Cornish exonyms

Last updated April 05, 2024

Australia

Australia Ostrali^[5]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Australian Capital Territory	Tiredh an Bennsita Ostralek	Australian Capital Territory
Launceston	Lannstevan	Launceston
New South Wales	Deghow Kembra Nowydh	New South Wales
Northern Territory	Tiredh an Kledhbarth	Northern Territory
South Australia	Ostrali Deghow, Soth Ostrali	South Australia
Tasmania	Tasmani	Tasmania lutruwita
Western Australia	Ostrali West	Western Australia

Bangladesh

Bangladesh
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Dhaka	Dakka, Dacka	বাংলাদেশ Dhaka

Belgium

Belgium Pow Belg
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Brussels	Brussel	Bruxelles Brussel
Flanders	Pow Flamanek	Vlaanderen Flandre Flandern
Wallonia	Walloni	Wallonie Wallonië Walonreye Wallounien

Canada

Canada Kanada
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
British Columbia	Kolombi Bredennek	British Columbia Colombie-Britannique
New Brunswick	Brunswick Nowydh	New Brunswick Nouveau-Brunswick
Newfoundland	Tir Nowydh	Newfoundland Terre-Neuve Ktaqmkuk
Newfoundland and Labrador	Tir Nowydh ha Labrador	Newfoundland and Labrador Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
Nova Scotia	Alban Nowydh	Nova Scotia Alba Nuadh Nouvelle-Écosse Nopa Sko'sia
Prince Edward Island	Ynys an Prins Edward	Prince Edward Island Île-du-Prince-Édouard Epekwitk
Québec	Kebek	Québec
Québec City	Sita Kebek	Ville de Québec Québec City

Czech Republic

Czech Republic Repoblek Chek/Pow Chekk^[6]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Bohemia	Bohem^[7]	Čechy

Denmark

Denmark Danmark
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Copenhagen	Kopenhavn	København

England

England Pow Sows^[6]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Cambridge	Kargront^[8]	Cambridge
Canterbury	Kargens^[8]	Canterbury
Carlisle	Karliwelydh	Carlisle
Chester	Kardeva	Chester	Deva was the Celtic name for the River Dee on which Chester stands
Chichester	Kargisi	Chichester	Named after Cissa, the son of Ælle, king of the South Saxons
Cirencester	Kargyrn	Cirencester	The Ancient Greek name Korinion derives from the same root as the name for Cornwall, but the second element changed due to Norman influence
Exeter	Karesk^[9]	Exeter
Liverpool	Lyverpoul	Liverpool
London	Loundres^[10]	London
Oxford	Rysoghen^[11]	Oxford
Plymouth	Aberplymm^[12]	Plymouth
Somerset	Gwlas an Hav	Somerset
York	Evrek^[13]	York

France

France Pow Frynk^[6]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Brittany	Breten Vyghan^[14]	Bretagne Breizh Bertaèyn
Corsica	Korsika	Corse Corsica
Nantes	Naoned	Nantes Naoned
Rennes	Roazon	Rennes Roazhon Resnn

Germany

Germany Almayn^[15]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes

Greece

Greece Pow Grek^[6]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Athens	Athenys^[16]	Αθήνα (Athína) Ἀθῆναι (Athênai)

India

India Eynda^[17]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
New Delhi	Delhi Nowydh	नई दिल्ली (Naī Dillī) New Delhi

Ireland

Ireland Iwordhon^[18]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Dublin	Dulyn	Dublin Baile Átha Cliath	Same name in Welsh

Isle of Man

Isle of Man Manow^[19]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Douglas	Doolish	Douglas Doolish	Borrowed from Manx

Israel

Israel Ysrael^[20]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Jerusalem	Yerusalem^[21]	יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (Yerushaláyim) القُدس (Al-Quds)

Italy

Italy Itali^[20]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Rome	Rom	Roma

Kuwait

Kuwait Koweyt
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Kuwait City	Sita Koweyt	مدينة الكويت (Madinat Al-Kuwayt)

Lebanon

Lebanon Lebnon
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Tyre	Tyr	صور (Ṣūr) Tyr 𐤑𐤓 (Ṣūr)

Mexico

Mexico Meksiko
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Baja California	Kaliforni Isel	Baja California
Baja California Sur	Kaliforni Isel Deghow, Kaliforni Isel Soth	Baja California Sur
Mexico City	Sita Meksiko	Ciudad de México Altepetl Mexico

Netherlands

Netherlands Iseldiryow^[22]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes

New Zealand

New Zealand Mordir Nowydh^[23]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
New Plymouth	Aberplymm Nowydh	New Plymouth Ngāmotu

Norway

Norway Norgagh^[24]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Papoua Gyni Nowydh
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
New Britain	Breten Nowydh	Niu Briten New Britain
New Ireland	Wordhon Nowydh	Niu Aialan Latangai New Ireland Neu-Irland

