Bredda
Jamaican Patois, casual
In Jamaican Patois "brother" is Bredda. A close friend may also be called bredrin, and both words can mean a real brother or just a good friend.
Meaning: brother or close male friend (noun)
Ways to say it
| Jamaican | Note |
|---|---|
| Bredda | Jamaican Patois, casual |
| Bredrin | Jamaican Patois, friend |
Bredda is used as a friendly call, like "man" or "buddy". A common greeting is Wah gwaan, bredda, "what is going on, brother".
Which one should you use?
The word bredrin is more about a friend, while bredda can describe a family brother too. Writing varies, so you will also see breddah.
How do you pronounce it?
The th of English "brother" turns into a d, so bredda sounds like "BREH-dah".
Did you know?
- The Rastafari greeting bredrin is used for a fellow believer and has spread into everyday Jamaican speech.
Examples in context
- Mi bredda deh yahMy brother is here
- Mi bredrin a comeMy friend is coming
Example conversation
Marlon meets his friend Dwayne at a market in Kingston.
- MarlonWah gwaan, bredda?What is going on, brother?
- DwayneMi deh yah, yuh good?I am here, are you good?
- MarlonMi good, tanks.I am good, thanks.
