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"Corto" is a form of "corto", an adjective which is often translated as "short". "Breve" is an adjective which is often translated as "brief". Learn more about the difference between "corto" and "breve" below.
corto(
kohr
-
toh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (length)
a. short
Mi abuela vive a corta distancia de la playa.My grandmother lives a short distance from the beach.
2. (duration)
3. (limited)
a. short
Con todas las compras que he hecho, me quedé corto de dinero.With all the shopping I've done, I'm short on money.
4. (colloquial) (dense)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. dim (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Le pedí un café negro y ese mesero corto me preguntó si lo quería con leche.I asked for black coffee and that dim waiter asked me if I wanted milk with it.
b. thick (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿De qué color era el caballo blanco de George Washington? - Va, ¡no seas tan corto!What color was George Washington's white horse? - Come on, don't be so thick!
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. short
Vi un corto excelente en el Festival de Cine de Sundance.I saw a great short at the Sundance Film Festival.
b. short film
Uno de los cortos del Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia provocó mucha discusión.One of the short films at the Morelia International Film Festival caused a lot of discussion.
6. (beverage)
breve(
breh
-
beh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (not long)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
2. (news)
a. short news item
Leí un breve sobre el calentamiento global.I read a short news item about global warming.
3. (religious)
a. brief
El papa emitió un breve sobre la importancia de honrar a los padres.The Pope issued a brief about the importance of honoring one's parents.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
4. (music)
a. breve
Una breve tiene una duración igual a dos redondas ligadas.A breve lasts as long as two connected whole notes.
b. double whole note (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
La breve es característica de la composición medieval.Double whole notes are a feature of medieval composition.