Poland

Poland Poloni^[25]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Warsaw	Warszawa	Warszawa	Borrowed from Polish

Portugal

Portugal Portyngal^[26]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes

Russia

Russia Russi^[27]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Arabi Saoudek
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Mecca	Mekka	مكة (Makka)

Scotland

Scotland Alban^[28]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Edinburgh	Karedin	Edinburgh Dùn Èideann

Spain

Spain Spayn^[29]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Basque Country	Pow Bask	Euskadi País Vasco Pays Basque
Catalonia	Kataloni	Catalunya Cataluña

Switzerland

Switzerland Swistir^[30]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes

Syria

Syria Syri
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Damascus	Damaskus	دمشق (Dimašq) ܕܰܪܡܣܘܩ (Darmswq)

United States

United States Statys Unys
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
California	Kaliforni	California
Colorado	Kolorado	Colorado Dibé Ntsaa Hahoodzo
Maine	Mayn	Maine
Maryland	Tir Maria	Maryland
New Hampshire	Hampshire Nowydh	New Hampshire
New Jersey	Jersi Nowydh	New Jersey
New Mexico	Meksiko Nowydh	Nueva México New Mexico Yootó Hahoodzo
New York	Evrek Nowydh	New York
New York City	Sita Evrek Nowydh	New York City
North Carolina	Karolina Gledh	North Carolina
North Dakota	Dakota Gledh	North Dakota
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvani	Pennsylvania Pennsilfaani
Rhode Island	Ynys Rhode	Rhode Island
South Carolina	Karolina Dheghow	South Carolina
South Dakota	Dakota Dheghow	South Dakota
Tennessee	Tennessi	Tennessee
Texas	Teksas	Texas
Virginia	Virjynni	Virginia
West Virginia	Virjynni West	West Virginia

Wales

Wales Kembra^[31]
English name	Cornish name	Endonym	Notes
Anglesey	Enys Mon	Ynys Môn Anglesey
Brecon	Aberhondhu	Brecon Aberhonddu
Caerphilly	Karfili	Caerphilly Caerffili
Cardiff	Kardydh^[9]	Cardiff Caerdydd
Carmarthen	Karverdhin	Carmarthen Caerfyrddin
Clwyd	Kloes	Clwyd
Dyfed	Dyves	Dyfed
Holyhead	Kargybi	Holyhead Caergybi
Merthyr Tydfil	Merthyr Tusvil	Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tudful
Newport	Kasnowydh	Newport Casnewydd
Snowdon	An Wodhva	Snowdon Yr Wyddfa
Swansea	Abertawa	Swansea Abertawe
Wrexham	Wreksam	Wrexham Wrescam

Miscellaneous

International organisations

World Bys
English name	Cornish name	Notes
African Union	Unys Afrika
Arab League	Kesunyans Arab
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)	KWKASE (Kowethas Kenedhlow Asi Soth-Est)
Commonwealth of Nations	Kemmynwlas a Genedhlow
European Union	Unyans Europek
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)	KOKAN (Kowethyans Kevambos an Atlantek Kledh)
United Nations	Kenedhlow Unys
World Health Organisation	Kowethyans Yeghes an Bys
World Trade Organisation	Kowethyans Kenwerth an Bys

Oceans and seas

Ocean / Sea Keynvor / Mor
English name	Cornish name	Literal meaning	Notes
Arctic Ocean	Keynvor Arktek	Arctic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean	Keynvor Atlantek^[32]	Atlantic Ocean
Baltic Sea	Mor Baltek	Baltic Sea
Black Sea	Mor Du	Black Sea
Caribbean Sea	Mor Karib	Carib(bean) Sea
Caspian Sea	Mor Kaspian	Caspian Sea
Celtic Sea	Mor Keltek	Celtic Sea
Dead Sea	Mor Marow	Dead Sea
English Channel	Mor Bretannek	British Sea
Indian Ocean	Keynvor Eyndek^[32]	Indian Ocean
Mediterranean Sea	Kresvor	Middle sea	Blend of "kres" (middle) and "vor" (sea, mutation of "mor")
North Sea	Mor Kledh	North Sea
Pacific Ocean	Keynvor Hebask^[32]	Peaceful Ocean
Red Sea	An Mor Rudh^[33]	The sea red
Sea of Japan	Mor Japan, Mor Nihon	Sea of Japan
South China Sea	Mor China Deghow	South China Sea
Southern Ocean	Keynvor Deghow	South(ern) Ocean
Tasman Sea	Mor Tasman, Mor Tasmani	Tasman Sea, Sea of Tasmania

Related Research Articles

Cornish is a Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic language family. Along with Welsh and Breton, Cornish is descended from the Common Brittonic language spoken throughout much of Great Britain before the English language came to dominate. For centuries, until it was pushed westwards by English, it was the main language of Cornwall, maintaining close links with its sister language Breton, with which it was mutually intelligible, perhaps even as long as Cornish continued to be spoken as a vernacular. Cornish continued to function as a common community language in parts of Cornwall until the mid 18th century, and there is some evidence for traditional speakers of the language persisting into the 19th century.

