What is the tilde in Breton?

I read about a Breton family winning a court battle to keep the tilde on their son’s Breton name Fañch. In Spanish, this alters the sound of the letter N. What does it do in Breton? S.B.

Oliver Rowland

Published Wednesday 25 December 2019 - 15:00 Modified Wednesday 25 December 2019 - 15:00

In Breton, this accent usually “nasalises” the preceding vowel so the sound is placed more in the nose.

The parents of the child told Le Télégramme the name sounds, with Breton pronunciation, like planche (with a nasal n) but without the accent the vowel would sound like an open “O” as in Octobre (or as it might be pronounced with an English accent).

Send your queries about life in France by email to news@connexionfrance.com

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France

language / linguistics q&a

French inheritance law: ‘We are being forced to sell our home and leave the country’

France’s 2021 law on imposed heirship - and the slow process of complaints to the EU - are driving us away, say readers

Photos as snow falls – and settles – across France

Many areas in the north have seen snow, including in the capital

Letters: Vegetarian options are too limited in France

Connexion readers say French cuisine is all the poorer due to its reliance on meat

Controversial A69 motorway in doubt as court assesses environmental impact

A new call for cancellation of the environmental approval could halt the project

What is process for building work near a site listed as historic monument in France?

The Architectes des Bâtiments de France must approve of external renovations within 500m of a listed site

Why do some French GPs charge more than others?

The price of a consultation is rising in December - but some already bill patients at €30 instead of €26.50

Neighbour’s chimney blows smoke into our French home: what can we do?

Chimney stacks must be a certain length from nearby rooftops

Are old euro banknotes still valid in France?

A new series intended to be harder to counterfeit began circulating in 2013

Snow, ice, and wind alerts in place for most of France as Storm Caetano arrives

Up to 10cm of snow is expected in Normandy and 3cm in Paris. Drivers are urged to be careful

Why are French roundabouts so confusing?

There are actually two types with different rules

What are the rules for garage sales in France and is tax due?

Non-professionals are only permitted to sell at a limited number each year

How I became a hat designer after retiring to France

A village festival inspired this former business director to train as a milliner

Learning French: when and why do we say faire contre mauvaise fortune bon cœur?

An optimistic proverb to make the best of a bad situation

Property slump eases in France but sellers still need to be patient

The drop in prices is steadying but the situation is not the same across the country

Ryanair threatens to end flights to ten regional French airports over tax plan

Airline boss says it will reduce traffic to France by 50% if proposed tax increases on tickets are approved

French eco-friendly cargo sailboats to set sail by 2026

French company raises €40million to build Cutty Sark-sized sailing vessels, promising faster, eco-friendly trans-Atlantic shipping

Protesting farmers threaten to block roads, food deliveries in France

Demonstrations are set to continue into next week

Thousands of property owners in France sent ‘empty home tax’ bills in error

The bills, payable this December, can run to thousands of euros

French far right threatens to vote for dissolution ‘if budget cuts spending power’

‘It’s unacceptable to hit businesses and pensioners,’ says RN leader Marine Le Pen

Strike action poses minimal disruption to French TGV services

Although overall disruption will be limited, no night trains will be running and local services may still be impacted during tomorrow’s strike

Warning after data of 500,000 Auchan shoppers is targeted in cyber attack

Customers should watch out for scam emails and calls, alerts the supermarket chain

Learning French: the origins and meaning of être Gros-Jean comme devant

The expression comes from France’s most studied and well-known fabulist

Where is snow now expected in France this week?

Warnings over driving conditions are in place

Electric ants spotted in south of France for second time

Fears of a large colony in the Var department and beyond, as aggressive animals threaten pets and local biodiversity

What is the tilde in Breton?

I read about a Breton family winning a court battle to keep the tilde on their son’s Breton name Fañch. In Spanish, this alters the sound of the letter N. What does it do in Breton? S.B.

‘Chauffer son char’: Québécois French phrases added to Google Translate

René, Renée: Navigating subtle gender differences in French forenames

8 false friends from my French students that we can learn from