brief letter

[/briːf ˈlɛtər/]
nounpl: brief letters
carta breve
1. A short written message sent to someone, typically containing essential information only
She sent a brief letter to confirm the appointment.
Ela enviou uma carta breve para confirmar o compromisso.
2. A concise piece of correspondence that conveys information succinctly without lengthy elaboration
The manager wrote a brief letter thanking the team for their work.
O gerente escreveu uma carta breve agradecendo o trabalho do time.
Brief letters are common in both Brazilian and American business environments as a quick way to communicate. In Brazil, even formal correspondence tends to be relatively concise compared to European standards. The rise of digital communication has made brief letters less common, though they remain standard in official business contexts.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
short letterconcise letternotememoshort message
Antonyms / Antônimos
lengthy letterlong letterextensive correspondencedetailed letter

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
carta breve
Standard term used in formal and informal contexts
Rio de Janeiro
bilhete curto
Alternative more colloquial term
São Paulo
carta breve
Preferred in business and formal correspondence
Portugal
carta breve
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; occasionally 'bilhete' for very short notes

Related Words

correspondenceepistlewritten communicationmissivenotemessage

Related Idioms & Phrases

drop a line
keep it brief
a few lines
short and sweet
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