Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| ağabey | /aːˈbej/ /aːˈbi/ |
| abi | /aːˈbi/ |
Both abi and ağabey are used to refer to an older brother. Abi is the most common and widely used term in Turkish. You can also use abilerim when addressing a group of older brothers or referring to older male siblings collectively.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ağabey is a compound of ağa, meaning "lord" or "elder" and bey, meaning "gentleman" or "lord".
Which one should you use?
Ağabey is the standard, formal written form of the word, while abi is the colloquial, shortened version used in everyday speech.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Abi is an informal and colloquial term used in everyday speech. For an endearing and affectionate way to address an older brother, you can use the informal term abicim.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express possession, you can add suffixes to these words. To say "my older brother", add the possessive suffix -m to get abim or ağabeyim. To say "your older brother", add the suffix -n to get abin or ağabeyin.
How do you pronounce it?
/aːˈbej/. The b sound is like the [b] in "about" and the j sound is like the [y] in "yes".
Did you know?
- Turkish speakers often use abi as a filler word or an exclamation of disbelief, similar to how an English speaker might use 'man' or 'dude' in 'Come on, man!'
- In Turkish culture, you can call a stranger 'abi' if he is slightly older than you, even if you are not related. It is a common way to show respect to men in shops, taxis, or on the street.
- While abi is a term of respect, using it with someone who is actually younger than you can be a way of teasing them or acting condescending.
Examples in context
- Abin şu an nerede?Where is your older brother right now?This sentence is useful for asking about the current location of someone's abi.Tatoeba #3055599 by Themis06, translation #3054336 by WestofEden
- Onun bir ağabeyi var.She has an older brother.This sentence is useful for stating that someone has an ağabey.Tatoeba #4915136 by duran, translation #2321090 by Hybrid
- Abim çok hızlı konuşur.My older brother speaks very fast.This sentence is useful for describing the speaking speed of someone's abi.Tatoeba #8995075 by soliloquist, translation #8993779 by dotheduyet1999
- Seninle çok gurur duyuyorum, abi.I am so proud of you, big brother.
- 96 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zeynep and Burak are talking about their family members at a cafe.
- ZeynepBurak, senin bir ağabeyin var mı?Burak, do you have an older brother?
- BurakEvet, bir ağabeyim var.Yes, I have an older brother.
- ZeynepAğabeyin İstanbul'da mı yaşıyor?Does your older brother live in Istanbul?
- BurakHayır, o Ankara'da yaşıyor.No, he lives in Ankara.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “older brother” translations and entries ağabey, abi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
