Which one should you use?
While broer is the standard Dutch word for 'brother', it can also be used colloquially to mean 'bro'. To refer specifically to a younger brother, the standard diminutive broertje is used instead of a slang term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
broer is the standard Dutch word. In contrast, the English loanword 'bro' is frequently used as slang among younger generations. Other informal ways to address friends include Broski (an English-derived term used by youngsters), Ouwe (used in a lighthearted and affectionate way), Gabber (a term for a mate originating from the Dutch rave scene) and Maat (a simple, friendly way to address a buddy).
How do you pronounce it?
/brur/
When do people say it?
In the Netherlands, several informal terms exist for addressing friends depending on the social context, such as the rave-inspired Gabber or the friendly Maat.
Did you know?
- The word broer is actually a shortened version of the older word broeder, where the 'd' was simply dropped over time.
- In certain Dutch social circles, using the English loanword 'bro' is not just about the word itself but acts as a marker of urban youth identity.
- Dutch allows for a specific diminutive broertje to denote a younger brother, a distinction that English does not have as a single word.
Examples in context
- Ik eet met broerlief.I am eating with my bro.This sentence shows how to use broer in a friendly context.Tatoeba #3240717 by PaulP, translation #1747341 by belgavox
- Mijn broer heeft maar twee hobby's: autorijden en duiken.My bro only has two hobbies: driving and diving.This sentence uses broer to describe a person's hobbies.Tatoeba #11550695 by GewoonLeonYT, translation #9706051 by maaster
- Hey broer, hoe heb jij opeens geld voor een nieuwe waggie?Hey bro, how come you suddenly got money for a new ride?This sentence demonstrates a colloquial greeting using broer.
- Hé, Broski, hoe gaat het?Hey, bro, how's it going?
- Hey, alles goed ouwe?Hey, everything okay, old man?
Example conversation
Daan is talking to Julia about his best friend.
- DaanHij is echt mijn broer, we begrijpen elkaar blind.He is really my bro, we understand each other blindly.
- JuliaDat is fijn, je hebt altijd iemand nodig om op te bouwen.That's nice, you always need someone to lean on.
- DaanPrecies, een echte broer staat altijd voor je klaar.Exactly, a true bro is always there for you.
- JuliaIk ben blij dat je zo'n goede vriend hebt, Daan.I am glad you have such a good friend, Daan.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry broer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries broer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
