tesó
[ˈtɛʃoː]
The English phrase "bro" can be translated into Hungarian as tesó.
tesó is used to refer to a male comrade, a friend or someone who shares one's ideals. It serves as an informal way to address a person similarly to the English terms "bro" or "dude".
Meaning: male comrade or friend, one who shares one’s ideals (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
While tesó literally means sibling, it is commonly used as slang for 'bro' or 'dude' among friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
tesó is a slang term and is considered an informal option for addressing someone. It is common among younger generations.
When do people say it?
In addition to tesó, the word Haver is another informal way to address someone like "bro".
Did you know?
- While tesó is a casual term for a friend, the formal word for sibling is testvér, which is used in both singular and plural forms to describe biological brothers and sisters together.
- If you use the more formal testvér to greet a friend on the street, you will sound like a character from a 19th-century novel rather than a modern speaker.
- While 'bro' in English is often used to start a sentence, using tesó at the start of a sentence in Hungarian can sometimes feel much more aggressive or confrontational depending on the context.
Examples in context
- Na, mi a pálya, tesó?Wassup, bro?This example shows how to use tesó in a casual greeting.
- Ne aggódj, tesó, minden rendben lesz.Don't worry, bro, everything will be fine.
Example conversation
László and Katalin are chatting at a music festival.
- LászlóSzia Kati, nézd, ott jön egy tesó!Hi Kati, look, a bro is coming over here!
- KatalinKi az, nem is ismerem őt.Who is that, I don't even know him.
- LászlóEgy régi tesóm a gimnáziumból.A bro of mine from high school.
- KatalinRendben, menjtek már beszélgetni.Alright, go and chat with him then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bro” translations and entries tesó, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
