Freni

Freni is the plural form of freno in Italian, meaning brakes. The term is used to refer to devices that slow or stop the motion of vehicles and machinery.

In vehicles, brakes work by applying friction to rotors or drums, converting kinetic energy into heat. Types include disc brakes and drum brakes; they are typically actuated hydraulically or mechanically. Common components include pads or shoes, rotors or drums, calipers, and a master cylinder. The braking system is designed to provide progressively greater or equal stopping force as the operator applies the brake pedal or lever.

Modern braking systems may include electronic assists such as antilock braking systems (ABS), which prevent wheel lockup during heavy braking, and electronic stability control (ESC), which helps maintain directional control. Many vehicles with electric or hybrid propulsion use regenerative braking, which recovers part of the vehicle's kinetic energy by powering the electric motor in reverse during deceleration. These features improve safety, efficiency, and performance by optimizing how braking force is distributed and how energy is managed.

Beyond the automotive sense, fren i is occasionally used as a surname in some regions and may appear in historical or contemporary records. The word also appears in specialized technical contexts to describe braking components in other machines, such as trains and industrial equipment. In each context, the underlying principle remains the conversion of kinetic energy into a controllable form of energy, typically heat, to slow or stop motion.