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Cornish Slang

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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!

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