Pronunciation: [bɹˈɛt] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "Bret" follows the basic English pronunciation rules. It is pronounced as /brɛt/, with the "e" being pronounced as a short "e" sound like in the word "bed". The "r" is pronounced with a rolled or flipped tongue. The "t" at the end of the word is sounded out strongly, ending with an unvoiced "t" sound. Overall, the spelling of "Bret" may seem simple, but it still follows the fundamental rules of English phonetics.
Bret is a proper noun that can refer to either a given name or a surname. As a given name, Bret is most commonly used as a masculine name of English origin. It is a variant spelling of the name Brett, which means "a Breton," in reference to someone from Brittany, a historical region in France. The name can also be derived from the word "breht" in Old English, meaning "a native of Britain." Bret is often associated with being strong-willed, confident, and adventurous.
As a surname, Bret may have different origins. It could be an anglicized form of the Irish surname "Breathnach," which means "Welsh person" or "Briton." Another possibility is that it could be derived from the Middle English word "bret," meaning "the flat side of a blade or tool." This might suggest that the name was originally a occupational surname for someone who worked as a blacksmith or a carpenter.
In contemporary usage, the name Bret can be found all around the English-speaking world as both a given name and a surname. Notable individuals with the given name Bret include Bret Hart, a Canadian professional wrestler, and Bret McKenzie, a New Zealand comedian and musician. Surnames may have variations such as Brett, Brette, or Breth, depending on regional or personal preferences.
A fish of the turbot kind.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The origin of the word "Bret" can be traced back to the Old English term "bryt" or "brytan", which means "to rupture" or "to burst open". This term eventually evolved into "bret" in Middle English and initially referred to a piece of wood used for kindling or fuel. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include various related concepts such as fragment, chip, or waste material. Ultimately, the term "bret" became obsolete in English, but its influence can still be seen in other words like "bric-a-brac" or "brisance" (used in explosives), which share a similar root.
