la bretelle

The French word "bretelle" has a few meanings, depending on the context:

1. Clothing:

   • Bretelle refers to a suspenders strap or bra strap — the narrow strip of fabric that helps hold up pants or supports a bra.
     Example: Il porte des bretelles pour tenir son pantalon (He wears suspenders to hold up his pants).

2. Road/Highway:

   • In road infrastructure, bretelle means an on-ramp or slip road, a short connecting road that links a highway to another road or exit.
     Example: Prends la bretelle pour sortir de l'autoroute (Take the ramp to exit the highway).

Synonyms and nuances:

• For clothing straps:
  • Sangle: Strap, but more general, can refer to any strap or belt, not specifically suspenders.
• For road ramps:
  • Péage: This means toll, not a ramp. There is no perfect synonym for the road sense of bretelle.

In summary, bretelle is either a strap on clothing (especially suspenders) or a highway/on-ramp lane, with its meaning easily understood from context.