From Comptines et Berceuses de Bretagne (published by Didier Jeunesse)
Sing with some overlap between the kaner (lead singer) and the diskaner (other singers).

Gavotte

Pemp blank ar men – lonlure - pemp blank ar men (bis)
Ha lak ‘non pemp blank hanter ha c’hoazh ne vo ket ker (bis)

Per blank ar men – lonlure - per blank ar men
Ha lak ‘non per blank hanter ha c’hoazh ne vo ket ker

Tri blank ar men – lonlure - tri blank ar men
Ha lak ‘non tri blank hanter ha c’hoazh ne vo ket ker

Daou vlank ar men – lonlure - daou vlank ar men
Ha lak ‘non daou vlank hanter ha c’hoazh ne vo ket ker

Ur blank ar men – lonlure - ur blank ar men
Ha lak ‘non ur blank hanter ha c’hoazh ne vo ket ker

Translation

Five pounds the kid
Put it up to five fifty and still it would not be expensive

Bal

From the singing of Gi and Goulven Pensec, Scaër.
On volume 1 of booklet and CD Kanerien bro Kemperle (available from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Ma preger dion deus ma dime’iñ
Preger ket dion deus martolod
Martolod tond n’ dro d’ar gêr
Tirititou tiritata
Martolod tond n’ dro d’ar gêr
Paner gollo a ber’ dour

Ma preger dion deus ma dime’iñ
Preger ket dion deus toer maen-glaz
Toer maen-glaz ‘ziskrog ‘ziskrog
Tirititou tiritata
Toer maen-glaz ‘ziskrog ‘ziskrog
Ma goue’o d’an traoñ ‘dorro e gouk

Translation

If you want to talk to me about getting married
Do not talk to me about marrying a sea-going lad
A sea-going lad comes home
With an empty basket dripping with water
but no fish

If you want to talk to me about getting married
Do not talk to me about marrying a roofer
A roofer as he removes removes
the slates
If he falls down he’ll break his neck

Jimnaska

Ronde à trois pas.

Al labousig er c’hoat melen e ziwaskell (bis)
A ziskenn beb mintin trala lalala lalala
A ziskenn beb mintin war gornig ma mantell (bis)

Ha lavar kalz traoù din gant un aer deferant
Ma zimef(ec’h) er bloaz-mañ trala lalala lalala
Ma zimef(ec’h) er bloaz-mañ na gemer ket ‘n intañv

Kar kalon an intañv zo chagrin noz ha de
Kalon un den yaouank trala lalala lalala
Kalon un den yaouank zo ken joaius ha gai

Deuit ganin plac’hig yaouank a-borz ma batimant
Ha ni vo pinvidig trala lalala lalala
Ha ni vo pinvidig gant aour hag an argant

Ma zad neuze ma mamm na vijent ket kontant
Ma yafen me ganeoc’h trala lalala lalala
Ma yafen me ganeoc’h a-borz ho patimant

Ho tad neuze ho mamm a chomo barzh ar ger
Ha ni yelo hon daou trala lalala lalala
Ha ni yelo hon daou da vro an Angleterre

Translation

The little bird in the wood with its yellow wings
Comes down every day on the corner of the chimney

It would tell me many things
If you get married this year do not marry a widower

Because the heart of a widower is sad night and day
The heart of a young man is as joyful as it is happy

Come with me young girl on board my ship
And we will be rich with gold and silver

My father and my mother would not be happy
If I went with you on board your ship

Your father and your mother will stay at home
And the two of us will go to England

Numbers

  • unan but also ur/un or ul (depending on first letter of word)
  • daou (masculine)/ div (feminine) causes a mutation: blank becomes vlank
  • tri (masculine)/ teir (feminine)
  • pevar [say per if only one syllable available] (masculine)/peder (feminine) pemp
  • ‘non is an oral form – proper spelling: anezhañ

Translation

  • dion is an oral form – proper spelling: diñ
  • dime’iñ is an oral form for dimezhiñ
  • martolod: sailor
  • tond: come
  • tond en dro: come back
  • d’ar gêr: (to) home
  • paner:basket
  • gollo: empty
  • ber’ is an oral form for berañ to drip
  • dour: water
  • to: roof
  • toer: roofer
  • maen: stone
  • glaz: blue
  • maen-glaz: slate
  • d’an traoñ: to the bottom
  • e gouk: his neck