брате
brate
The Serbian word for bro is брате (brate).
Брате is used to refer to a male comrade, a friend or someone who shares one's ideals. In modern Serbian slang, it functions as an interjection to express surprise, frustration or emphasis, much like an English speaker might use the words 'man' or 'dude'.
Meaning: male comrade or friend, one who shares one’s ideals (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Брате is an informal term used among friends or to address someone in a casual, street-style manner.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form брате is the vocative case, which is used specifically when you are addressing someone directly.
How do you pronounce it?
brate
Did you know?
- Even if the person being addressed is not male, some youth subcultures use брате as a gender-neutral exclamation of surprise.
- While брате means 'brother', using it to address a stranger in a heated argument can sometimes escalate a situation rather than diffuse it, as it can sound patronizingly casual.
- The use of брате as an interjection often accompanies a specific hand gesture, such as a palms-up shrug or a hand to the forehead, to convey disbelief.
Examples in context
- Bre, šta ima novo?Dude, what's new?
- Ćao, čale, je l' ideš večeras s nama?Hey, bro, are you coming out with us tonight?
- Šta ima, брате?What's up, bro?
- Hvala ti puno, брате.Thank you very much, bro.
- Slušaj me, брате, to nije tačno.Listen to me, bro, that is not true.
Example conversation
Marija is talking to Nikola at a cafe.
- MarijaZdravo, брате! Kako si danas?Hey, bro! How are you today?
- NikolaOdlično sam, Marija. Ti?I'm great, Marija. And you?
- MarijaTakođer, samo sam malo umorna.Same, I'm just a bit tired.
- NikolaSamo se opusti i kafi.Just relax and have some coffee.
