Bruder
/ˈbruːdɐ/
The English phrase bro can be translated into German as Bruder.
The term refers to a male comrade, a friend or someone who shares your ideals. In modern German, you may also see the borrowed English slang term Bro used to address a close male friend.
Meaning: male comrade or friend, one who shares one’s ideals (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Bruder is the literal translation for brother, using it as a casual way to say 'bro' is less common among younger generations than the direct loanword Bro.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term Bro is considered slang. For a more informal way to say buddy or pal, you can use Kumpel.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Bruder is Brüder.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbruːdɐ/
Did you know?
- While Bruder means 'brother', the word Kumpel for 'buddy' originally referred specifically to a miner's colleague. This reflects the strong culture of solidarity and shared danger in the German mining industry.
- Using Bruder as a slang term to greet someone is often associated with 'Kiezdeutsch', a sociolect spoken by youths in urban areas with diverse migrant backgrounds.
- The German word Bruder is a doublet of the Latin word frater. Both words evolved from the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root *bʰréh₂tēr.
Examples in context
- Hey, Kumpel! Was machst du heute?Hey, bro! What are you up to today?
- Alter, du bist echt krass, Macker!Dude, you're really awesome, bro!
- Was geht, Bro?What's up, bro?
- Er ist wie ein Bruder für mich.He is like a brother to me.
- Du bist mein Bruder im Geiste.You are my brother in spirit.
Example conversation
Julian and Laura are discussing Julian's close friend.
- JulianEr ist mein bester Freund und ein Bruder.He is my best friend and a brother.
- LauraDas klingt nach einer sehr starken Bindung.That sounds like a very strong bond.
- JulianJa, er steht mir immer zur Seite.Yes, he always stands by my side.
- LauraEinen echten Bruder findet man nicht oft.One does not find a true brother often.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Bruder, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bruder, CC BY-SA 4.0.
