frati
/ˈfɾa.ti/masculine
The Sicilian word for brother is frati.
frati refers to a male sibling. In many Sicilian dialects, calling someone frati is a common way to address a close male friend, similar to 'bro' or 'mate' in English.
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using frati to address a friend is considered a colloquialism.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form frati can function as both the singular 'brother' and the plural 'brothers' depending on the context and the article used. To specify a 'little brother' or to express affection, you can use the diminutive form fratiddu.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɾa.ti/.
Did you know?
- In many religious contexts, frati does not refer to biological siblings at all, but is the standard term for 'friars' or monks.
- The Sicilian word frati is a direct cognate of the English word 'fraternity', which shares the same Latin root.
- The diminutive fratiddu is often used to refer to a younger brother regardless of his actual age, as a term of endearment into adulthood.
Examples in context
- Ascuta, frati, nun u sacciu chi voi, ma nun sugnu ntirissatu.Listen, brother, I don't know what you want, but I'm not interested.This sentence shows how to use frati when addressing someone directly.
- Ciao, fratuzzu!Hello, brother!
Example conversation
Giuseppe is talking to Giulia about her family.
- GiuseppeGiulia, comu sta lu tò frati?Giulia, how is your brother?
- GiuliaSta binissimu, grazzi!He is doing very well, thanks!
- GiuseppeLavoro ancora a Catania?Does he still work in Catania?
- GiuliaSì, lu me frati travaglia ancora ddà.Yes, my brother still works there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries frati, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries frati, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
