doù

Doù is a Breton noun meaning "sound" or "tone." In Breton, doù encompasses a range of auditory phenomena, from voice and noise to the timbre or color of a sound. It is used in linguistic and phonetic discussions to describe phonation, prosody, and acoustic quality, and it also appears in musical contexts when referring to tonal color or texture of voices and instruments.

The term is common in Breton dictionaries, grammars, and scholarly writing on language and music. In traditional and contemporary Breton music, doù helps describe different vocal timbres, instrumental textures, and the overall sonic character of performances. In everyday usage, the word can evoke sounds of the Breton-speaking environment, such as sea, bells, or village noises, reflecting the importance of sound in regional life and culture.

Doù also appears in studies of Celtic languages as part of comparative discussions of sound-related vocabulary across Breton, Cornish, Welsh, and other branches. As a lexical item, it illustrates how Breton links sensory experience with cultural identity, contributing to broader discussions in linguistics, ethnomusicology, and regional studies.