Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| erkek kardeş | /eɾcec kaɾdeʃ/ (from spelling rules) | |
| kardeş | /kaɾˈdeʃ/ /kaɾˈdaʃ/ |
|
| birader | /biɾaːdɛɾ/ | |
| ağabey | /aːˈbej/ /aːˈbi/ |
|
| abi | /aːˈbi/ | colloquial |
| aga | /aɡa/ (from spelling rules) | colloquial, dialectal |
In Turkish, several words exist for brother depending on age, gender and social context. While erkek kardeş refers to a male sibling, the word kardeş is gender-neutral and can mean either a brother or a sister. To describe the act of treating someone as a brother, you can use the phrases kardeş saymak, kardeş bellemek or kardeş bilmek.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase erkek kardeş literally means 'male sibling', where erkek means 'male' and kardeş means 'sibling'.
Which one should you use?
Ağabey specifically refers to an older brother, whereas erkek kardeş is used for a brother of any age and often implies a younger brother in context. The word kardeş is a general term for a sibling regardless of gender. Birader is an informal way to say brother that can sometimes carry a patronizing or overly familiar tone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ağabey is the standard term for an older brother. Its shortened form, abi, is a colloquial version very common in daily speech. While abi is used colloquially, it is also a respectful way to address any man slightly older than the speaker. Birader is informal, and aga is a colloquial or dialectal term. You can also use Ağabeyim informally to refer to an older brother or a close friend.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Aga is a colloquial or dialectal term used in certain regions to address a man, often implying a sense of authority or brotherhood.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /eɾcec kaɾdeʃ/. The /ɾ/ sound is like the 't' in the American English word 'atom'. The /c/ sound is like the 'k' in 'skew'. The /k/ is like the 'c' in 'core'. And the /ʃ/ sound is like the 'sh' in 'shoe'.
When do people say it?
The term abi is frequently used as a respectful term of address for any man slightly older than the speaker, even if they are not biologically related. Similarly, aga can be used to address a man as 'brother', 'boss' or 'chief'.
Did you know?
- The word kardeş contains a hidden anatomical reference to the 'womb', as it is formed by combining karın meaning 'womb' with the suffix -daş meaning 'partner' or 'one who shares'.
- The word ağabey is a compound of two distinct titles, combining ağa meaning 'lord' or 'chief' and bey meaning 'gentleman' or 'lord'.
- The Turkish language uses the suffix -daş in kardeş to indicate a shared experience, a pattern seen in other words like yoldaş, which means 'companion' or 'comrade' as someone who shares a road.
Examples in context
- Abin şu an nerede?Where is your older brother right now?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of an abi.Tatoeba #3055599 by Themis06, translation #3054336 by WestofEden
- Tom ve ben kardeşiz.Tom and I are brother and sister.This sentence is useful for stating a relationship using kardeş.Tatoeba #2991022 by duran, translation #8854591 by CK
- Onun bir ağabeyi var.She has an older brother.This sentence is useful for describing the possession of an ağabey.Tatoeba #4915136 by duran, translation #2321090 by Hybrid
- Selam, kardeş!Hey, brother!
- Nasılsın, abicim?How are you, brother?
- Selam, kardeş! Film gecesi yapacak mısın?Hey, bro! Are you up for a movie night?
- 1406 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about family members in a cafe.
- BurakBir erkek kardeşin var mı?Do you have a brother?
- ElifEvet, bir erkek kardeşim var.Yes, I have a brother.
- BurakOnun adı nedir?What is his name?
- ElifOnun adı Can.His name is Can.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries erkek kardeş, kardeş, birader, ağabey, abi, aga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ağabey, birader, erkek, kardeş, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
