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.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
English | brezhoneg (Breton) |
---|---|
Welcome | Degemer mat |
Hello (General greeting) | Salud Mat an traoù? Mat an traoù ganit? (inf) Mat an traoù ganeoc'h (frm/pl) |
How are you? | Mat an traoù? Mat an traoù ganit? (inf) Mat an traoù ganeoc'h? (frm/pl) |
Reply to 'How are you?' | Ya, mat-tre. Ha ganit? Ya, mat-tre. Ha ganeoc'h? |
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 pelecʼh emaocʼh? |
I'm from ... | Deus ... on |
Pleased to meet you | Plijet bras on oc'h ober anaoudegezh ganeoc'h |
Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Demat |
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Demat |
Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Nozvezh vat |
Good night | Noz vat |
Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Kenavo Ken ar wech all |
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) |
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Kalon digor! Debrit ervat! Debrit a galon! |
Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Beaj vat! |
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 |
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
Hear some Breton phrases:
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact 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 | Learning materials
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
Breton, Cornish, Cumbric, Irish, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Welsh (Gwentian)
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