Commands and demands

Gero nei and other commands:

Gero is an order (the imperative of the verb garah = to leave, let, allow).

You can use it with an object:
e.g. (One for your dog) Gero ê! = Leave it!
Gero an darraz egr/alêz. = Leave the door open.
Gero an listri dho vi. = Leave the dishes to me.

or you can use it with the first person (vi or nei) or third person (ev, hei or andzhei) and another verb, meaning (you) let (somebody else do something)……..

Gero nei pidzha = Let us pray.
Gero nei deau gwîl trei. = Let us two make three. (Ancient Cornish chat up line?) (SWF: Gero nei dow gul trei!)
Gero nei êvah pyb ol adrô (SWF: a-dro).. = Let’s all drink a toast to…………….
Gero nei deski Kernûak. = Let’s learn Cornish.
Gero nei moaz. = Let’s go. (SWF: Gero nei mos)
Gero nei moaz chei. = Let’s go in (the house).
Gero nei marhazna = Let’s go shopping
Gero nei kymeraz kynner = Let’s take a break

Gero vi gwelaz. = Let me see.
Gero vi moaz chei. = Let me go in.
(little Pig, little Pig) Gero vi dho entra! = Let me come in!
or Pig bîan, pig bîan, gero vi doaz chei! = Little pig, little pig, let me come in!
Gero vi boaz! = Leave me be!

Gero andzhei debbri tezan. = Let them eat cake!
Gero ev kerraz dho scoll. = Let him walk to school.
Gero hei gwari en lûar. = Let her play in the garden.

Greu (also gwreu) is the imperative of the verb gîl (gwîl) = to do
It can be used on its own or (theoretically) with any other verb, but is more common with some.
Greu festinna! = (Do) Hurry!
Greu sêdha doar. = (Do) Sit down.
Greu ymdzhersia gyz hynan. = (Do) Make yourself comfortable.
Greu hwilaz telhar orol. = (Do) Look somewhere else.
Greu ouna gyz vuru. = (Do) Mend your ways.
Greu vi dho welaz = Show me

Lavar côth.
Greu dâ, rag gyz hynan hwei an gwra. = Do good, you do it for yourself (for yourself you it do).

The use of dho is very idiomatic;
e.g. Gero vi dho entra = Let me (to) come in.
Greu vi dho welaz = Make me (to) see. Let me see. Show me.
If you use this remember that some verbs, e.g. gwelaz, mutate after dho.

Imperatives can be made negative by the use of na
Both gero and greu/gwreu lose their initial g after na.

Na reu meaning "do not" is used a lot for negative commands (Thou shalt not! in Biblical terms) even if the affirmative doesn’t use greu.

Na reu moaz. = Don’t go!
Na reu couz hedna = Don’t say that.
Na reu doaz war tiu ma. = Do not come on this side.
Na reu miraz hwâth. = Don’t look yet.
Na reu sedha doar hwâth. = Don’t sit down yet.
Na reu saval aman raga vi. = Don’t get up for me.
Na reu garah an vor gôth. = Don’t leave the old road/way.
Pidzhi na reu kerraz war an gwelz. = Please do not walk on the grass.

Na ero meaning "let not" is also used for negative commands,

Na ero nei …….= Let us not………
Na ero nei trigaz ybma = Let’s not stay here.
Na ero nei debbri en tavarn tê na. = Let’s not eat in that tea shop.
Na ero nei gwesga rag kidniaw. = Let’s not dress for dinner.
Na ero andzhei gwari en môr. = Don’t let them play in the sea.

The Ten Commandments provide several examples of negative commands “Thou shalt not…………”.
John Boson 1720
Ten Commandments (A Dêg Gwra Deiu)
A Dêg Gwra Deiu
Deiu Cowsas Gerria ma-ha lavaraz-Tho’m guz Arleth Deiu Rêg dro whei Meaz vrt Tîr Egypt ha meas vrt Chei an Kaithes.
1st. Na re’au gauas Deiu veth aral buz vê.

Na reu gawaz Deu vîdh orol byz vi. (Do not have any other God ………….)

2nd. Na re’au gwra tha gus vonyn weal trehis vith na haval traveth en Neue avorra, na en Aor a wollas na en dour dad’n an Aor, na re’au pleghie dothans, na worria dothans, Rag vê guz Arleth Deiu o’m Deiu guir a vonyn tha tralia Peha an Tazow vor an fleaz tha an Tridgia ha Padjurra hinneth vor’n gi ena el pertha vê, ha deskeutha Trueth da Milliow vor’n gi es kara vê, ha gwitha gerria vê.

