A few useful words in Breton

Ankou: The Breton grim reaper. He wanders the countryside with his tired old donkey pulling a cart with very squeaky wheels. If you hear that creaking, someone in your entourage will be transitioning soon, their earthly form hauled away in that donkey cart. The Ankou wears the traditional Breton male clothing: a dark vest and a very wide-brimmed black hat. He carries a scythe that is always pointed backward. Unlike the Grim Reaper, he is not a stranger. He is the last person from the community who died the previous year.

Biniou (“bee-NEW”): The Breton bagpipe.

Breizh (“braise”): “Brittany” in Breton.

Demat (“day-MAHT”): Literally, “day good,” this is a modern way of saying hello, although traditionally Bretons tended to greet each other just by commenting on the weather (Brav eo an amzer! [“BRA-oo eh an amzer”—“Lovely is the weather”/“Nice day, isn’t it?”] or Tomm eo an heol [“tom eh ah nehol”—“Hot is the sun”/“Hot enough for ya?”]).

Far: A Breton custard cake, which Alex likes to make with prunes and rum.

Fest noz: Literally, “party night,” plural festoù noz. These happen every weekend in community centers and other gathering spots all over Brittany. Musicians play, folks of all ages dance the traditional dances, and often impressive quantities of sistr (hard cider) are consumed. The tradition comes from the countryside, where festoù noz culminated a week of hard work in the fields. They often took place in barnyards, with the musicians sitting or standing on cider kegs.

Kamarad: Friend.

Kenavo: Literally, “until will see.” It means “Bye” or au revoir and plays role in the culture is similar to that of aloha for Hawaiians. It’s one word every Breton knows, even if their family stopped speaking Breton generations ago.

Korrigan: Brittany’s version of a leprechaun, but not to be confused with the cutesies on a box of Lucky Charms. Diminutive, yes, but also surly and mischievous. If you meet a korrigan, consider him armed with magic and potentially dangerous. Or he might help you — depends on his whim at the moment. Possibly bipolar.

Kouign amann (“queen ya-MAHN”): Literally, “cake of butter.” A very sweet Breton pastry not necessarily recommended for those with cardiovascular concerns. 

Krampouezh: Crepes, Brittany's most famous contribution to world cuisine. In Brittany savory crepes are made with buckwheat flour, while desert crepes are made with white flour.

Paotr (“poht”): Guy.

Pardon: A Breton religious procession in honor of a saint, culminating in a festival in a churchyard. KEMBER plays the song “Pardon Spezed,” in which we learn that not everything that happens at a pardon is of a strictly religious nature.

Penaos ’mañ ar bed? (“pay-NAH-ous mah ar bed”): “How is the world”/“How are you doing”?

Penn ar Bed: “Head of the world”/“Headland.” This is the Breton name of Finistère, the westernmost department of Brittany. Quimper is its capital/administrative seat.

Plac’h (the c’h is pronounced like the ch in the Scottish loch or the j in the Spanish jalapeño): Gal.

Son: Song, also the imperative form of the verb sonañ, meaning “to play” (an instrument) or “to ring” (a bell).

Soner: Musician.

Trugarez (“true-GAH-ray”): Literally, “mercy” or “forgiveness,” this is a somewhat elegant way to say “Thank you.” Many Bretons also say mersi, borrowed from the French.

Names of some Breton dances:

an dro (literally, “the turn”)

dañs plinn (“flat dance”)

hanter dro (“half turn”)

jabadão ("zha-ba-DOW," a fun word to say, but just the name of the dance)

kas a barc’h (“toss to the inside”)

kost ar c’hoat (“near the woods,” also the name of a Breton subregion where the dance originated)