ভাই
bhai/bʱai̯/
The Bengali word for brother is ভাই (bhai). Wiktionary also lists ভ্রাতা (bhrata) and বেরাদর (berador).
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Ways to say it
| Bengali | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ভাই | bhai | /bʱai̯/ | |
| ভ্রাতা | bhrata | /bʱɾat̪a/ /bʱɹat̪a/ |
literary |
| বেরাদর | berador | /beɾɑd̪ɒɾ/ /beɾɑd̪ɑɾ/ |
The term ভাই refers to a male sibling. Beyond biological relationships, it is a common term of address for any male peer or a younger male.
Which one should you use?
ভ্রাতা is a specific form reserved for formal or literary contexts. বেরাদর is another way to express the concept of a brother.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ভাই is an informal term used to address both older and younger brothers. For literary or highly formal settings, use ভ্রাতা.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is bhai. The IPA is /bʱai̯/.
When do people say it?
Because ভাই can be used to address male peers or younger males, it functions as a social term of address in many contexts.
Did you know?
- The Bengali word ভাই is a direct linguistic cousin to the English word 'brother', as both trace back to the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰréh₂tēr.
- In traditional Bengali family structures, the term ভাই is used to address a male cousin, as the language does not strictly distinguish between siblings and first cousins.
- In Bengali culture, it is common to call a male shopkeeper or a stranger ভাই to create an immediate sense of trust and rapport.
Examples in context
- আমার এক ভাই আছে।I have a brother.This sentence is useful for stating that you have a brother using ভাই.Tatoeba #5589715 by tanay, translation #2358668 by CK
- আমার একজন ভাই আছে।I have one brother.This sentence is useful for specifying that you have exactly one brother using ভাই.Tatoeba #12045809 by robingaspi, translation #256071 by CK
- আমার ভাই বাসায় নেই।My brother is not at home.This sentence is useful for stating that a brother is not at home using ভাই.Tatoeba #11997129 by robingaspi, translation #6934166 by KPX
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about family at a cafe.
- ইশানি Ishaniতোমার কি কোনো ভাই আছে?Tomar ki kono bhai ache?Do you have a brother?
- সৌরভ Souravহ্যাঁ, আমার একজন ছোট ভাই আছে।He, amar ekjon chhoto bhai ache.Yes, I have a younger brother.
- ইশানি Ishaniতোমার ভাই এখন কোথায়?Tomar bhai ekhon kothay?Where is your brother now?
- সৌরভ Souravআমার ভাই এখন পড়াশোনা করছে।Amar bhai ekhon porashona korche.My brother is studying now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries ভাই, ভ্রাতা, বেরাদর, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries বেরাদর, ভাই, ভ্রাতা, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
