brat
/brât/Latin, masculine
The Bosnian word for brother is brat.
The word brat refers to a male sibling. In casual settings, particularly among younger generations or close friends, the term Buraz is often used to mean 'bro'.
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Which one should you use?
While brat is the standard term for a brother, Buraz is a slang equivalent meaning 'bro'. Additionally, brate is used as a vocative to address someone directly, often serving as a colloquial filler similar to 'dude' or 'man'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Brat is the standard form. Buraz and the vocative brate are informal. Buraz is especially popular among younger people and close friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
The collective plural form for brothers is braća.
How do you pronounce it?
/brât/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be aware that the Bosnian word brat is unrelated to the English word 'brat' (a spoiled child).
When do people say it?
The form brate is frequently used as a colloquial exclamation or filler in speech, much like how English speakers use 'man' or 'dude' to address friends.
Did you know?
- The root of the word is so ancient that it connects Bosnian to a massive family of Indo-European languages, including Sanskrit and Latin.
- In some contexts, brat is used to describe members of a religious order or a fraternal society, reflecting a spiritual rather than biological bond.
- The word brate is so common as a filler that people often use it to address complete strangers in the street to get their attention, regardless of whether they are actually brothers.
Examples in context
- Zdravo, brate! Kako si?Hello, brother! How are you?
- Hej, buraz, hajdemo zajedno na utakmicu!Hey, bro, let's go to the game together!
- Hej, brale, hoćeš li da idemo na kafu danas?Hey, bro, do you want to grab a coffee today?
- Moj brat je veoma visok.My brother is very tall.
- Imam jednog brata.I have one brother.
Example conversation
Selma and Tarik are talking about their family members at a cafe.
- SelmaImaš li ti brata?Do you have a brother?
- TarikDa, moj brat živi u Sarajevu.Yes, my brother lives in Sarajevo.
- SelmaDa li je on stariji od tebe?Is he older than you?
- TarikNe, on je mlađi od mene.No, he is younger than me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries brat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries brat, CC BY-SA 4.0.
