bror
/ˈbruːr/common gender
The English word 'brother' is translated into Swedish as bror. Wiktionary also lists broder and brorsa.
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bror | /ˈbruːr/ | common gender |
| broder | /²bruːdɛr/ | common gender |
| brorsa | /²brʊʂa/ | colloquial, common gender |
All forms of the word refer to a male sibling.
Which one should you use?
While bror is the standard word, broder is a more formal or archaic variant that you will often see in religious or ceremonial contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
brorsa is a colloquial, more affectionate or informal way to say brother, similar to 'bro' in English. In slang, the term brorsan is also commonly used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'the brother', you add the definite suffix '-n' to the form 'bror' to get brodern. The plural form of 'bror' is bröder, and the definite plural form is bröderna.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbruːr/
Did you know?
- The informal term brorsa is actually an unusual linguistic hybrid, formed by combining 'bror' with 'morsa', which is a common colloquialism for 'mother'.
- While broder is used for siblings in old texts, it is now primarily used in Swedish to refer to a member of a religious order or a fellow member of a secret society.
- In modern Swedish urban slang, bror is frequently used as a general term of endearment or camaraderie among male friends, regardless of any biological relation.
Examples in context
- Jag är er bror.I'm your brother.This sentence shows how to use the word bror to state a relationship.Tatoeba #2291287 by loghaD, translation #1977902 by Balamax
- Han är min bror.He is my brother.This sentence demonstrates using bror with a possessive pronoun.Tatoeba #893313 by Tximist, translation #250680 by CK
- Såg du min bror?Did you see my brother?This sentence is useful for asking a question using bror.Tatoeba #3601506 by loghaD, translation #3601130 by Jesse
- Jag och brorsan gick och spelade fotboll igår.My brother and I went to play football yesterday.
- 67 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about family members during a coffee break.
- LucasHar du någon bror?Do you have a brother?
- LinneaJa, jag har en bror.Yes, I have a brother.
- LucasÄr din bror äldre än dig?Is your brother older than you?
- LinneaNej, han är yngre.No, he is younger.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries bror, broder, brorsa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
