Meaning
brief, short
In a sentence
La riunione è stata breve, meno di dieci minuti.
The meeting was brief, less than ten minutes.
Puoi farmi un riassunto breve del film?
Can you give me a short summary of the movie?
Il messaggio è breve e chiaro.
The message is short and clear.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| breve | masculine · singular |
| breve | feminine · singular |
| brevi | masculine · plural |
| brevi | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use 'breve' for time/duration (e.g., 'un breve periodo'), not physical height (use 'basso').
- Often paired with 'molto' for emphasis: 'molto breve' (very short). Avoid overusing 'corto' for time.
- Agrees in gender/number: 'breve' (m/f sing.), 'brevi' (pl.). No irregular forms.