French Conversation · Level 35
75 words
French word
bref
Pronunciation
IPA/bʁɛf/
Meaning
- adverbin short
Example
J'ai essayé, bref, ça n'a pas marché.
I tried it; in short, it didn't work.
More examples
J'ai lu le rapport, en bref il manque des informations.
I read the report; in short, it lacks information.
Core concept
A long explanation compressed into one short concluding line.
Common phrases
en bref
in short
Similar words
brièvement: With concise wording and little elaboration.
en quelques mots: In a small number of words, expressing only what matters most.
en résumé: In condensed form, summarizing a longer explanation.
Definition in French
Sert à exprimer l'essentiel d'un propos de façon brève, souvent pour résumer ou conclure.
Word origin
French bref comes from Latin brevis, meaning short, through Old French, and its adjective use later extended to adverbial and discourse-marker uses.
Usage tips
- Bref is common in speech for a quick summary or conclusion, while en bref or en résumé is more neutral in formal writing.