Brother in Different Languages
Discover 'Brother' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'brother' holds a profound significance in our lives, symbolizing a bond of love, protection, and shared experiences. This bond transcends cultural boundaries and is a universal concept, making the term 'brother' a vital word to know in different languages. The significance of a brother can be seen in various cultural contexts, such as in ancient Egypt, where the pharaoh's eldest brother was considered his successor, or in Chinese culture, where the concept of 'brotherhood' is deeply rooted in their values and traditions.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'brother' in different languages can enrich our cultural experiences and foster better communication with people from diverse backgrounds. For instance, the word for 'brother' in Spanish is 'hermano', in French is 'frère', and in Japanese is 'ani'.
Explore the many translations of the word 'brother' and delve into the unique cultural significance it holds across the globe. Whether you're a language enthusiast, a traveler, or someone looking to connect with people from different cultures, understanding the meaning of 'brother' in various languages is a great place to start.
Brother
Brother in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | broer | ||
| In slang, "broer" can be used to refer to a friend or peer, similar to "mate" in English. | |||
| Amharic | ወንድም | ||
| Hausa | dan uwa | ||
| The Hausa word "dan uwa" literally translates to "son of (the) mother". | |||
| Igbo | nwanne | ||
| "Nwanne" in Igbo is also used as a term of respect for an equal or superior." | |||
| Malagasy | rahalahy | ||
| The word "rahalahy" can also mean "friend" or "buddy" in some contexts. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | m'bale | ||
| Derived from the Swahili word 'ndugu', which also means 'brother' or 'sibling'. | |||
| Shona | hanzvadzi konama | ||
| The word 'hanzvadzi konama' can also refer to a close friend or companion. | |||
| Somali | walaal | ||
| Somali word "walaal" has the alternate meaning of "friend" and is derived from Arabic "wali" meaning "leader" or "patron". | |||
| Sesotho | abuti | ||
| Abuti derives from the Bantu root *abu-, which also means 'father' and is used in several other languages to refer to older men or those in positions of authority. | |||
| Swahili | kaka | ||
| In Swahili, "kaka" can also mean "uncle" or "close male friend". | |||
| Xhosa | ubhuti | ||
| The term 'ubhuti' in Xhosa can also refer to a close friend or confidant. | |||
| Yoruba | arakunrin | ||
| Arakunrin is an honorific term used for a male sibling, it may also refer to a close friend or associate. | |||
| Zulu | mfowethu | ||
| Some sources claim that "mfowethu" originated from "umfowethu," the Zulu word for "our wealth." The "ow" in "mfowethu" is said to have been elided. | |||
| Bambara | balimakɛ | ||
| Ewe | nᴐvi ŋutsu | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umuvandimwe | ||
| Lingala | ndeko | ||
| Luganda | mwannyinaze | ||
| Sepedi | buti | ||
| Twi (Akan) | nuabarima | ||
Brother in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | شقيق | ||
| The word "شقيق" in Arabic is related to the word "شق", meaning "to split" or "to divide". This suggests that siblings are those who come from the same "split" or share the same origin. | |||
| Hebrew | אָח | ||
| The Hebrew word 'אָח' ('brother') may also refer to a friend, companion, or ally. | |||
| Pashto | ورور | ||
| The word "ورور" is derived from the same root as the Persian word "برادر" and the Sanskrit word "भ्राता" (bhrāta), all meaning "brother". | |||
| Arabic | شقيق | ||
| The word "شقيق" in Arabic is related to the word "شق", meaning "to split" or "to divide". This suggests that siblings are those who come from the same "split" or share the same origin. | |||
Brother in Western European Languages
| Albanian | vëlla | ||
| The word "vëlla" in Albanian is also used to refer to a male friend or a member of a group or organization. | |||
| Basque | anaia | ||
