Bruder
/ˈbruːdɐ/masculine
The German word for 'brother' is Bruder. Wiktionary also lists bruada and Brüeder.
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bruder | /ˈbruːdɐ/ | masculine |
| bruada | ||
| Brüeder | Alemannic German, masculine |
Bruder is a masculine noun used to refer to a male sibling. You can use it in various possessive phrases, such as mein Bruder (my brother), dein Bruder (your brother) or unser Bruder (our brother). There is also a related verb, verbrüdern, which means to treat someone as a brother.
Which one should you use?
While Bruder is the standard singular form, Brüder is the plural form meaning 'brothers'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form Brüeder is used in Alemannic German dialects to mean 'brothers'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form is Bruder. The plural is Brüder. In the dative plural case, the word takes an additional -n ending to become Brüdern.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbruːdɐ/
Did you know?
- In modern German street slang, Bruder is frequently used as a generic term for a close male friend, similar to 'bro' in English, regardless of actual kinship.
- The German word Bruder is a doublet of the English word 'frater' used in 'fraternity'. Both words evolved from the same Proto-Indo-European root *bʰréh₂tēr.
- While Bruder is the standard word, the term Blutsbruder refers specifically to a 'blood brother' who has sworn an oath of loyalty through a ritual.
Examples in context
- Wo ist Ihr Bruder?Where's your brother?This sentence is useful for asking someone where their brother is using the formal 'Ihr'.Tatoeba #5474686 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2254674 by CK
- Wo ist dein Bruder?Where is your brother?This sentence is useful for asking someone where their brother is using the informal 'dein'.Tatoeba #900125 by Esperantostern, translation #873552 by ColinG
- Wo ist mein Bruder?Where is my brother?This sentence is useful for stating where my brother is.Tatoeba #1446818 by Esperantostern, translation #1444739 by Spamster
- Guten Tag, Herr Wagner. Das ist mein Bruder, Stefan.Good day, Mr. Wagner. This is my brother, Stefan.
- Kommst du mit, Bruder? Wir gehen ins Kino.Are you coming, brother? We are going to the cinema.
- Ich vermisse dich, Brüderchen.I miss you, little brother.
- 1364 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their families at a cafe.
- MaximilianHast du einen Bruder?Do you have a brother?
- SarahJa, ich habe einen Bruder.Yes, I have one brother.
- MaximilianWie heißt dein Bruder?What is your brother's name?
- SarahEr heißt Lukas.His name is Lukas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries Bruder, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bruder, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
