Breton/Breton pronunciation

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Introduction to Breton

Breton pronunciation


Introduction: this is an introductory lesson.
It should teach students how to pronounce Breton and how to write Breton.
Near the end of this lecture, you will find a dictionary and place for global discussions.

Universal keyboard

This link allows to type all accentuated letters.

Pronunciation

Listen first !

  • Gerioù kentañ e brezhoneg (First words in Breton)



Pronunciation rules

The Breton alphabet

A simplified notation of the International Phonetic Alphabet is used, accordingly to the one chosen in « Grammaire bretonne » from Roparz Hemon (Al Liamm - 1984).

Breton pronunciation
Simplified IPABreton spellingEnglish spellingOther
[a] a (karr = car) a (car)
[b] b (bara = bread) b (bold)
[d] d (dor = door) d (door)
[e] e (goude = after) e (red)
[f] f (fur = wise) f (foot)
[g] g (ger = word) g (gear)
[h] h (hir = long) h (house)
[i] i (listri = ships) i (engine)
[j] y (yar = hen) y (yatagan)
[k] k (kein = back) k (keel)
[l] l (laer = thief) l (long)
[l’] lh (dilhad = clothes) (none) ll (Spanish : llano)
[m] m (mab = son) m (more)
[n] n (naon = hunger) n (night)
[n’] gn (pign = climb) None gn (French: gagne)
[n~] n (sanket = sunk) ng (sing)
[o] o (tost = close) o (pot)
[o’] eu (nebeut = few) (none) eu (French: seul)
[p] p (park = field) p (park)
[r] r (rann = part) (none) r (French: rire)
[s] s (samm = load) s (son)
[s’] ch (chom = stay) sh (shark)
[t] t (ti = house) t (tea)
[u] ou (poull = pool) oo (pool) ou (French: tout)
[u’] u (rust = rude) (none) u (French: cru)
[v] v (voulouz = velours) v (victory)
[w] w (gwan = weak) w (twin)
[w’] u (mui = more) (none) u (French: nuit)
[x] c’h (sac’h = bag) (none) ch (German: Nacht)
[z] z (ezel = member) z (zone)
[z’] j (nijal = to fly) s (pleasure) j (French: joli)
 
[ã] añ (skañv = ill) (none) an (French: cran)
[ẽ] eñ (kreñv = strong) (none) in (French: fin)
[ĩ] iñ (biñs = bolt) (none) in (Portuguese: importância)
[õ] oñ (skaoñ = bench) (none) on (French: mon)
[õ’] euñ (bleuñv = flower) (none) un (French: brun)
[ũ] ou (pounner = heavy) (none) um (Portuguese: comum)
[ũ’] uñ (puñs = pit) (none)
[ei] ei (Breizh Brittany) ey (Hey) eil (French: pareil)
[ai] ai (a raio = will do) (none) ahi (French: trahi)

Note : the letter “v” in final is pronounced “o” or “u” ; this may also be the case within a word. For instance:

  • « war-sav » (stand up) is pronounced “war-zao”
  • « levr » (book) is pronounced “leor”.

Here write down your own explanation of the pronunciation if you feel it different from that one up:

 • "gn" /n´/ as: ñ (Spanish: "español'")

Different spelling systems

Peurunvan
 Skolveurieg
 Etrerannyezhel
 English translation
GLAVGLAOGLAWrain
PIVPIOUPIWwho
LEVRLEORLEVRbook
UREURURone
EVITEVIDEWIDfor
GANTGANDGANDwith
ANEZHIANEZIANEZHIfrom her
OUZHPENNOUSPENNOUZHPENNmore, on top of something
BRAVAÑBRAVABRAVAÑnicest
ASANTIÑASANTIASANTIÑto accept
PELEC’HPELEHPELEC’Hwhere
AR C’HIAR HIAR C’HIthe dog
BLOAVEZHBLOAVEZBLOAWEZHyear

Basic dictionary

(br) (en) IPA notation
karr car kar
bara bread bara
dor door dor
goude after gude
fur wise fu’r
ger word ger
hir long hir
listri ships listri
yar hen jar
kein back kein
laer thief laer
dilhad clothes dil’ad
mab son mab
naon hunger naon
unan one unan
ti House ti
ker Town ker
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