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”.
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!
