French word

briser

Pronunciation

IPA/bʁize/

Meaning

  • verbbreak

Example

Ne brise pas ce verre, s'il te plaît.

Please don't break that glass.

Illustration for briser (break)

More examples

Il a brisé la glace en racontant une blague.

He broke the ice by telling a joke.

Core concept

A concentrated force breaks an object's structure into useless pieces, and the same fracture image applies to hopes or plans.

Common phrases

  • briser la glace

    break the ice

  • briser le silence

    break the silence

  • briser un verre

    break a glass

Similar words

casser: To damage something by force or impact until it can no longer be used.
écraser: To press something until it is flat or crushed.
abîmer: To harm something in a way that spoils its appearance or function.
rompre: To cut off an ongoing process or relationship and end it.

Definition in French

Signifie rendre quelque chose inutilisable ou le réduire en morceaux; employé pour des objets concrets et aussi au sens figuré pour des sentiments ou des projets.

Word origin

French briser comes from Old French brisier, while its deeper origin is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In ordinary concrete contexts, casser is often more common, while briser can suggest harsher destruction or a more literary tone.

Other meanings

  • shatterverb
  • violateverb

Opposites

Related words

  • brisébrokenadjective
  • brisurefracturenoun
  • briseurbreakernoun

Word lists with this word