêhesva f yêhesvaow sanatorium
2-B GENETIC DISORDERS
autystieth f autism
cleves crobman-gell m sickle cell anaemia
cleves gosa m haemophilia
cleves pùrpur m porphyria
fybrôsys cystek m cystic fibrosis
syndrôm Asperger m Asperger['s] syndrome
syndrôm Down m Down['s] syndrome
wàr an spectrùm autystek phr on the autistic spectrum
2-C MENTAL / PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
anorexya m anorexia
brës-corforek adj pyschosomatic
cleves Alzheimer m Alzheimer's disease
cleves an yagh m hypochondria
cleves brës m mental illness
cleves dywêghlek m bipolar disorder
cleves tennva wosa trauma phr post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
clôsown ‖ m claustrophobia
foljy m foljiow madhouse (historical and figuratively)
gerdhellny ‖ m dyslexia
lorak-morethak ‖ adj/m manic depressive Now replaced by clâv dywêghlek
meth cowjejyow m nervous breakdown
newrôsys m newrôsysyow neurosis
newrotek adj neurotic
nownglâv ‖ adj/m bulimic
nowngleves ‖ m bulimia
problem a yêhes brës phr mental health problem / issue
sîcôanalîsans ‖ m psychoanalysis
sîcôsys m sîcôsysyow psychosis
sîcotek adj psychotic
sîcotherapy ‖ m psychotherapy
skytsofrênya m schizophrenia
trobel gorwythres fowt attendyans m attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
trobel honengonstrînus obsessyonek m obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
yagh y vrës phr sane
yêhes brës m sanity
2-D BACTERIAL / FUNGAL / PARASITIC DISEASES
clavor m leprosy
cleves an mytern m scrofula
cleves brâs m leprosy
cleves cogh m scarlet fever
cleves bùrm m thrush
cleves fong m mycosis, fungal infection
cleves gwenerek m venereal disease (VD)
cleves hun m sleeping sickness
cleves lyjyonêrs m legionnaires' disease
cleves sêson m malaria
colera m cholera
darwes troos col athlete's foot
dyftêrya m diphtheria
felon m abscess (especially on finger)
fevyr tîfoyd m typhoid fever
genbaljy ‖ m tetanus, lockjaw
gorthvacterek ‖ adj antibacterial
hasliv ‖ m gonorrhoea
lovryjyon m leprosy
pas garm m whooping cough
pockys Frynk pl syphilis
pla du m bubonic plague
selsygieth f botulism
terthen skit f cholera
tîfùs m typhus
tysyk m tuberculosis
whejalen f whejalednow abscess, boil
2-E VIRAL DISEASES
bregh Alman f rubella, German measles
cleves grugys m shingles
cleves rudh m [the] measles
covyd m covid Optionally spelled côvyd when so pronounced
crûp m croup
ebôla m ebola
ereras pl herpes
ereras corf pl shingles
fevyr gwagrednek m glandular fever
flû mogh m swine flu
flû ÿdhyn m avian influenza, bird flu
gorthvîrek ‖ adj antiviral
paljy flehes m polio
pensagh tobm m mumps
pockys munys pl smallpox
pockys sym pl monkeypox
pockys yar pl chickenpox
pôlyô m polio
syndrôm anal Ëst Cres phr Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)
syndrôm imûndyfyk ‖ denyl aqwîrys phr acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
vîrùs imûndyfyk ‖ denyl phr human immune deficiency virus (HIV)
2-F INFLAMMATIONS ETC
brew dûodênek m brewyon duodenal ulcer
brew gwascas m brewyon pressure ulcer, bedsore
brew pengasen m brewyon stomach ulcer
clavor glëb m eczema
cleves clos dywvron m bronchitis
còs wyls f scabies
creven anwos f crevednow cold sore
crohen owraval ‖ f cellulite
