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 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
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 |
| 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 with Sintezenn
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 |
Breton courses on: Amazon.com and Amazon.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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