| The word 'anaia' originally meant 'older brother', and has since been generalized to mean 'brother' | |||
| Catalan | germà | ||
| In Catalan, "germà" can also mean "germen" (seed, germ), suggesting a link between siblings and growth or germination. | |||
| Croatian | brat | ||
| In Croatian the word "brat" can also mean "cousin" or (archaic) "uncle (father's side)". | |||
| Danish | bror | ||
| The word "bror" in Danish can also be used to refer to a close friend or a member of a gang. | |||
| Dutch | broer | ||
| The word "broer" is cognate with the English word "brother" and the German word "Bruder" | |||
| English | brother | ||
| The term 'brother' can also refer to a member of a fraternity, religious order, or other close-knit group of men. | |||
| French | frère | ||
| In Old French, 'frère' also meant 'monk', a meaning still preserved in modern French 'religieux' ('religious'); it derives from Latin 'frater', meaning 'half-brother' or 'member of a religious brotherhood'. | |||
| Frisian | broer | ||
| The word "broer" also means "husband's brother" in Frisian. | |||
| Galician | irmán | ||
| The word "irmán" in Galician also refers to a close or intimate friend, not necessarily related by blood. | |||
| German | bruder | ||
| The term 'Bruder' is also used to refer to a member of a religious order or a fellow member of a fraternity or guild. | |||
| Icelandic | bróðir | ||
| The Icelandic word "bróðir" is cognate with the English word "brother," both deriving from the Proto-Indo-European root *bhrāter-. | |||
| Irish | deartháir | ||
| Italian | fratello | ||
| The word "fratello" is derived from the Latin word "frater" (brother), which also gave rise to the English word "friar". | |||
| Luxembourgish | brudder | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Brudder" can also refer to a close friend or a comrade-in-arms, highlighting the deep bonds of friendship and brotherhood in Luxembourgish culture. | |||
| Maltese | ħuh | ||
| The word "ħuh" can also mean "male cousin" or "brother-in-law" in Maltese. | |||
| Norwegian | bror | ||
| The Norwegian word "bror" is derived from the Old Norse word "bróðir" and is cognate with the English word "brother". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | irmão | ||
| In Portuguese, the word "irmão" (brother) also refers to a male friend or someone who shares a common belief or interest. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | bràthair | ||
| The word "bràthair" (brother) in Scots Gaelic is derived from the Proto-Celtic word "*brāter", meaning "brother", and is cognate with the Irish word "bráthair" and the Welsh word "brawd". | |||
| Spanish | hermano | ||
| Hermano, besides meaning “brother,” can also refer to the members of a religious brotherhood or fraternity. | |||
| Swedish | bror | ||
| "Bror" shares its origins with the English "bride" as both words evolved from "brothar" in Old English, which itself evolved from "bhrater" in Proto-Germanic. | |||
| Welsh | brawd | ||
| The Welsh word "brawd" is cognate with Cornish "breur", Breton and French "breur", and Old Irish "bráthir", ultimately deriving from Proto-Celtic *brāter. | |||
Brother in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | брат | ||
| "Брат" comes from Proto-Slavic *bratъ, a cognate with Sanskrit bhratā́, Old English broþor (brother) and Modern German bruder. | |||
| Bosnian | brate | ||
| In rural areas, 'brate' can also mean 'fellow villager' | |||
| Bulgarian | брат | ||
| The word "брат" also denotes a close friend or an ally. | |||
| Czech | bratr | ||
| The Czech word "bratr" cognate to Slavic "bratъ", originally meant a member of a clan, later reduced to "brother". | |||
| Estonian | vend | ||
| The word “vend” is also a word for | |||
| Finnish | veli | ||
| Derived from Proto-Finnic *we̞le, meaning "brother-in-law" or "brother-in-arms". | |||
| Hungarian | fiú testvér | ||
| The word 'fiú testvér' is a compound of 'fiú' (boy) and 'testvér' (sibling), and can also be used in the sense of 'younger brother'. | |||
| Latvian | brālis | ||
