Cornish, Kernewek, is the Celtic language of Cornwall, and it belongs to the Brythonic branch of the family, shared with Welsh and Breton. It was spoken across the county for centuries, came close to vanishing when it ceased to be a community language in the late 18th century, and has been carried back by a revival that began in the 20th century and is still going. Dolly Pentreath, often named as the last fluent native speaker, died in 1777, and agreement on how to write the language took a further step in 2008, when a single Standard Written Form was adopted.
Where it stands now
Cornish is recognised by the United Kingdom under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. It is taught in schools, used on signs and in ceremonies, and studied by a community that keeps it alive. Its place names remain everywhere: the tre, pol and pen of the county are the language's everyday monument.
On this site
Place entries carry their Kernewek name alongside the English, and a growing reference of place name elements is being compiled so the words on the map can be read as language.
Sources
Last checked: 2026-10-11