Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing. Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.
I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘broach’ and ‘brooch’. These words sound the same but have different meanings.
Take a look at the examples below. Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.
To broach is a verb. It means to start a topic for discussion or to mention something for the first time. It’s often used when the topic for discussion is difficult or uncomfortable.
E.g. The subject of budget cuts was first broached at the meeting on Monday.
E.g. I’ll broach the subject with her at our next meeting.
E.g. He knew it was an unpopular decision so he avoided broaching the subject for as long as possible.
Brooch is a noun. It is a piece of jewellery which can be fastened to clothes or a hat.
E.g. She fastened the scarf around her neck with a brooch.
Have fun learning English!
Louise