dysentry m dysentery
faclys adj inflamed
fakel aval briansen f laryngitis
fakel avy f hepatitis
fakel briansen f sore / strep throat
fakel brodn f mastitis
fakel cowdell ‖ f sinusitis
fakel crohen f dermatitis
fakel empydnyon f encephalitis
fakel gùsygen f cystitis
fakel is-crohen ‖ f cellulitis
fakel [kenen an] empydnyon f meningitis
fakel lonethy f nephritis
fakel pengasen f gastritis
fakel pengasen ha colodhyon f gastro-enteritis
fakel pervethlen ‖ f peritonitis
fakel remus an mellow phr rheumatoid arthritis
fakel skevens f pneumoni
goly bew m goliow ulcer
gowt (an gowt) m [the] gout, podagra
gowtus adj gouty
inflamya v inflame
inflamyans m inflammation
levrythen f levrythednow stye [on the eye]
tan gwyls m erysipelas
tanyjyon m inflammation
whej ha skit phr gastro-enteritis
2-G OTHER CONDITIONS
asthma (berranal ‖) m asthma
bodharder m deafness
brehy pl dandruff
calesen kig f calesednow tumour
calesyans m sclerosis
calesyans liesplek m multiple sclerosis
cancrus adj cancerous
canker goos m blood cancer, leukaemia
canker kig m sarcoma
carrek vystel f carygy bystel gallstone
cleves an manteth m kidney-stone (condition rather than any individual stone)
cleves cêlyak m coeliac disease
cleves clun m sciatica
cleves colon m heart disease
cleves doust [glow] m pneumoconiosis
cleves dowr m oedema, dropsy
cleves dywascans m decompression sickness, the bends
cleves eskern brew m osteoporosis
cleves glus m coeliac disease
cleves marhogyon m haemorrhoids, piles
cleves medhêwnep m alcoholism
cleves melen m jaundice
cleves môtornewrôn ‖ m motor-neurone disease
cleves poder m sepsis, blood poisoning
cleves whejans m bilious attack
cleves whejans gans flogh phr morning sickness
clopen troos m bunion
clot goos m clottys blood clot (especially in vein), thrombosis
cyst m cystow cyst
dellny m blindness
diabetyk adj/m diabetygyon diabetic
drog y gnas adj malignant
emboleth m emboledhow embolism
ewyn treus m ewynas in-growing toenail
ewyngas ‖ m hangnail
frudh avy m cirrhosis [of the liver]
glebans m incontinence
gloos an golon phr angina pectoris
gooslîv ‖ m gooslîvyow ‖ haemorrhage
gordewder m obesity
gwadnwoos ‖ m anaemia
gwadnwosek ‖ adj anaemic
gwessyow crigys pl chapped lips
gwythy whedhys pl varicose veins
manteth (an manteth) m kidney-stone (condition rather than any individual stone)
megrym m migraine
newralgya m neuralgia
omlêsans m omlêsansow aneurysm
orny m hypothermia
pendro f vertigo
polyp m polypow polyp
posnyans boos m food poisoning
rem keyn m low back pain, lumbago
sclerôsys m sclerosis
sepsys m sepsis, blood poisoning
shora codha m shorys epileptic fit
shora colon m shorys heart attack
shora gooslestans ‖ anparhus m shorys transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
shora gwres m shorys hot flush
stevnyk feljys m & f cleft palate
stlaveth m speech impediment
strocas gooslestans ‖ m strocosow ischaemic / infarct stroke
strocas gwres m heat stroke
strocas howl m sunstroke
stubmans keyn m spinal curvature
syndrôm colon uskys omdhalgh m postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS)
syndrôm Tourette m Tourette['s] syndrome
thrombôsys gwythien dhown phr deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
