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
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 emaout? (inf) Eus pelecʼh emaocʼh? (frm)
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)
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!
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 | 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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