| The word "brālis" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *bhrāter, which also gave rise to the English word "brother". In Latvian, "brālis" can also refer to a male friend or relative. | |||
| Lithuanian | brolis | ||
| "Brolis" in Lithuanian originally derived from Sanskrit "bhrātṛi" with the same meaning and is related to Latin "frater" and Old Church Slavonic "bratru". | |||
| Macedonian | брат | ||
| The Macedonian word "брат" (brother) derives from the Proto-Slavic word *bratъ and has similar roots in other Slavic languages. | |||
| Polish | brat | ||
| In Polish, the word "brat" can also mean "cousin" or "nephew." | |||
| Romanian | frate | ||
| The Romanian word "frate" is derived from the ecclesiastical Latin word "frater," meaning "brother," and has the same meaning in Romanian but also has the figurative meaning of "close friend" or "comrade." | |||
| Russian | родной брат | ||
| The term "родной брат" also refers to a cousin in Russian. | |||
| Serbian | брате | ||
| The Serbian word "брате" can also be used as a term of endearment or to address a close friend | |||
| Slovak | brat | ||
| The word "brat" in Slovak is derived from the Slavic word "bratr", meaning "brother", and can also refer to a young boy or a spoiled child. | |||
| Slovenian | brat | ||
| Brat also means 'reading', 'perusing', and 'leafing through' in Slovenian. | |||
| Ukrainian | брате | ||
| In Ukrainian, “брате” (brate) is also a vocative form of address to a male friend or acquaintance, similar to “dude” or “man” in English. | |||
Brother in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ভাই | ||
| In Bengali, the word "ভাই" (bhai) can also refer to an intimate friend or a respected male figure. | |||
| Gujarati | ભાઈ | ||
| The Gujarati word "ભાઈ" derives from Sanskrit "bhratā" or "bhratar", and can also signify a male friend or a member of a community | |||
| Hindi | भाई | ||
| The Hindi word भाई (brother) is also used as a term of respect for a friend, or as a form of address to a stranger. | |||
| Kannada | ಸಹೋದರ | ||
| ಸಹೋದರ (brother) also means 'related' in Kannada. | |||
| Malayalam | സഹോദരൻ | ||
| The term "സഹോദരൻ" (brother) in Malayalam can also refer to a close companion or comrade. | |||
| Marathi | भाऊ | ||
| Bhaau can also mean 'rent' or 'landlord' in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | भाई | ||
| The word "भाई" can also refer to a close friend or a member of a particular community or caste. | |||
| Punjabi | ਭਰਾ | ||
| ਭਰਾ or 'Bhra' has multiple meanings in Punjabi. It can mean brother, friend, or a person who has a close bond with someone. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සහෝදරයා | ||
| The word 'සහෝදරයා' in Sinhala is derived from the Sanskrit word 'sahodara', which originally meant 'uterine sibling' and later came to refer to any male sibling. | |||
| Tamil | சகோதரன் | ||
| The word 'சகோதரன்' (brother) in Tamil originates from the Sanskrit word 'sakr̥t', meaning 'once' or 'at the same time'. | |||
| Telugu | సోదరుడు | ||
| Urdu | بھائی | ||
Brother in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 哥哥 | ||
| The word "哥哥" (gēge) can also be used as a term of endearment for a male friend or lover. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 哥哥 | ||
| The character 哥哥 "gēge" can also refer to an older male cousin or a man one is close to regardless of relation | |||
| Japanese | 兄 | ||
| In Chinese, when '兄' is used as a suffix to a male's name, it denotes respect. | |||
| Korean | 동료 | ||
| The word '동료' also means 'a member of the same organization or group' | |||
| Mongolian | ах | ||
| The Mongolian word "ах" is a term of address for an older brother, but can also hold other meanings in certain contexts. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အစ်ကို | ||
Brother in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | saudara | ||
| In Indonesian, 'saudara' can refer to siblings, relatives, or even close friends, making it a more inclusive term than just 'brother'. | |||
| Javanese | kakang | ||
| In Javanese, "kakang" can also refer to an older male friend or a male teacher. | |||
