Brezhoneg

Brezhoneg, or Breton, is a Celtic language of the Brittonic branch spoken in Brittany, France. It is part of the Insular Celtic family and is related to Cornish and Welsh, though more distant from Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

Traditionally spoken across western Brittany, especially in Finistère, Côtes-d’Armor, and Morbihan, Breton also has speakers in Loire-Atlantique and in some urban areas elsewhere. There are regional varieties within the language, reflecting historical and local differences in pronunciation and vocabulary.

Breton is considered a regional language of Brittany. It has no official status at the national level in France, but regional authorities and cultural organizations provide support in education and media. Prominent among these is Ofis ar Brezhoneg (Office of the Breton Language), which coordinates promotion activities and linguistic standards.

Education and revival efforts have been central to modern Breton use. Since the 20th century, immersion schools known as Diwan and other bilingual programs have helped teach Breton to new generations. Breton-language media, public signage in some areas, and cultural initiatives also contribute to its ongoing presence.

Breton uses a Latin-based alphabet and has multiple orthographic conventions, with several norms in use across education, media, and literature. This reflects ongoing efforts to standardize writing while preserving regional speech patterns.

Historically, Breton emerged from the language of the Breton settlers who arrived in Armorica in the early medieval period. Its use waned in the 19th and 20th centuries due to French language policies, but revival movements seek to preserve Breton as a living part of Brittany’s cultural heritage.