The history of the Breton language is normally divided into three periods: Old Breton (up to the end of the 11th century), Middle Breton (from the end of the 11th century to the 17th century), and Modern Breton (from the 17th century onwards).

Breton literature dates from the 15th century (only a few texts remain from before this era). The Breton cultural movement started in the 19th century, and with it came contemporary Breton literature. During the 20th century, however, the implacable French policy of not accepting any language other than French for use in public resulted in the quickening of the process of Breton's linguistic substitution.

At present, Breton is principally the language spoken by elderly, bilingual people, in rural environments in the interior of the country, who are less affected by tourism than people living on the coast. Over the last three decades, however, certain intellectual movements in Brittany have taken a renewed interest in the language.