| Khmer | បងប្អូន | ||
| បងប្អូន (pronounced "bong-bor-un") can also refer to a close friend, even of the opposite gender. | |||
| Lao | ອ້າຍ | ||
| The word | |||
| Malay | abang | ||
| The word "abang" can also refer to an older man, an uncle, or a male friend and is not always used to denote a biological brother. | |||
| Thai | พี่ชาย | ||
| The word "พี่ชาย" can also be used to refer to a male teacher or a male religious figure, such as a monk. | |||
| Vietnamese | anh trai | ||
| "Anh trai" in Vietnamese also means "older male sibling or cousin," and can be used as a term of endearment for close male friends. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kapatid | ||
Brother in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | qardaş | ||
| The word "qardaş" can also mean "relative" or "friend" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | бауырым | ||
| The Kazakh word "бауырым" also means "my liver", emphasizing the deep bond between siblings. | |||
| Kyrgyz | бир тууган | ||
| The word "бир тууган" in Kyrgyz can also refer to a close friend or comrade, similar to the English term "brother-in-arms". | |||
| Tajik | бародар | ||
| The word бародар is often translated as «brother», but is etymologically more related to the word «bearer». | |||
| Turkmen | dogan | ||
| Uzbek | aka | ||
| In Uzbek, "aka" can also refer to a male teacher, an uncle, or a friend of one's father. | |||
| Uyghur | ئاكا | ||
Brother in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | kaikuaʻana, kaikaina | ||
| Also used figuratively to address a close friend or trusted companion. | |||
| Maori | tuakana | ||
| Tuakana also means 'to teach' or 'to guide'. | |||
| Samoan | tuagane | ||
| The Samoan word "tuagane" can also refer to a male cousin or a brother-in-law. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | kapatid | ||
| In pre-colonial times, kapatid also meant “friend”, “person of the same age”, or “a companion” | |||
Brother in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | jila | ||
| Guarani | hermano | ||
Brother in International Languages
| Esperanto | frato | ||
| "Frat"o" is cognate to the English word "brother", and it also appears in some other Indo-European languages like Greek (""αδερφ"ός"", "adelfos") and Latin (""frater""). | |||
| Latin | frater | ||
| The Latin word "frater" also refers to a member of a monastic community or a member of a group of people with shared interests or beliefs. | |||
Brother in Others Languages
| Greek | αδελφός | ||
| The word 'αδελφός' can also refer to a male cousin or a close friend, emphasizing the strong bonds of brotherhood beyond biological connections. | |||
| Hmong | kwv tij sawv daws | ||
| Kwv tij sawv daws is also used as a term of endearment for male friends. | |||
| Kurdish | brak | ||
| In Kurdish, "Brak" denotes a blood relative as well as a paternal half-brother, or a male sibling from the same mother but a different father. | |||
| Turkish | erkek kardeş | ||
| The word "erkek kardeş" in Turkish originally meant "male sibling" and was later extended to include "brother". | |||
| Xhosa | ubhuti | ||
| The term 'ubhuti' in Xhosa can also refer to a close friend or confidant. | |||
| Yiddish | ברודער | ||
| In the Yiddish expression 'di bruder', 'bruder' means 'bride'. | |||
| Zulu | mfowethu | ||
| Some sources claim that "mfowethu" originated from "umfowethu," the Zulu word for "our wealth." The "ow" in "mfowethu" is said to have been elided. | |||
| Assamese | ভাই | ||
| Aymara | jila | ||
| Bhojpuri | भाई | ||
| Dhivehi | ބޭބެ | ||
| Dogri | भ्रा | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | kapatid | ||
| Guarani | hermano | ||
| Ilocano | manong | ||
| Krio | brɔda | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | برا | ||
| Maithili | भाई | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯏꯌꯥꯝꯕ | ||
| Mizo | unaupa | ||
| Oromo | obboleessa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଭାଇ | ||
| Quechua | wawqi | ||
| Sanskrit | भ्राता | ||
| Tatar | абый | ||
| Tigrinya | ሓው | ||
| Tsonga | buti | ||