A breve indicates a vowel sounds shorter than its regular pronunciation. The word 'cut' has a breve over the 'u'.
Pro Tip 2/3
Phonetic Guides
When learning new languages, look for a breve in dictionaries to help with unfamiliar sounds. My Italian dictionary uses a breve for the vowel in 'città'.
Pro Tip 3/3
Not an Accent
Don't confuse breve with accent marks; they play different roles in pronunciation. In 'părent', the breve on 'ă' means it's short, not accented.