Brief

Meaning

letter (written message)

Concepts

letter

epistle

writing

missive

note

correspondence

document

favour

handwriting

news

📰

script

scripture

shape

sign

writings

personal correspondence

one copy

one letter

contained in a letter

encyclic

epistula

letter

book

📖

letter

breve

brief

card

character

Synonyms

Schreiben

Schrift

Buch

📖

Zuschrift

Schriftstück

Mitteilung

Buchstabe

Urkunde

Sendschreiben

Nachricht

📰

Schrieb

Karte

Dokument

Type

Umstände

Wisch

Zustand

Anschreiben

im Brief

im Text

briefliche Nachricht

Briefsendung

letter

Bogen

🙇

buchstabe

Drucksache

Epistel

Form

Kunde

Lage

Letter

Neuigkeit

📰

Notiz

Papierbogen

Post

Postsendung

Spielkarte

Dialects

Basel-Landschaft

brieff

Data provided by: Deutsch-Schweizerdeutsches Wörterbuch

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbʁiːf/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle High German: brief

Inherited from Old High German: briaf

Cognate with Middle Dutch: brief

Cognate with Dutch: brief

Cognate with Old Norse: bréf

Cognate with Old Saxon: brēf

Cognate with English: brief

In summary

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) and English brief.