briller

Briller is a term with multiple meanings in different languages. In French, briller is a verb meaning to shine or glitter. It is used literally for light or gloss, and figuratively to indicate excellence or prominence, as in briller par son esprit or briller de mille feux. The expression and verb forms are common in literature and everyday speech.

In Danish and Norwegian, briller is a plural noun meaning eyeglasses or spectacles. The singular forms are brille in Danish and brille in Norwegian; briller refers to a pair of glasses in ordinary usage. Eyewear brands and retailers may use briller in product descriptions or advertisements.

The two main uses—an action word in French-speaking contexts and a countable noun for eyewear in Scandinavian contexts—show how the same spelling can have distinct meanings across languages. Context, including part of speech and accompanying words, determines the intended sense. In translation, briller as a verb is typically rendered as “to shine,” while briller as a noun is rendered as “glasses” or “spectacles.”