Kerno Proverbs and Sayings
llompi l’altoer, saes caseyns. lit., knock the other [leg], it’s wood; meaning “you’re bloody lying!”
si! e dos yn ndraiys di cascun pub le castre (si mentiam)!. lit., it’s true!, & a cool draught from every pub for you if I lie; meaning “I am telling the truth, and am willing to defend it!”
saes yn kyempoer-y-cars maboun, cel ell.' lit., that there is quite a thingumy-bob.
l’altoer ngal othiomus. lit., let’s hear the other cock; meaning “let’s hear the other side of the story”.
e ma mhaoer atsa la rigu francor / e mo phaoer aty il roy francor / etc. lit., and my mother’s the queen of France / and my father’s the king of France; meaning “you’re bloody lying!”
le ndeu nochell, mho jhowcko-y-mab, aci lo-poni-el. lit., put thy eye here, buckoe-me-lad; meaning “look here, my boy!”
dom-olia cwn le ngat e le mbroch. lit., that puts me in the barrel with the cat and the badger; meaning “wow! I’m stupefied/surprised/etc.”
ti la mbrigh san chord ty monz. lit., you’re climbing the mountain without rope; meaning “you’re treading on thin ice”.
il ancoragus ce te in le ngul ys mosmordait-el. lit., the salmon bit thee in the arse; meaning “that wasn’t too wisely done.”
amharccivi! Woe is me!
daw ay yn re e do li y lattes le reth. lit., you have an argument and it has the sides of a net; meaning “your argument holds no water.”
in samotems, poni-ty le mment al nduvotems. In Summer, put thy thoughts towards Winter; that is, in good times, keep the hard times in mind.
in Mays yn moroken comedh' peryn mmabh facher. Eat a dogfish in May to make a boy.
il stans le San Agnes ys at il stans il plu bhoun le Kernow. Saint Agnes tin is the best tin in Kernow. (The phrase ‘stans le San Agnes’ is applied to anything of high quality.)
ay kes? ao o nay mech? si ay kes, feri kes;
si nay kes mech, feris que la ys!
Is there cheese? is there or not? if there is cheese, bring cheese;
if there is no cheese, bring whatever the is!
in nawn le prims, bes e ‘mbrach;
in nawn le cerch, futur e lugh;
in nawn le ters, doferret aferret;
in nawn le cuart, do li y chornes ke l’omen aci ys ferret!
In the first year, kiss and hug;
In the second, lay and lug;
In the third year, taking and bringing;
In the fourth year, curse him who brought that man here!
parli, mays ben parli; e parlar bech at il plu bhoun. Speak, but speak well; & to speak little is the best.
wardi-ty la ndeu mbrach ngarrue. Watch thy laden britches; that is, keep out of trouble. This peculiar phrase was of unknown provenance until it was found as part of a verse in an old letter dated 1598:
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ardi-ty la ndeu mbrach ngarrue, |
watch thy laden britches, |
il tenós mathin la ngwerm ys raph; mays il luchets le secund le nges ys comedh. The early bird gets the worm; but the second mouse eats the cheese.
dol nommen ay trew ys dev carer: le seu ncan, le seu ndeue, la seva ngwenne. Three things a man should love: his hound, his god, his wife.
la cieurgeourea provoer mal trasfu ast meiyoer ke 'l andrext ben trasfu. The right surgery done bad is better than the wrong surgery done well.
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