bref
B1in short, anyway, to cut a long story short
Used to summarize or conclude what has been said, often skipping details. Very common in spoken French to get to the point or wrap up a story.
Usage
Typically used when you want to conclude a long explanation or story without going into all the details. Signals that you're moving to the conclusion or main point.
Examples
J'ai eu plein de problèmes avec ma voiture, bref, je suis arrivé en retard.
I had lots of problems with my car, anyway, I arrived late.
Context: Summarizing a complicated situation
Il a parlé pendant une heure de ses vacances. Bref, il s'est bien amusé.
He talked for an hour about his vacation. In short, he had a good time.
Context: Summarizing someone else's long story
On a cherché partout, demandé à tout le monde... bref, on ne l'a pas trouvé.
We looked everywhere, asked everyone... anyway, we didn't find it.
Context: Cutting to the conclusion after listing actions
Synonyms & Alternatives
Important Notes
Very popular in spoken French, especially among younger speakers. Shows impatience to get to the point or indicates the details aren't important.