Language/Breton/Vocabulary/Usual-expressions-and-words-in-Breton
Here are some usual Breton expressions and words.
Breton is a language spoken in Brittany (region of France).
PS: Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Animals, Family, Weather and Climate & City.
Usual expressions in Breton[edit | edit source]
Breton Expression | Meaning |
---|---|
Demat ! | Hello ! |
Degemer mat ! | Welcome ! |
Kenavo ! | goodbye ! |
Yec’hed mat ! | to yours, health! |
Noz vat ! | Good night ! |
Mat an traoù ? | Things are going well ? |
Diwall ! | Warning ! |
Trugarez ! | Thank you ! |
Pelec'h emaoc'h ? | Where are you? |
Petra rit ? | What are you doing? |
Penaos 'mañ kont ? | How are you? |
Ya | Yes |
Ket | No |
Mar plij | Please |
Excuseit ac'hanon | Excuse me |
Ha c'hoant peus ? | Do you want? |
Ur banne chokolad, mar plij | A cup of hot chocolate, please |
Pegement e koust ? | How much does it cost? |
Hañv, Goañv, Nevra | Summer, Winter, Spring |
Ur goulenn | A question |
Daoust ha... ? | Do you... ? (Do you know, etc.) |
Brav eo an amzer | The weather is nice |
N'em eus ket komprenet | I didn't understand |
Some Breton words[edit | edit source]
Breton word | Meaning |
---|---|
An Argoat | inside |
Arvor | littoral |
Bara | bread |
Bihan | small |
Binioù-bras | pipe |
Binioù-kozh | traditional biniou |
Bras | great |
Breizh | Britain |
Bro | country |
Du | black |
Enez | island |
Fest-Noz | dance party |
Fest-Deiz | day party |
Gouren | Breton fight |
Gwenn | White |
Gwin | wine |
Kastell | castle |
Kêr | city |
Kreiz Kêr | downtown |
Kouign-amann | butter cake |
Krampouezh | pancakes |
Mor-Bras | the ocean |
Mor-Bihan | Little Sea |
Sant | saint |
Ti | House |
Ti-Kêr | town hall, city hall |
Ti an douristed | tourist Office |
Traou mad | good thing |
Tro Breizh | Tour of Brittany |
Ya | Yes |
Nann | no |
Practice Phrases in Breton[edit | edit source]
These practice phrases are designed to help learners of Breton language get acquainted with common expressions. They include greetings, questions, and other useful phrases that are commonly used in everyday life in Brittany.
Breton Phrase | English Translation |
---|---|
Demat, petra rit ? | Hello, what are you doing? |
Penaos 'mañ kontañ, kenavo! | How are you, goodbye! |
Trugarez, mar plij. | Thank you, please. |
Pelec'h emañoc'h ? | Where are you? |
Ha c'hoant peus bara ? | Do you want bread? |
Degemer mat e Breizh ! | Welcome to Brittany! |
Mat an traoù gantout ? | Things are going well with you? |
Noz vat ha yec'hed mat! | Goodnight and cheers! |
Ur banne chokolad, mar plij. | A cup of hot chocolate, please. |
Excuseit ac'hanon, pegen kustum eo ? | Excuse me, how much does it cost? |
Brav eo an amzer e kreiz kêr. | The weather is nice downtown. |
Ya, e kreiz kêr emañ an ti-kêr. | Yes, the city hall is downtown. |
Pegen bihan eo ar gwin ! | How small the wine is! |
Emañ ar mor-bras du. | The ocean is black. |
Daoust ha c'hoant peus ur fest-noz ? | Do you want to go to a night dance party? |
Ur goulenn : pelec'h emañ ti an douristed ? | A question: where is the tourist office? |
An Argoat eo ken bras. | The interior is so big. |
Emañ ar gouren e Breizh. | The Breton fight is in Brittany. |
Petra 'zo e ti-kêr ? | What is there in the city hall? |
Mor-bihan eo brav. | The Little Sea is beautiful. |
Breton Language Quiz[edit | edit source]
This quiz will test your knowledge on common expressions and vocabulary in Breton. Each question will present you with multiple-choice options.
Section 1: Common Phrases[edit | edit source]
1. What does "Demat" mean?
A. Goodbye
B. Hello
C. Thank you
D. Good night
2. How do you say "Thank you" in Breton?
A. Noz vat
B. Trugarez
C. Kenavo
D. Hañv
3. What does "Mat an traoù?" mean?
A. Where are you?
B. How are you?
C. What are you doing?
D. Things are going well?
4. How do you ask "Do you want?" in Breton?
A. Ha c'hoant peus ?
B. Pegen kustum eo ?
C. Petra rit ?
D. Excuseit ac'hanon
5. Which of these phrases means "Goodnight and cheers!"?
A. Noz vat ha yec'hed mat!
B. Demat, petra rit?
C. Degemer mat e Breizh!
D. Ya, e kreiz kêr emañ an ti-kêr.
Section 2: Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
1. What does "Breizh" refer to?
A. City
B. Bread
C. Brittany
D. Winter
2. What does "Bara" mean?
A. Wine
B. Bread
C. Small
D. House
3. Which word describes the interior region?
A. Arvor
B. An Argoat
C. Mor-Bras
D. Kreiz Kêr
4. What is "Fest-Noz"?
A. Night dance party
B. Butter cake
C. Castle
D. Tourist Office
5. What is the meaning of "Kêr"?
A. Island
B. Downtown
C. Country
D. City
Answers[edit | edit source]
1. Section 1: B, B, D, A, A
2. Section 2: C, B, B, A, D
Videos[edit | edit source]
la Bretagne et la langue bretonne
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
- Directions
- Post office
- Transportation
- Education
- Time
- Medical terms
- City
- Animals
- Food