MOLLETHI YN KERNEWEK

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Geocities is discontinuing their websites soon and so this page will cease to exist. However, I shall endeavour to recreate it elsewhere. Please keep an eye on other Cornish websites for this information to be recreated.

How to swear in Cornish: Fuck off = Kyj dhe-ves (Pron: kidge the VEZ) arse-hole = toll din (Pron: toll DEEN) kiss my butt = amm dhe'm gwenn (pron: am them GWEN) the cat's fart = bramm an gath (pron: bram an GATH) your mother's vagina = kons dha vamm (pron: konz the VAM) you idiot = ty wokki (pron: te wocky) suck my dick = sug ow halgh (pron: soog o HALH) baldy = pennblogh (pron: pen-BLOH) by the fucking Devil = a-barth an Jowl a gyj (pron: a-barth an Jole a GIDGE) dick head = penn kalgh (pron: pen KALH) go an penetrate yourself = re'th omlansyewgh hwi (pron: reth om-LANSYOU-wee) go fuck yourself = re'th kijyewgh hwi (pron: reth KIDGYO wee) dogluthys ov = I'm fucked  (pron: dog-LOOTHEZ ov)    more A vynn'ta ow dogluthi? = Do you want to fuck me? (pron: a vinta o dog-LOOTHY)  more Da yw genev omwari = I love wanking (pron: daa you genev (hard g) om-WARRY) Basic words: Penis = kalgh (pron: kalh) bumhole = gwenn (pron: gwen) bottom = tin (pron: teen) cunt = kons (pron: konz) tits = diwvronn (pron: dew-VRON) fart = bramm (pron: bram) fuck = kyj (pron: kidge) to fuck = kyjya (pron: kidgya) to anally penetrate = lansya (pron: lancia) wanker = omgyjyer (pron: om-GIDGYER) wanker = omwarier (pron: om-WARRY-er) Sayings: as dry as a nun's fanny = mar sygh a-vel kons lenes (pron: mar ZIH vel konz LENNEZ) as rough as a badger's arse = mar arow a-vel tin brogh (pron: mar ARROW vel teen BROH)

Next is a document anonymously distributed in the early 1990s in London...

CORNISH SWEAR WORDS AND TERMS OF ABUSE

"Kernewek Kemmyn", the language we speak today is based on Middle Cornish, as spoken in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, and has the richest literature. In the early part of this period, Kernow was still within the orbit of the Catholic church based in Rome. Many of the oaths that appear in the Miracle plays of the time have a religious connotation. Thus:-

Re'n oferenn     = by the mass Re'm fydh        = by my faith A-barth Dyw    = in God's name

Re Varia              = by Mary Re Dhyw a'm ros = by God that made me

One could also swear by the saint of one's parish. Thus :-

Re Golom            = by St Colom Re Vyghal            = by St Michael

Re Just             = by St. Just Re Ia                = by St Ia (Ives)

The object of swearing is often to release pent up tensions and feelings of frustration. This could be achieved by offering disrespect to objects, people or beliefs normally held in high repute. One would thus shock oneself and listeners. Like all Celtic peoples, relationships within families were close and deep, impenetrable to outsiders. Thus:-

Ren ow thas       = by my father

This was a shock expression, and may be counted as a swear word. Cornish people also swore by the Devil and his lieutenants:-

Re gorf Mahom   = by the body of Mahom Re Satnas            = by Satan Re Appolyn          = by Apollo A-barth an pla      = in the Devil's name Re Vahom hweg, penn an syns = by sweet Mahound, chief of the saints

An Jowl            = the Devil A-barth Malan    = in Malan's name A-barth Satnas   = in Satan's name Re Jovyn           = by Jove

In verbal contests, perhaps proceding physical ones, one would attempt to hurt one's opponent, belittle them, and damage their self esteem. Here there would be scope for a wide range of epithets:-

Tebelvenyn         = evil woman Hora                   = whore Flerys                 = stinking person Skajynn              = vagabond Mab-mollothow   = cursed by his parents Tevelwas            = scoundrel Koeg                   = worthless person Penn kreghi         = scabby head Penn Jowl           = Devil's head Fals horsenn        = false son of a whore Gorgasenn           = guzzler Penn pyst            = fool Penn medhow      = drunkard

Jowles               = she Devil Plosek                = dirty person Bylen                 = evil beast Drog pollat          = knave Aflythys             = ruffian Drogoberor         = wrongdoer Meregyon           = sniveller, sloven Penn bras           = fat head Penn mousek      = stinking head Atla                    = rascal Drog ebel            = stubborn person Lorden               = clown

And certain expressions were used aswell :-

Molleth Dyw warnas                          =   God's curse on you Kans mil molleth warnas                     =    a hundred thousand curses on you Myshyf re'gas dokko                          =    misfortune carry you off Byner re-dheppro boes                        =    may he never eat food A teffes dhymm nebes nes, my a bylsa dha benn blogh                                                          =     if you came a little nearer to me, I would skin your bald pate Ken dhe oela hwi a's bydh                   = cause to weep you shall have Ny synsav anodho favenn goeg            = I don't care an empty bean Anodho my ny rov oy                         = I don't give an egg for it Molleth Dyw y'n gegin                        = the curse of God in your kitchen An Jowl yn agas kegin                        = the Devil in your kitchen Molleth Dyw dhe vab dha vamm          = God's curse on your mother's son Re'n jeffo mewl!        =  bad luck to him!              Ke dhe-ves!      = get out! Gas dha flows!          =  don't talk rot!                  Gas dha son!    = stop nagging! Syns dha glapp          = shut up! In this context undoubtably words referring to sexual organs, sexual and excretory activity are also used. Words such as:- Pysa      = to piss Kawgh   = excrement Kawgha  = to excrete Skoembla = to excrete (of animals) Gwen      = anus Bramm    = fart Bramma   = to fart Kons       = vagina Kalgh      = penis Diwgell    = testicles Kyjya      = to copulate Examples:- Bramm an gath       = fiddle sticks or literally cat's fart Kawghwas             = obscene person Kons dha vamm      = your mother's vagina "meeagifjeewee" and "rethkidgywee" spelt as they were heard early this (last) century - these are clearly derogatory expressions incorporating the word 'kyjya". The Cornish historian Richard Carew mentions in his book "Survey of Cornwall" (1600) says "...as to a stranger they will not speak it (English). Your likely answer will be: My ny vynnav kows Sowsnek. Res yw dhywgh kews Kernewek dhymm."                       = I will not speak English. You will have to speak Cornish to me. If you propose to use this last expression, just in case you are met with a flood of Cornish in reply, you are advised to learn your mother tongue

Finally... I suppose in really colloquial speech it can also be heard thus:- Bramm an fukkyn gath   = the cat's fucking fart Kons dha fukkyn vamm  = your mother's fucking vagina A-barth an fukkyn Jowl  = by the fucking Devil

UPDATE: Here's a new one on me... 'Cakkamanna' used to be heard in dialect. This translates as 'monk-shit'. This would be represented in Kernewek Kemmyn as: Kawgh an managh However it does sound better in the dialect version ' Kakk a mana' Found in Bywnans Ke: Kawgh an Jowl y'th vin - The Devil's shit in your mouth.

Dogluthy/Dogluthi: New word found in Bywnans Ke. Read more here.

A Yeth an Werin is held every Monday evening at Tavern an Dre in Truro. Here are some of the disgusting phrases and words that have found their way into conversation there: * Tin dhe vin - Arse to mouth * splyt-rost - spitroast * Penn dhe wenn - Head to anus * an garma-sug-dra - The karma-sutra * Simleth/Simlin - Monkey milk / cum