Na reu gwra dho gyz hynan hweal trehis vîth (Do not make to yourself any graven image….) ..

na reu pledzhi dodhanz …. (do not bow to them…………)

3rd. Na re’au kamer hanow guz Arleth Deiu en Ganow heb ortham (for oatham), Rag na vedn an Arleth sendg’e heb Pe, ra kamer’e hanow en ganow heb ortham.

Na reu kymer(az) hanaw gyz Arludh Deu en ganaw heb othom (Do not take the name of your Lord God in vain…………………..)

4th. Kova tha gwitha benigas De’Zîl. weeah Jorna, Ra whei gwra weal, ha gwra menz es th’es tha guil, buz an sithaz dêth eu zîl benigas guz Arleth Deui. ena ra whei gwra ehal (for ehan) weal, whei na guz mâb na mer na guz dariow Rag en whee’ah Jorna an Arleth gwraz a Neue an Aor a Môre, ha menz es ena ha pouesas an sithas dêth Rag hedda an Arleth Benaz an sithas dêth ha sonaz a.
5th. Worria guz Seera ha Dama el guz Dethiow beth pel vor an Tir es res the’es gen guz Arleth Deiu.

6th. Na re’au Latha Mâb Dean

Na reu ladha mâb dên. (Do not murder/kill a son of man)

7th. Na re’au Crovetha gen grêg Dean aral

Na reu kevran gen grêg dên orol. (Do not commit adultery with another man’s wife)

8th. Na re’au Laddra

Na reu ladra. (Do not steal)

9th Na re’au Tîa gou vor pidn guz Contrevack

Na reu tîah gou warbidn gyz kyntrevogez ….. (Do not swear a lie / commit perjury / bear false witness against your neighbour……… )

10th Na re’au gauaz hirrath vor ler Chei guz Contrevack-na hirrath vor ler gwreg guz C[on]trevack. Na e guaz. na [e] moas na e vdgian Na e Rozan, Na Traveth es peth eue.

Na reu gawaz/kymeraz hirrath warler/rag chei gyz kyntrevogez ……. (Do not covet / have longing for your neighbour’s house ……… )

Gwavas copy in Penzance Library.

Here’s another version!

William Gwavas
Ten Commandments (an Deag Laver Deu)
An Deg Gura Deu

1. Ti na fegh ken Deu byz me.
2. Ti na gura dha vynnyn huil terhiz veth, na haval der traveth es en Nev avortha na en aor a golaz, na en dowr es dadn an aor, Ti na ras pleghe dha rina na gura gurthy, rag me Arleth Deu eu Deu guir a vynnyn dha gura dh’em Pehosou an Taze var an flehas dha an tredzha ha an padzhura Hynnyth na el pertha vi; Diskuetha Triuadh var milieu neb es kara ha kuitha ma gura Deu.
3. Ti na kameras hanou an Arleth Deu en ganau hep ortham (for oatham NK), rag an Arleth na sinnnnnnndz ea heb peh; neb es kamar e hanau en ganau heb ortham (oatham).
4. Ti na ra kevy dha kuitha benigas Dezil; huih dydh ti gura huil ha gura mens es dh’ys dha guil, byz an seithas dydh eu an zil benigas Arleth Deu, enna ti na gura ehal (ehan ?NK) a huil, ti na goz mab, na goz merh, na goz guas, na goz mahtheid, na goz chattal, na dean unchuth, na travith es bar tshei gos gettes, rag en huih dydh an Arleth guras an Nev, an aor, a mor; ha mens es ena, ha pouesaz an seithas dydh, rag hedna an Arleth guras an seithas jurna benigas, ha sonaz.
5. Ti gurns gurthy dha goz Sira, ha Dama, rag goz dydhiou bos pell var an tir es res dh’yz gans Arleth Deu.
6. Ti na ras ladha mab dean.
7. Ti na ras crovetha gans gureg dean aral.
8. Ti na ras ladra.
9. Ti na ras tiah gou erbyn de kyntrevak.
10. Ti na ras gauas hirrath var ler tshei de kyntrevak na ras gauas hirrath rag gureg goz kentrevak na e dean huil na e moze huil, na e vozheon, na e rozan na travith es peth eve.
BM Add. MS 28 554 f.106) OC Vol IX No.11 Autumn 1984 Talek ed

And another!

