אחי
achi
The Hebrew word for 'bro' is אחי (achi).
אחי is used to refer to a male comrade, a friend or someone who shares one's ideals. In modern Hebrew, it functions similarly to the English 'bro' or 'man' and can even be used like 'dude'. It is frequently employed as a filler or an exclamation to emphasize a point or to address someone during casual conversation, even if there is no close personal relationship. Additionally, the English word 'Dude' is used in modern Hebrew slang among young Israelis.
Meaning: male comrade or friend, one who shares one’s ideals (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a combination of אח (brother) and the possessive suffix י (my).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
אחי is an informal term used to address a friend or a male peer. While it literally means 'my brother', it is most commonly used as a colloquial term for a friend or a male peer, similar to 'bro' or 'man' in English.
How do you pronounce it?
achi
Did you know?
- Using אחי can sometimes be a social 'shortcut' to create an instant sense of trust or kinship when bargaining in an open-air market like Mahane Yehuda.
- While אחי is used for men, women often use the term אחותי (achoti) to address their female friends, which literally means 'my sister'.
- In certain Israeli street slang, the word אחי can be used sarcastically or defensively to signal tension during a confrontation, similar to how 'buddy' is used in English arguments.
Examples in context
- מה קורה אחי?What's up, bro?This sentence shows how to use אחי in a casual greeting.Tatoeba #1806459 by MrShoval, translation #7844071 by shekitten
- אחי, אתה יכול לעזור לי רגע?Bro, could you help me out?This sentence demonstrates how to use אחי when asking for help.Tatoeba #13975103 by rul, translation #13975101 by rul
- אל תדאג, אחי, הכל יהיה בסדר.al tid'ag, achi, hakol yihiye beseder.Don't worry, bro, everything will be okay.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noa is asking Ido for a favor.
- נועה Noaאחי, יש לך מטען?achi, yesh lecha mat'an?Bro, do you have a charger?
- עידו Idoכן, הנה הוא.ken, hine hu.Yes, here it is.
- נועה Noaאתה מציל אותי!ata metzil oti!You're saving me!
- עידו Idoאין בעיה, בכיף.ein be'aya, bekeif.No problem, my pleasure.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