2-H PHYSICAL INJURY
brew scav m brewyon minor injury
crehyllyans m concussion
creven f crevednow scab
den brew m tus vrew casualty
gorra mes a'y le phr dislocate
injùry m injury, harm
ombystyk m ombystygow self-inflicted injury
scaldya v scald
trauma m traumata trauma
ufern trailys m ufernyow sprained ankle
2-I SYMPTOMS
arwedhyow cleves pl symptoms
bregh f rash
bregh lynas f hives, urticaria
clamderek adj fainting
facly v flare up
fevrus adj feverish
glosa v hurt, twinge
goverek adj streaming (eyes, nose)
gwythiek phr bloodshot
kelly aswonvos phr pass out
nywl i'n pedn phr brain fog
sqwych m sqwychys spasm
stoppys y golonyow phr constipated
symptomatek adj symptomatic
2-J MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
carthyon lyn pl lint
catheter m cathetrow catheter
collel chyrùrjen f kellyl scalpel
corn medhek m kern stethoscope
deveror holanek m saline drip
droppyor m droppyoryon dropper
dysklien ‖ m dysklienyow ‖ splint
fâls-esel m fâls-esely artificial / prosthetic limb
gevel f gevelyow forceps
hernes diogely m personal protective equipment (PPE)
jyn loneth m jynys dialysis machine
lysten tryhornek f lystednow triangular bandage, sling
prevyas m prevysy test kit (covid, pregnancy etc)
purhe ‖ v sanitize
pydn sawder m pydnys safety pin
pyffyor m pyffyoryon inhaler
rêwlor colon m rêwloryon pacemaker
stent m stentys stent
sterylya v sterilize (sth)
stethoscôp m stethoscôpow stethoscope
strethassay ‖ m lateral flow test
swàb m swabbys swab
trùssa m trùssys truss
2-K DRUGS ETC
antyseptyk adj/m antiseptic
aspyryn m aspirin
assay clynycal m assayes clinical trial
autoskîtyor epynefrîn m autoskîtyoryon epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen®)
breghyans m inoculation, vaccination
calmyth m calmydhyon sedative, tranquillizer
clout nicotîn m cloutys nicotine patch
cowles menoyl ‖ m petroleum jelly, Vaseline®
cùbert droggys m cùbertys medicine cabinet
dehen dêwla m hand cream
dehen gorthfong ‖ m antifungal cream
dehen zynk-rycyn m zinc and castor oil cream
dogen m dognow dose
drogga narcotek m droggys narcotic
dyspensva f dyspensvaow dispensary
effeth holya [treus] m effethyow [adverse] side-effect
ely m eliow medicine; pl pharmaceuticals
ely gorthdyglon ‖ m eliow antidepressant(s)
ely imûnosùppressya ‖ pl immuno-suppressant drugs
ewonel frigow f ewonellow nasal spray
ferylek adj pharmaceutical
ferylva f ferylvaow pharmacy
fysek shoppa f over-the-counter medicine
golghlyn ‖ m lotion
gordhogen m gordhognow overdose
gorhebmyn menow'hys m repeat prescription
gorra breghyans alês phr roll out a vaccine
gorth-hystamîn ‖ m gorth-hystamînow ‖ antihistamine
gorthpoder ‖ adj/m gorthpodrow antiseptic
gorthprëf ‖ m insect repellent
gorthtrenk ‖ adj/m antacid
gorthvenym ‖ m gorthvenyms ‖ antidote
gorthvreghlydnor ‖ m gorthvreghlydnoryon ‖ antivaxer
gwyras vedhek f surgical spirit
hunegyn m hunegydnow sleeping pill
in dadn galmans under sedation
jèl m gel
jèl sawajya pain m pain relief gel
jèl ura m lubricating jelly
keffurgy ‖ m keffurgeun ‖ addict
lettyor alfa m lettyoryon alpha blocker
lettyor bêta m lettyoryon beta blocker
lettyor canel calcyùm lettyoryon calcium channel blocker
lettyor kethorieth m lettyoryon puberty blocker
