brièvement

Briément is a French adverb meaning “in a brief manner” or “for a short time.” It derives from the adjective bref, meaning short or concise, with the suffix -ément that forms adverbs. The core sense is brevity in expression, that is, communicating something in few words or in a concise way. It can also describe a short duration when applied to an action, though its primary usage is to qualify how something is said or written.

In usage, brièvement typically modifies verbs to indicate that the action is performed quickly or the description is delivered concisely. It is common in formal and academic writing, where it may introduce a summary or a succinct explanation. It can appear at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence: for example, “Il a brièvement expliqué les enjeux” (He briefly explained the issues) or “Le rapport résume brièvement les conclusions” (The report briefly summarizes the conclusions).

Translations into English include “briefly,” “in a few words,” or “succinctly,” depending on the context. Synonyms in French include en bref and succinctement, while nuance differences with these terms revolve around the emphasis on brevity of content versus brevity of time.

Overall, brièvement is a functional adverb in French for signaling concise communication or a short moment, and it is frequently encountered in formal writing, journalism, and analysis where a succinct note or summary is intended.