se briser

Definition & meaning

se briser is a reflexive French verb that primarily means "to break" or "to shatter" when referring to objects, or "to break down" / "to suffer an emotional collapse" when referring to a person.

1. For objects: To break into pieces, to shatter, or to fracture. For example, a glass falling on the floor will se briser [?](vocabuo://word/se briser).
2. For waves: To break against the shore.
3. For people: To experience a psychological collapse, to be overwhelmed by grief, or to lose one's composure due to extreme emotional pain.
4. For body parts: To suffer a bone fracture (less common than se casser [?](vocabuo://word/se casser), but used for severe breaks).

Grammar & Word origin

• Grammar: This is a pronominal (reflexive) verb. It is formed by the reflexive pronoun se and the verb briser ↗. It is conjugated with the auxiliary verb être [?](vocabuo://word/être] in compound tenses.
• Origin: The word briser comes from the Old French briser, which is likely of Gaulish origin (brissare), meaning to crush or break into pieces. The reflexive se adds the sense that the action happens to the subject itself.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• Se casser [?](vocabuo://word/se casser]: Used more generally for breaking.
• Se fracasser [?](vocabuo://word/se fracasser]: To shatter violently.
• Se briser en morceaux [?](vocabuo://word/se briser en morceaux]: To break into pieces.
• S'effondrer [?](vocabuo://word/s'effondrer]: Often used for the emotional meaning of collapsing.
• Se rompre [?](vocabuo://word/se rompre]: To snap or break (often used for materials like ropes or bones).

Antonyms:

• Se réparer [?](vocabuo://word/se réparer]: To repair oneself (or be repaired).
• Se consolider [?](vocabuo://word/se consolider]: To strengthen or become solid.
• Tenir [?](vocabuo://word/tenir]: To hold or to stay intact.