losanj m losanjys lozenge
lydn calamîn m calamine lotion
morfîn m morphine
oyl avy barvus m cod liver oil
oyl kevalsyow m liniment, embrocation
oyl nedras m snake oil
oyl rycyn m castor oil
oynment m oynmens ointment
painladhor ‖ m painladhoryon ‖ painkiller
paracêtamol m paracetamol
pastyl m pastylyow pastille
penycyllyn m penicillin
pùltys m poultice
qwynîn m quinine
remedy m remedys remedy (incl figuratively)
sawment m remedy
shampû gorthnedh ‖ m anti nit shampoo
skîtyans kentryn rag covyd phr covid booster jab
skîtyans rag flû phr flu jab
soposytôry m soposytôrys suppository
statyn m statyns statin
steroyd m steroydow steroid
trothlivyas ‖ m trothlivysy ‖ diuretic
uras kevalsyow m liniment, embrocation
whejor m whejoryon emetic
2-L MEDICAL PERSONNEL
clynycor m clynycoryon clinician
craghvedhek ‖ m craghvedhygyon ‖ quack [doctor]
fysyotherapyth ‖ (fysyô) m fysyotherapydhyon ‖ physio[therapist]
group-practys ‖ m group-practycyow ‖ group practice
gweresor clojy m gweresoryon hospital orderly
isvedhek ‖ m isvedhygyon ‖ junior doctor
medhek arbednyk m medhygyon specialist
medhek benenes m medhygyon gynaecologist
medhek brës m medhygyon psychiatrist
medhek eskern m medhygyon osteopath
medhek eskern ha nervow m medhygyon chiropractor
medhek flehes m medhygyon paediatrician
oberor carr clojy m oberoryon ambulance worker
paramedhek m paramedhygyon paramedic
pathologyth m pathologydhyon pathologist
pednvedhek ‖ m penvedhygyon consultant
penethes f penethesow matron
radyôlogyth m radyôlogydhyon radiologist
sîcôanalyst ‖ m sîcôanalystyon ‖ psychoanalyst
sîcotherapyth ‖ m sîcotherapydhyon ‖ psychotherapist
ugh-clojiores ‖ f ugh-clojioresow ‖ sister
2-M SURGERY
brÿstreghyans ‖ m hysterectomy
brodntreghyans ‖ m mastectomy
chyrùrjery afînus m cosmetic surgery
chyrùrjery dôwysek m elective surgery
chyrùrjery toll alwheth m keyhole surgery
clamderyth m clamderydhyon anaesthetist
côlondrogh ‖ m colostomy
daspoyntyans reydh m gender reassignment
dyllas chyrùrjery m dylasow scrubs, surgical greens
enplansans m enplansansow implant
gwythres entrus m gwythresow invasive procedure
impyans m impyansow graft
les'hens m les'hensy by-pass
leuv-vedhegva ‖ f leuv-vedhegvaow ‖ operating theatre
mirva f mirvaow [operating] theatre
stôma m stômata stoma
trehy dhe ves phr amputate
treusplansans ‖ m treusplansansow ‖ transplant
trogh Cesarek m Caesarian section
vastreghyans ‖ m vasectomy
2-N DENTAL
cappa m cappys cap
cùrun f cùrunyow crown
dans arâg m dens incisor
dans keyn m dens wisdom tooth
dans lagas m dens canine
dens creft pl dentures
densydhieth f dentistry
densydhieth afînus f cosmetic dentistry
densydhieth dasterevel f reconstructive dentistry
densydhva f densydhvaow dentist's surgery
drogdhens pl bad teeth
enplansans denjak m enplansow dental implant
esmal dens m enamel
fakel kig an dens f gingivitis
goly bew i'n ganow phr mouth ulcer
kèn dens m dental plaque
keyva f keyvaow cavity
kildans ‖ m kildens ‖ molar
lanwans m lanwansow filling
poder dens m tooth decay, caries
rag-kildans ‖ m rag-kildens ‖ premolar
whejalen ganow f whejalednow gumboil
whythrans dens m whythransow dental check-up
2-O EYES, EARS
astygmateth m astigmatism
