erkek kardeş
/eɾcec kaɾdeʃ/from spelling rules
The Turkish phrase for "younger brother" is erkek kardeş.
To specify that the brother is younger rather than just a male sibling, you add the adjective küçük (small/young) before the phrase to get küçük erkek kardeş. Additionally, the phrase küçük erkek kardeşim can be used to express the age difference more precisely to mean "my little brother".
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
Which one should you use?
While erkek kardeş identifies a male sibling, adding küçük specifies the age difference. In informal settings, you may also see the shortened version küçük kardeşim used to refer to a younger brother.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate possession, such as saying "my brother", you add the suffix -im to the phrase, resulting in erkek kardeşim.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /eɾcec kaɾdeʃ/. The sounds are similar to the following English comparisons: the /ɾ/ sound is like the 't' in AmE atom, the /c/ sound is like the 'k' in skew, the /k/ sound is like the 'c' in core and the /ʃ/ sound is like the 'sh' in shoe.
Did you know?
- The word kardeş literally translates to 'womb-mate' because it is a combination of the word for 'womb', karın, and the suffix -daş, meaning 'one who shares'.
- If you want to address a younger brother affectionately, you might use the word canım (my life/soul) rather than just his name, a common cultural way to show closeness.
- The term kardeş can also be used colloquially to mean 'comrade' or 'buddy' between close friends, moving far beyond the biological meaning of 'sibling'.
Examples in context
- Küçük bir erkek kardeşim var.I have a younger brother.This sentence is useful for stating that you have a younger brother using erkek kardeş.Tatoeba #6839118 by deyta, translation #6666282 by CK
- Bir küçük erkek kardeşim var.I have one younger brother.This sentence is useful for stating that you have one younger brother using erkek kardeş.Tatoeba #13940009 by deyta, translation #13925025 by frpzzd
- Küçük erkek kardeşim TV izler.My younger brother watches TV.This sentence is useful for describing an action performed by your younger brother using erkek kardeş.Tatoeba #1530145 by duran, translation #1123646 by CM
- Bugün küçük kardeşimle dışarıda oyun oynadık.Today, I played outside with my younger brother.
- Küçük erkek kardeşim üniversiteye başladıMy little brother started university
- 61 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elif and Burak are talking about their families.
- ElifSenin hiç erkek kardeşin var mı?Do you have any brothers?
- BurakEvet, bir erkek kardeşim var.Yes, I have a brother.
- ElifO senden daha mı küçük?Is he younger than you?
- BurakEvet, o benim küçük erkek kardeşim.Yes, he is my younger brother.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry erkek kardeş, 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 erkek, kardeş, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
