Brief

See also: brief

German

Etymology

From Middle High German brief, from Old High German briaf, which is borrowed from Latin breve, a neuter form of brevis (“short”). Cognates include Middle Dutch brief, Dutch brief, Old Norse bréf, Old Saxon brēf (all of them borrowed from Latin)[1][2] and English brief.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈbʁiːf/
  • Audio (Germany)(file)
  • Audio (Austria)(file)
  • Rhymes: -iːf

Noun

Brief m (strong, genitive Briefes or Briefs, plural Briefe, diminutive Briefchen n)

  1. letter (written message)

Declension
Declension of Brief [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Brief die Briefe
genitive eines des Briefes, Briefs der Briefe
dative einem dem Brief, Briefe1 den Briefen
accusative einen den Brief die Briefe

1Now rare, see notes.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

References
  1. Friedrich Kluge (1989) “Brief”, in Elmar Seebold, editor, Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache [Etymological Dictionary of the German Language] (in German), 22nd edition, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, →ISBN
  2. brief; in: J. de Vries & F. de Tollenaere, "Etymologisch Woordenboek", Uitgeverij Het Spectrum, Utrecht, 1986 (14de druk)

Further reading

Hunsrik

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /priːf/

Noun

Brief m (plural Brief, diminutive Briefche)

  1. letter (written message)
    Sie hod en Brief fun eere Schwesder kried.
    She received a letter from her sister.

Declension
Declension of Brief
singular plural
def. noun def. noun
nominative/accusative där/de Brief die Brief
dative dem Brief denne/de Brief

Derived terms
  • Briefkaste
  • Brieftasch

Further reading

Pennsylvania German

Etymology

Compare German Brief, Dutch brief, English brief.

Noun

Brief m (plural Brief)

  1. letter (written message)
  2. package
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