audyologyth m audyologydhyon audiologist
cleves scovarn m earache
dewfogus adj bifocal
fakel aval lagas f conjunctivitis
fowtek y glôwans phr hearing-impaired
fowtek y wolok phr visually impaired
glaucôma m glaucoma
gwedrow howl pl sunglasses
gwedrygow hedro pl varifocal lenses
gwedrygow kestaf pl contact lenses
hir y wolok phr long-sighted
lywdhall ‖ adj colour blind
optycyan m optycyans optician
rôsyn dystak m rôsydnow detached retina
spectaclys pl spectacles, glasses
spectaclys dowr pl swimming goggles
spectaclys du pl dark glasses
spectaclys sawder pl safety goggles
whythrans clôwes m whythransow hearing test
whythrans gweles m whythransow eye test
2-P MISCELLANEOUS VOCABULARY
acûbigans ‖ m acupunture
aflanyth adj insanitary
alergeth m alerghedhow allergy
anhun m insomnia
ansawadow adj incurable
aircarya ‖ bys i'n clojy phr airlift to hospital
biopsy m biopsiow biopsy
blonek bystel m cholesterol
cancregynek adj carcinogenic
clâvhun ‖ dynys yn fedhek phr medically induced coma
colesterol m cholesterol
colon-pibellow ‖ adj cardiovascular
corftosans ‖ m massage
còs f itch
cresen dëdh f cresednow day centre
crug tardh m acne
debrena v itch; tickle
debron m itch
dialîsans m dialysis
dosbarthans m triage
dre wythien phr intravenous(ly)
dren du m dreyn black comedo, blackhead
dren gwydn m dreyn white comedo, whitehead
dyswarneth m unconsciousness
electrocardyogram ‖ m electrocardiogram (ECG)
enema m enemas enema
fram kerdhes m framyow walking (Zimmer) frame
fram rolya m framyow rollator
fug-gleves ‖ m fake illness, malingering
fydhyans NHS m fydhyansow NHS trust
fysyotherapy ‖ m physiotherapy
gia v lance (boil etc)
gorthcorfyn ‖ m gorthcorfydnow ‖ antibody
gogell arren f gogellow garren stem cell
gwith clevyon m nursing
gwith lehe ‖ m palliative care
heb sawment phr untreatable
hevufter fowtek m impaired mobility
hevufter lehës ‖ m reduced mobility
homeopathek ‖ adj homeopathic
hypodermek ‖ adj hypodermic
imajya dassenyans tenvenek m magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
in remyssyon phr in remission
kemotherapy ‖ m chemotherapy
kevrath durya m & f kevradhow survival rate
lavregyn sugnek m lavregydnow absorbent pants
lenker col lenkeren tapeworms
medhegieth ken kynda f alternative medicine
necrotek adj necrotic
necrôsys m necrosis
nycotîn m nicotine
pentan m backlog
pestylens m pestilence
podrethek adj septic
poyntyans fâss orth fâss phr face-to-face appointment
qwarantîn m quarantine
qwarantîna v quarantine (incl figuratively)
radyologieth f radiology
radyotherapy ‖ m radiotherapy
recknans has m sperm count
rol gortos f rolyow waiting list
rùttassay ‖ cervycal m rùttassayes ‖ cervical smear test
salowus adj curative
sawment genydnow m gene therapy
sawment gorthry ‖ hormônow m hormone replacement therapy
saworgosoleth ‖ m aromatherapy
serya v cauterize
seryans m cauterization
therapewtek adj therapeutic
therapewtyk m & f therapeutics
tomografieth amowntyorekhës ‖ f computerized tomography (CT)
tomografieth dylla posytronow f positron emission tomography (PET)
tourystieth vedhegyl f medical tourism
treusteverans ‖ m treusteveransow ‖ transfusion
trosken f itchy scab / skin
venym m venyms toxin
venymus adj toxic
yêhesek adj sanitary