Cornish

American  

[kawr-nish] / ˈkɔr nɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Cornwall, England, its inhabitants, or the Cornish language.

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noun

1. the Celtic language of Cornwall, extinct since c1800.

2. one of an English breed of chickens raised chiefly for crossing with other breeds to produce roasters.

Cornish British  

/ ˈkɔːnɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Cornwall, its inhabitants, their former language, or their present-day dialect of English

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noun

1. a former language of Cornwall, belonging to the S Celtic branch of the Indo-European family and closely related to Breton: extinct by 1800

2. (functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of Cornwall

Etymology

Origin of Cornish

1350–1400; late Middle English, apparently syncopated variant of Middle English Cornwelisse. See Cornwall, -ish ¹

Example Sentences

Ten years after St Ives voted to ban new‑builds from being used as second homes, the Cornish town is still grappling with soaring house prices, unstable work and young residents being pushed out.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

According to the Mebyon Kernow councillor, seeing Cornish used in public spaces can help raise awareness of the language even among non-speakers.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

There are about 400 to 500 advanced speakers of Cornish, with between 2,500 and 5,000 people having some basic knowledge.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

The Cornish people are a recognised national minority under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, meaning they share the same status as the Welsh, Irish and Scots within the UK.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

“That was what he wanted you to think. But he was a Cornish knight, like the rest of them.”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White