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Kenneth John George is a British oceanographer, poet, and linguist. He is noted as being the originator of Kernewek Kemmyn, an orthography for the revived Cornish language which he claims is more faithful to Middle Cornish phonology than its precursor,.

A spriggan is a legendary creature from Cornish folklore. Spriggans are particularly associated with West Penwith in Cornwall.

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Akademi Kernewek is the official academic body responsible for the linguistic development of the Cornish language. It is responsible for setting standards for the language, developing dictionaries in the Standard Written Form, advising on street and place names, developing terminology and carrying out research. The academy consists of a management board and four panels.

The Cornish language separated from the southwestern dialect of Common Brittonic at some point between 600 and 1000 AD. The phonological similarity of the Cornish, Welsh, and Breton languages during this period is reflected in their writing systems, and in some cases it is not possible to distinguish these languages orthographically. However, by the time it had ceased to be spoken as a community language around 1800 the Cornish language had undergone significant phonological changes, resulting in a number of unique features which distinguish it from the other neo-Brittonic languages.

References

↑ "Cornish dictionary". Akademi Kernewek.
↑ "Gerlyver Kernewek" (in Cornish). Akademi Kernewek.
↑ George, Ken, ed. (2020). An gerlyver meur: Cornish-English, English-Cornish dictionary. Cornish Language Board. ISBN 978-1-908965-36-3. OCLC 1147879674.
↑ Rod Lyon:English placenames in 'chester/caster' (Unpublished manuscript)
↑ George 2009, p. 497.
1 2 3 4 George 2009, p. 534.
↑ George 2009, p. 710.
1 2 George 2009, p. 717.
1 2 George 2009, p. 327.
↑ George 2009, p. 427.
↑ George 2009, p. 567.
↑ George 2009, p. 45.
↑ George 2009, p. 200.
↑ George 2009, p. 106.
↑ George 2009, p. 52.
↑ George 2009, p. 700.
↑ George 2009, p. 799.
↑ George 2009, p. 803.
↑ George 2009, p. 438.
1 2 George 2009, p. 804.
↑ George 2009, p. 805.
↑ George 2009, p. 833.
↑ George 2009, p. 463.
↑ George 2009, p. 834.
↑ George 2009, p. 531.
↑ George 2009, p. 533.
↑ George 2009, p. 565.
↑ George 2009, p. 51.
↑ George 2009, p. 597.
↑ George 2009, p. 907.
↑ George 2009, p. 337.
1 2 3 George 2009, p. 356.
↑ George 2009, p. 462.

Bibliography

George, Ken, ed. (2009). An Gerlyver Meur: Cornish-English; English-Cornish Dictionary. Kesva an Taves Kernewek. ISBN 978-1-902917-84-9.

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[1] "Cornish dictionary". Akademi Kernewek.

[2] "Gerlyver Kernewek" (in Cornish). Akademi Kernewek.

[3] George, Ken, ed. (2020). An gerlyver meur: Cornish-English, English-Cornish dictionary. Cornish Language Board. ISBN 978-1-908965-36-3. OCLC 1147879674.

[4] Rod Lyon:English placenames in 'chester/caster' (Unpublished manuscript)

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009497-5] George 2009, p. 497.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009534-6] 1 2 3 4 George 2009, p. 534.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009710-7] George 2009, p. 710.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009717-8] 1 2 George 2009, p. 717.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009327-9] 1 2 George 2009, p. 327.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009427-10] George 2009, p. 427.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009567-11] George 2009, p. 567.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge200945-12] George 2009, p. 45.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009200-13] George 2009, p. 200.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009106-14] George 2009, p. 106.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge200952-15] George 2009, p. 52.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009700-16] George 2009, p. 700.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009799-17] George 2009, p. 799.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009803-18] George 2009, p. 803.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009438-19] George 2009, p. 438.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009804-20] 1 2 George 2009, p. 804.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009805-21] George 2009, p. 805.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009833-22] George 2009, p. 833.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009463-23] George 2009, p. 463.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009834-24] George 2009, p. 834.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009531-25] George 2009, p. 531.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009533-26] George 2009, p. 533.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009565-27] George 2009, p. 565.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge200951-28] George 2009, p. 51.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009597-29] George 2009, p. 597.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009907-30] George 2009, p. 907.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009337-31] George 2009, p. 337.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009356-32] 1 2 3 George 2009, p. 356.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge2009462-33] George 2009, p. 462.

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