frase

Frase is a term used in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian to describe a unit of language that can convey meaning. The exact sense varies by language, but in general usage it covers both a sentence and a phrase or expression. A frase may be a simple utterance, a complete clause, or a longer sequence of words linked by syntax.

In Spanish, frase and oración are related but distinct. Oración typically refers to a sentence with a finite verb and a complete proposition, while frase is a broader term that can describe any meaningful string of words, including idioms or quotations. Frase hecha denotes a fixed expression or cliché. In Portuguese, frase most often means sentence, while sentença is used for a formal or juridical sentence; frase also appears in the sense of a fixed expression or formula (frase feita). In Italian, frase denotes a sentence as a grammatical unit, whereas espressione or locuzione are common terms for a phrase or set expression.

Usage examples include: Spanish “Esta es una frase corta.” or “Frase célebre” for a famous quote, Portuguese “Esta é uma frase simples.”, and Italian “Questa è una frase semplice.” Frases can function in discourse as independent statements, quotes, or parts of longer expressions, and the term is frequently encountered in writing about language, communication, and literature.

In linguistics and lexicography, frase is used to discuss sentence structure, phraseology, and fixed expressions. Related concepts include oración (Spanish), sentença (Portuguese), and espressione or locuzione (Italian). The term also appears in compound forms such as “frases hechas” (idioms) and “fraseologia” (the study of phrases).