Learn Guernesiais
This weekend you will have the opportunity to learn some phrases in the Channel Island’s own ancient languages of Guernésiais & Jerriais. There will be activities and workshops throughout the weekend on the festival site. You will even have the chance to learn a song in Guernésiais written especially for Sark Folk Festival.
Guernesiais
Learn a few phrases of Guernsey’s own language with Jan Marquis.
Jerriais & Bachin ringing
We are being joined by Geraint Jennings from Jersey who will be holding sessions in Jèrriais (Jersey language) and bachîn ringing.
| English | Guernésiais | Pronunciation |
| Sark Folk Festival | Lé Festival Sertchais dé Folk | lé festival serrchei dé folk |
| Hello! | Ouâroh! | warro! |
| Good morning/afternoon! | Baon‑n‑jour! | baonjourr! |
| Good evening! | Baon‑n‑souaer! | baonswaerr! |
| How are you? | Coume tchi qu’l’affaire va? | cawm chi‑k l’aferr va? |
| Very well thank you. | Enn amas bian merci. | enn amaa biaw merrsi. |
| Are you good my (old) friend? | Es‑tu fiaer mon viaer? | ei‑tu fiaerr maw viaerr? |
| Would you like a drink? | Voul‑ous à bere? | voul‑ou a berr? |
| I’ll have a… | J’érai énne feis d… | j’erré enne fei‑d… |
| —–beer/cider/wine/water… | —–’bire/cidre/vin/iao… | —–birr/sidr/vaei/yao… |
| I’m going to the tent. | J’m’en vais pour la tente. | j’maw vei pourr la tawt. |
| Have you seen the toilets? | Av‑ou vaeu les p’tites maisaons? | av‑ou vaei lei‑p‑titt meizaon? |
| What do you think of the music? | Tchi qu’tu creis d’la musique? | chi‑k tu cré dla muzik? |
| I love the music, me! | J’oime la musique, mé! | j’oim la muzik, mé! |
| It’s lovely today ?! | I fait hardi bael ogniet! | i fé harrdi bael awn‑yé! |
| It’s not nice today! | I n’ fait pas bael ogniet! | i‑n fé paa bael awn‑yé! |
| Where is…? | Éiou qu’est…? | eiyou‑k ei…? |
| My goodness! | Eh bian ma fé! | eh biaw mah fé! |
| See you soon! | À bétao! | ah bétow ?! |
| Good‑bye/‘til the next time. | À la perchoine | a la pairshoyn |