Greetings

1. Demat

   Hello / Good day

   Usage

   The basic Breton greeting, usable at any time of day

   Grammar Note

   Fixed expression from "deiz" (day) and "mat" (good); "Demat dit" is also used with a friend

2. Trugarez vras

   Thank you very much

   Usage

   A standard way to express strong thanks

   Grammar Note

   The initial b of "bras" becomes v: soft mutation after the feminine noun "trugarez"

3. Trugarez deoc'h

   Thank you (formal)

   Usage

   Polite thanks to strangers or older people

   Grammar Note

   "deoc'h" is the polite or plural "to you"; use "dit" (Trugarez dit) with friends

4. Mar plij

   Please

   Usage

   Added to requests and orders; the same form in polite or casual speech

   Grammar Note

   Literally "if it pleases"; it can follow a noun, as in "Sistr, mar plij"

5. Kenavo

   Goodbye

   Usage

   Parting greeting, fine for anyone

   Grammar Note

   A fixed farewell; "see you next time" is "Kenavo ar wech all"

6. Kenavo ar wech all

   See you next time

   Usage

   Said when parting to mean "until next time"

   Grammar Note

   "ar wech all" means "the next time"; feminine "gwech" softens to "wech" after the article

7. Digarez

   Sorry / Pardon

   Usage

   Used to apologise lightly or to get someone's attention

   Grammar Note

   The noun "digarez" (excuse) used as a set phrase

8. Plijet on oc'h ober anaoudegezh ganeoc'h

   Nice to meet you

   Usage

   A polite phrase when meeting someone for the first time

   Grammar Note

   Literally "pleased to make your acquaintance"; "ganeoc'h" is formal, with friends use "ganit"

9. Penaos 'mañ kont ganit ?

   How are you?

   Usage

   Asks a friend how things are going

   Grammar Note

   A set phrase for "how are things"; for polite speech replace "ganit" with "ganeoc'h"

10. Penaos 'mañ kont ganeoc'h ?

    How are you? (formal)

    Usage

    Polite way to ask how someone is doing

    Grammar Note

    The informal "ganit" replaced by the polite "ganeoc'h" (composed)

11. Noz vat

    Good night

    Usage

    Said at night when parting or going to bed

    Grammar Note

    "noz" is feminine, so the adjective "mat" softens to "vat"

12. Degemer mat e Breizh !

    Welcome to Brittany!

    Usage

    Used to welcome visitors

    Grammar Note

    "Degemer mat" is the set phrase for welcome; "e" + place name gives "in/to" (composed)

13. Ne gomzan ket brezhoneg mat-tre c'hoazh

    I don't speak Breton very well yet

    Usage

    Tell people your Breton is still limited

    Grammar Note

    The verb softens after "ne" (k to g); negation is built with ne ... ket (composed)

14. Dont a rin en-dro

    I'll come back

    Usage

    Tells someone you will come back

    Grammar Note

    Periphrastic form "infinitive + a + ober"; the future is "rin" (I will do)

15. Ret eo din mont bremañ

    I have to go now

    Usage

    Used to leave a conversation

    Grammar Note

    "Ret eo din" + infinitive means "I must"; add "Kenavo" when leaving

16. Gant plijadur

    With pleasure

    Usage

    A reply to a request or to thanks

    Grammar Note

    A fixed expression meaning "with pleasure"

17. Yec'hed !

    Cheers!

    Usage

    A toast said when raising a glass

    Grammar Note

    "yec'hed" means health and is used as the toast itself

18. Bloavezh mat !

    Happy New Year!

    Usage

    A New Year greeting

    Grammar Note

    "A good year"; "mat" stays unchanged after the masculine noun "bloavezh"

19. Demat d'an holl

    Hello everyone

    Usage

    Greeting a group of people

    Grammar Note

    "d'an holl" is "to everyone"; da + an contract to d'an

20. Demat dit

    Hello (to a friend)

    Usage

    Greeting a friend or family member

    Grammar Note

    Adds the informal "dit" (to you); for polite speech "Demat" alone is fine

21. Salud !

    Hi!

    Usage

    A casual hello between friends

    Grammar Note

    A colloquial hello; use "Demat" with elders

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