Useful Breton phrases
A collection of useful phrases in Breton, a Celtic language spoken in Brittany in the northwest of France.
Key to abbreviations: inf = informal, frm = formal, sg = singular, pl = plural.
Jump to phrases
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in thePhrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, pleasecontact me.
| English | brezhoneg (Breton) |
|---|
| Welcome | Degemer mat |
| Hello (General greeting) | Salud
Salud dit
Demat
Demat dit |
| How are you? | Mat an traoù? (inf)
Mat an traoù ganit? (inf)
Mont a ra mat ganit? (inf)
Mat an traoù ganeoc’h? (frm/pl) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Ya, mat-tre. Ha ganit?
Ya, mont a ra mat. Ha ganit?
Ya, mont a ra mat ganin. Ha ganit?
Ganin ivez, mat-tre. Trugarez dit
Ya, mat-tre. Ha ganeoc’h? (frm/pl) |
| Long time no see | Pell ’zo n’em boa ket gwelet ac’hanout
N’out ket bet gwelet abaoe pell |
| What's your name? | Petra eo da anv?
Pe anv out? |
| My name is ... | ... eo ma anv |
| Where are you from? | Eus pelec’h emaout? (inf)
Eus pelec’h emaoc’h? (frm) |
| I'm from ... | Deus ... on |
| Pleased to meet you | Plijet bras on oc’h ober anaoudegezh ganeoc’h |
Good morning
(Morning greeting) | Demat
Demat dit |
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting) | Demat
Demat dit |
Good evening
(Evening greeting) | Nozvezh vat |
| Good night | Noz vat |
Goodbye
(Parting phrases) | Kenavo
Ken ar wech all
Ken arc’hoazh (see you tomorrow) |
| Good luck! | Chañs vat! |
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking) | Yec’hed mat! |
| Have a nice day | Devezh vat dit (inf)
Devezh vat deoc’h (frm/pl) |
| Have a nice weekend | Un dibenn-sizhun mat deoc’h! |
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal | Kalon digor!
Debrit ervat!
Debrit a galon! |
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey | Beaj vat! |
| I don't know | N'ouzon ket |
| Do you understand? | Kompren a rez? (inf)
Kompren a ret? (frm) |
| I understand | Kompren a ran ...
... a gomprenan |
| I don't understand | Ne gomprenan ket |
| Please speak more slowly | Komzit gorrekoc'h mar plij |
| Please say that again | Lavar-se en-dro, mar plij |
| Please write it down | Skriv-se, mar plij |
| Do you speak English? | Komz a rez saozneg ? (inf)
Komz a rit saozneg ? (frm/pl) |
| Do you speak Breton? | Komz a rez brezhoneg? (inf)
Komz a rit brezhong? (frm/pl) |
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?') | Ya, un tammig hepken
Ya, un tamm bihan |
Do you speak a language
other than Breton? | Goûd a ret ur yezh all estroc'h ewid ar brezhoneg?
Hui 'gauja or lañgaj estroh eid er breton? (Lower Vannetais Breton) |
| Speak to me in Breton | Komzit Brezhoneg ganin |
| How do you say ... in Breton? | Petra eo ar ger brezhonek evit ...? |
| Excuse me | Digarezit ac'hanon!
Eskuzit ac'hanon! |
| I would like ... | Me a garfe ... |
| How much is this? | Pegement e koust an dra-mañ? |
| Sorry | Eskuzit ac'hanon!
Digarez! |
| Please | Mar plij |
| Thank you | Trug
Trugarez
Trugarez vras
Trugarekadenn
Mersi
Mersi Brazh
Bennozh Doue
Damant |
| Reply to thank you | Netra
Mann bet |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Pelec'h emañ ar privezioù? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | An holl draoù a vo paeet gant an denjentilez-mañ |
| This lady will pay for everything | An holl draoù a vo paeet gant an itron-mañ |
| Would you like to dance with me? | C'hoant az peus da zañsal ganin? |
| I love you | Karout a ran ac'hanout
Da garout a ran
Me az kar |
| Get well soon | Ra vi yac'h ar buanañ ar gwellañ |
Bless you!
(Said when sb sneezes) | Doue d'ho pennigo! (God will bless you!) |
| Leave me alone! | Laosk ac'hanon ma-unan! |
| Help! | Sikour! |
| Fire! | Tan! |
| Stop! | Dihan!
Paouez! |
| Call the police! | Galv ar polis !
Galv an archerien !
Galv paotred Mari Robin! |
| Christmas greetings | Nedeleg laouen
Nedeleg laouen deoc'h holl (Merry Christmas to you all) |
| New Year greetings | Bloavezh mat
Bloavezh mat deoc'h |
| Easter greetings | Pask Seder |
| Birthday greetings | Deiz ha bloaz laouen
Kalz a vloavezhioù all |
| Congratulations! | Gourc'hemennoù! |
| One language is never enough | Ur yezh hepken n'eo ket a-walc'h |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Leun gant sili eo ma dourruzer |
Corrections and additions by Tomaz Laquaine, Bleuenn Raynaudon and Mona Caroff. Recordings mainly made withSintezenn
Hear some Breton phrases:
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, pleasecontact me.
Information about Breton |Phrases | Numbers:Modern Breton,Middle Breton,Old Breton |Family words |Colours |Time |Weather words |Comparison of Celtic languages |Celtic cognates |Celtiadur |Tower of Babel | Breton courses on:Amazon.com andAmazon.com
Links
Other collections of Breton phrases (some with audio)
http://www.kervarker.org/en/useful_phrases_01_Boued.html
http://www.bretagne.com/fr/culture/langue/dictionnaire
http://eurotalk.com/en/resources/learn/breton
Phrases in Celtic languages
Breton,Cornish,Cumbric,Irish,Manx,Scottish Gaelic,Welsh,Welsh (Gwentian)
Phrases in other languages
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