French word

frein

Pronunciation

IPA/fʁɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbrake

Example

Les freins de la voiture sont usés, il faut les réparer.

The car's brakes are worn out, and they need to be repaired.

Illustration for frein (brake)

More examples

Il faut mettre des freins à la hausse des prix.

We need to put the brakes on rising prices.

Core concept

Pressure applied to movement until it is controlled or stopped, literally in machines and figuratively in conduct.

Common phrases

  • frein à disque

    disk brake

  • mettre des freins à

    put the brakes on ___

  • frein moteur

    engine braking

Similar words

pédale de frein: A pedal pressed to activate a vehicle's brakes.
frein à main: A hand-operated brake that secures a vehicle when parked.
ralentissement: A reduction in speed or forward progress.

Definition in French

Organe, mécanisme ou moyen qui freine le mouvement d'un véhicule ou d'une machine, ou, au sens figuré, ce qui limite ou ralentit une action.

Word origin

The French noun frein descends from Latin frenum, a bridle or rein, through the idea of restraining movement.

Usage tips

  • The phrase mettre un frein à takes a noun and means to restrain or slow something, as in mettre un frein à la dépense.

Other meanings

  • restraintnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • freinerbrakeverb
  • freinagebrakingnoun

Word lists with this word