Breve: meaning, definitions and examples

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breve

 

[ ˈbrɛv ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

written notation

A breve is a diacritical mark that resembles a curved line placed over a vowel to indicate a short sound. It is commonly used in linguistic and phonetic contexts to differentiate between long and short vowel sounds in various languages. The breve mark helps educators and learners understand pronunciation nuances, particularly in languages such as Latin and Ancient Greek, where vowel length can change the meaning of words.

Synonyms

accent, diacritic, mark

Examples of usage

  • The word 'ă' contains a breve.
  • Linguists use the breve to denote short vowels.
  • In Latin, the breve indicates a short 'a' sound.
  • Teachers often use breves in phonetics lessons.

Translations

Translations of the word "breve" in other languages:

🇵🇹 breve

🇮🇳 संक्षिप्त

🇩🇪 kurz

🇮🇩 singkat

🇺🇦 короткий

🇵🇱 krótki

🇯🇵 短い

🇫🇷 bref

🇪🇸 breve

🇹🇷 kısa

🇰🇷 짧은

🇸🇦 قصير

🇨🇿 krátký

🇸🇰 krátky

🇨🇳 简短的

🇸🇮 kratek

🇮🇸 stutt

🇰🇿 қысқа

🇬🇪 კоротე

🇦🇿 qısa

🇲🇽 breve

Etymology

The word 'breve' originates from the Latin term 'brevis', meaning 'short'. This term reflects the primary function of the breve mark, which is to denote short vowel sounds in pronunciation. Historically, the use of diacritics such as the breve can be traced back to classical languages, where scribes and scholars sought ways to represent the sounds of speech more accurately in written form. Over time, the breve has been adopted in various phonetic alphabets and systems, facilitating language learning and teaching. Its application extends beyond classical languages into modern linguistic studies, where it serves as a vital tool for phonetics and phonology. The breve remains an essential element in the study of language, helping to clarify the distinctions between vowel lengths.