William Rowe 1668-1709
An Deeg Lavarow a Deew

Tho ve an Arleth da Deew rag da dry meaze veza pow Egypt ha veza choy o chee gossel.
1. Na ra chee gowas na hene Deew poz vee.
2. Na ra chee geel theze dah honen image a wethan na mean ew havel da traveth ol ol eze en Neav a warrah na en 'oare a ollaz na en Dowre ezeu dadn en 'oare. Na ra chee pledgee thenze, Rag ve da Deew honegath vedn boaze engros gen a chee ha composa cabm with a zeera war an flehaz da an dridga ha bodwerha heenath a rima na geeze ort a hara ha shoyah bednath war villiaw a eze ort a hara ha gweetha o lavarow.
3. Na 'ra komerras hannaw Deew en vaine rag na vedn an Arlethgon gon cawas en paraves rag comeras e hanow en vaine.
4. Peedere da gwetha an Zeeleva bonegath; whee jorna chee ra geele a peath ez theeze tha weele. Rag an zithvas deeth ew an Zeele an Arleth Deew; eta na ra geall zorth veth a weele, chee na tha vab, na verth, na da dean, na da voze, na gattel, na da dean anketh, na dra eza gyo da vozow. Rag an whee jorna an Arleth a wraze Neve han oare ha an mor ha menze ez ena, ha boaz an zithvaz deeth, ha'n gwraze ew da.
5. Gwra mere da zeerah ha da Dama, malga da dethow booze heere en powe reg an Taze da Deew ry theeze.
6. Na' ra chee latha den'eth
7. Na' ra chee gorwetha gen gwreg tha contrevack.
8. Na' ra chee ladra.
9. Na' ra chee boaz faulz teaze bedn tha contrevack
10. Na' ra chee covityah gwreeg da contrevack, na'm chee covityah choye da contrevack, na e gossel, na e voze, na e edgan, na e varth, na traveth al beaw a eve.
Deew, A comene massy waren ha screffa da lavarow etta gon colonow. Andelarabo. An duah a an bozverah Chaptra a Matthew.

Most verbs also have their own individual forms of the infinitive, based on the root of the verb.
In regular verbs the 2nd person singular just uses the root, the 2nd person plural/polite adds “o” to the end of the root.

Here are a few examples:
To answer = gorribi. Imp. = gorrib/gorribo
To ban = bannia. Imp. = bann/banno
To bless = benega. Imp. = beniga/benigo
To descend = skidnia. Imp. = skidn/skidno
To follow = siuia. Imp. siu/siuio
To go away = avoidia. Imp. = avoid/avoido
To keep = gwîtha. Imp. = gwîth/gwîtho
To look = mîraz. Imp. = mîr/mîro
To part = barri. Imp. =barri/barrio
To pay for = pëa. Imp. = pëa/pëo
To pull = tedna. Imp. = tedn/tedno
To say = lavaral. Imp. = lavar/lavaro
To swear = tîah. Imp. = tî/tîo
To talk = clappia. Imp. = clap/clappio
To teach = deska. Imp. = deski/desko
To turn/translate = trailia. Imp. = trail/trailio

When the root is one syllable the vowel may lengthen in the 2nd person singular. Here are a few examples.

To boil = bridzhan. Imp. = brîdzh/bridzho
To dwell = triga(z). Imp. = trîg/trigo
To find = cavaz. Imp. = câv/kevo
To heed = culez. Imp. = cûl/culo
To inform = avizia. Imp. = avîz/avizio
To love = cara. Imp. = câr/kero
To read = redia. Imp. = rêd/redio
To rise = saval. Imp. = sâv/sevo
To use = iuzia. Imp. = iûz/iuzio

e.g. Read this carefully = Redio hebma sŷr.


Irregular verbs may be a bit unexpected: Here are some of the more important ones.

To ask = gofen. Imp. = wor/govidna
To be = boaz. Imp. = bêdh/bêdho
To come = doaz. Imp. = dîz/diaw
To do/make = gîl/gwîl. Imp. = gwrâ(z)/gwreu (miss out w if using gîl)
To give = rei. Imp. = rô/reuh
To go = moaz. Imp. = ki/ko
To let = garah. Imp. = gâz/gero
To send = danen. Imp. = danen/denveno
To take = kymeraz. Imp. = kebmar/kymero

For a negative command you can put “na” in front of the imperative,
e.g. Na tedna nei en antel = Do not lead us into temptation.

There are some demands in the Lord’s Prayer: Can you spot them?

John Boson 1720
Cornôack-Pader an Arleth

English-The Prayer of the Lord-als.Lord’s [Prayer]
Tâz Ny drero en Neue, ben[i]gas beth gus H[anow] gus Thernas toaz, gus Brez beth gwres en Aor p’k[ar] drua en Neue. Ro d[e]n hithou gun bara dêth [de] deth govia (altered fm gaffa) d’en gun Kama p’kar drera ny gov’ (altered fm gaff) d’a kamas war gun pidn, Na tedna ny en Antoll, buz gwitha ny vrt droag. Rag the’u [an] Thern[as] gus vonyn-an Nerder, ha an Spladner-Termen heb duath. Amen Della betha So be it.

Gwavas copy in Penzance Library.