breve: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very LowHighly technical / specialized
Quick answer
What does “breve” mean?
A diacritical mark (˘) placed over a vowel to indicate it is short in pronunciation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A diacritical mark (˘) placed over a vowel to indicate it is short in pronunciation.
In music, a note equal to two whole notes, primarily used in older or liturgical music; less commonly, any short or brief document or summary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences. Pronunciation differs slightly as shown in IPA.
Connotations
Purely technical; no cultural or connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “breve” in a Sentence
The [vowel] is marked with a breve.The passage contains a [musical] breve.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breve” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The breve accent is crucial for pronunciation.
- He transcribed the breve passage accurately.
American English
- The breve mark indicates a short vowel.
- She studied the breve notation in the manuscript.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in specific fields: phonetics, typography, musicology.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered.
Technical
The primary domain of usage.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breve”
- Pronouncing it /brɛv/ (like 'brev'ity). The standard pronunciation rhymes with 'leave' or 'sleeve'.
- Confusing its use in linguistics (short) with its use in music (long duration).
- Using it in general writing instead of the intended word 'brief'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, both derive from the Latin 'brevis' meaning 'short'. However, in modern English, 'breve' is a highly specialized technical term, while 'brief' is common.
It depends on your OS and software. In Unicode, it is U+0306 (combining breve). In word processors like MS Word, you can often insert it via the 'Insert Symbol' menu under 'Diacritical Marks'.
It is very rare in contemporary music scores. Its primary use today is in the study and performance of early music (medieval, renaissance, baroque) and in some modern editions of Gregorian chant.
This usage is archaic and obsolete in modern English. You should use 'brief', 'summary', or 'memo' instead.
A diacritical mark (˘) placed over a vowel to indicate it is short in pronunciation.
Breve is usually highly technical / specialized in register.
Breve: in British English it is pronounced /briːv/, and in American English it is pronounced /briv/ or /breɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'BREVE' = 'BRIEF Vowel' – the breve mark makes the vowel sound brief/short.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHORTNESS/DURATION (the mark represents a short time of sound or a long duration in music, ironically).
Practice
Quiz
In which field would you *most likely* encounter a 'breve' as a unit of duration?