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

What do the different number plate colours of cars mean in France?

Standard passenger vehicles must be white, but do you know what the other colours signify?

France's sealed scientific secrets are unlocked 100 years after submission

Plis cachetés reveal centuries-old sealed envelopes containing scientific discoveries and inventions

Brittany steps up fight against rising numbers of wild boar

Global warming is enabling the boar to proliferate which brings higher risks to roads, trains, farms, and private residents

How young Britons in France can get a residency card at 18

The children of Brexit Withdrawal Agreement card holders need to apply for the right to stay

Rising cost of vehicle spare parts in France leads to increase in thefts

Official figures reveal a sharp increase in thieves targeting car parts such as bumpers and doors

Which fruits, vegetables and fish are in season in France this November?

See which vegetables complemented by France’s staple citrus fruit, the clementine

Garden waste disposal is free in Dordogne until November 9

Seven Dordogne déchèteries are offering green waste drops that do not count towards residents’ total

Letters: Patou dogs often run wild in France

Connexion reader says owners are dismissive of the danger

What is changing for drivers in central Paris and from when?

A 5.5 km2 zone in the very centre is set to have traffic limitations from Monday

Firefighters, postal workers, rubbish collectors: Alert on calendar scams in France

Many professions offer calendars at this time of year - but not all sellers who visit your home are genuine

Bid for Normandy’s D-Day Beaches to gain UNESCO status

The World Heritage application has been relaunched after being submitted by France in 2018

French weather outlook: Dry two weeks ahead

Stormy October weather gives way to clear skies in November

Learning French: when and why do we say être sage comme une image?

A rhyming phrase which often describes well-behaved children

Kalashnikov rifle and other weapons found hidden at Nice train station

A passenger spotted the arsenal partly concealed in a false ceiling in the public toilets

French wine production faces sharp decline

Adverse weather conditions across France's key vineyards forecast a 22% drop in output for 2024

Some French flight prices for 2025 have already increased due to budget plans

Air France has increased prices in anticipation of the new budget…before the vote has even taken place

Letters: Our French village fête is literally booming

Connexion reader says traditional festivities have been replaced by three consecutive nights of loud music

French films and TV shows to improve your language in November

Watching shows and films can useful to improving your language learning

Reader experiences: Travelling to France with dogs

Four dog owners tell The Connexion about their struggles since Brexit

French property market: Six key points from latest notaire data

Signs of recovery in view from post-Covid slump although sales numbers and prices remain low

Does working on a bank holiday in France impact pay?

The company, sector, and collective staff agreements can all affect workers’ entitlement

Why is November 1 a bank holiday in France, what is it traditional to do and are shops open?

The day is widely known as the fête des morts

Debate over whether to keep Olympic surveillance system in Paris

Decision on whether to retain the network is yet to be made, however civil rights groups have raised concerns about privacy

MAP: house price falls in France - see how your area fares in new notaire data

Only a handful of cities avoided a fall in price at the start of 2024

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