брат

Belarusian

Alternative forms

• brat — Łacinka (Belarusian Latin alphabet)

Etymology

From Middle Belarusian братъ (brat), from Old East Slavic братъ (bratŭ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [brat]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

брат • (brat) m pers (genitive бра́та, nominative plural браты́, genitive plural брато́ў, female equivalent сястра́, relational adjective бра́цкі or братэ́рскі, diminutive бра́цік)

1. brother

Declension

Declension of брат (pr hard masc-form accent-c)

	singular	plural
nominative	брат brat	браты́ bratý
genitive	бра́та bráta	брато́ў bratów
dative	бра́ту brátu	брата́м bratám
accusative	бра́та bráta	брато́ў bratów
instrumental	бра́там brátam	брата́мі bratámi
locative	бра́це brácje	брата́х bratáx
vocative	бра́це brácje	—
count form	—	бра́ты1 bráty1

¹Used with the numbers 2, 3, 4 and higher numbers after 20 ending in 2, 3, and 4.

Derived terms

• бра́цкі (brácki), братэ́рскі (bratérski)
• бра́цтва (bráctva), братэ́рства (bratérstva)
• стрые́чны брат (stryjéčny brat)

Bulgarian

Etymology

Etymology tree

Old Church Slavonic братъ (bratŭ)

Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr

Proto-Balto-Slavic *brā́ˀtē

Proto-Slavic *bratrъ

Proto-Slavic *bratъ

Old Church Slavonic братръ (bratrŭ)

Bulgarian брат

Inherited from Old Church Slavonic братъ (bratŭ) and братръ (bratrŭ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [brat]

• Audio (Standard Bulgarian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -at

Noun

брат • (brat) m (relational adjective бра́тов or бра́тски, diminutive бра́тец or братле́ or брато́к or бра́тче)

1. brother

   Antonym: сестра́ (sestrá)

   Hyponym: ба́тко (bátko)

2. half brother

   Synonym: полубра́т (polubrát)

   Antonym: полусестра́ (polusestrá)

3. stepbrother

   Synonyms: дове́ден брат (dovéden brat), зава́рен брат (zaváren brat)

   Antonyms: дове́дена сестра́ (dovédena sestrá), зава́рена сестра́ (zavárena sestrá)

4. A male person related by common origin beyond the family unit
   1. A fellow (male) member of one’s ethnie or nation

      Synonyms: сънаро́дник (sănaródnik), съоте́чественик (săotéčestvenik)

   2. A fellow (male) member of a broader group of related peoples
   3. (by extension) nations who are close and (usually) friendly to each other
   4. A fellow human being; a man regarded as sharing a common humanity with others
5. Somebody (male) who shares a common experience, cause, ideas, understanding оr social status

   Synonyms: събра́т (săbrát), побра́тим (pobrátim)

6. (usually in the singular, colloquial) A friendly form of address to a man or boy
7. (in the singular, youth slang) A form of address to a friend (usually regardless of gender)
8. brother, monk (male member of a religious community)

   Synonym: калу̀гер (kalùger)

9. (neologism, colloquial) male equivalent of сестра́ (sestrá) male nurse
10. (plural only, dialectal) stems and trunks grown from a single root

Declension

Declension of брат

	singular	plural
indefinite	брат brat	бра́тя, бра́те1, бра́кя1, бра́йкя1, бра́тия2 brátja, bráte1, brákja1, brájkja1, brátija2
definite (subject form)	бра́тът brátăt	бра́тята, бра́тете1, бра́кята1, бра́йкята1, бра́тията2 brátjata, brátete1, brákjata1, brájkjata1, brátijata2
definite (object form)	бра́та bráta
vocative form	бра́те, бра́тко bráte, brátko	бра́тя, бра́те1, бра́кя1, бра́йкя1, бра́тия2 brátja, bráte1, brákja1, brájkja1, brátija2

¹Dialectal.
²Archaic.

Derived terms

phrases

• брат в Христа́ (brat v Hristá)
• брат по оръ́жие (brat po orắžie)
• медици́нски брат (medicínski brat)

References

• “брат”, in Речник на българския език [Dictionary of the Bulgarian Language] (in Bulgarian), Sofia: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2014
• “брат”, in Речник на българския език [Dictionary of the Bulgarian Language] (in Bulgarian), Chitanka, 2010
• Georgiev, Vladimir I., editor (1971), “брат”, in Български етимологичен речник [Bulgarian Etymological Dictionary] (in Bulgarian), volume 1 (А – З), Sofia: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Pubg. House, →ISBN, page 73
• “брат”, in БЕРОН (Български езикови ресурси онлайн) [BERON (Bulgarian Language Resources Online)] (in Bulgarian), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2024
• “брат”, in BGJargon.com (in Bulgarian), 2007–2026

Carpathian Rusyn

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *bratrъ, *bratъ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈbrat]
• Rhymes: -at
• Syllabification: брат

Noun

брат • (brat) m

1. brother

Declension

Declension of брат (brat)

	singular	plural
nominative (номінатів)	брат	бра́ты
genitive (ґенітів)	бра́та	бра́тӱв
dative (датів)	бра́тови, бра́ту	бра́тям, бра́тӱм
accusative (акузатів)	бра́та	бра́тӱв
instrumental (інштрументал)	бра́том	бра́тами
locative (локал)	бра́ту	бра́тях
vocative (вокатів)	бра́те	бра́ты

Further reading

• Kercha, Ihor (2012), Словник русько-русинськый: у 2 т. [Russian-Rusyn Dictionary: in 2 vols] (overall work in Russian and Carpathian Rusyn), Uzhhorod: PoliPrint

Macedonian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *bratrъ, *bratъ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [brat]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: брат

Noun

брат • (brat) m (plural бра́ќа, feminine се́стра, relational adjective бра́тски, diminutive бра́тче or ба́то or ба́те or ба́тко)

1. brother

   Бра́т ми се пресели во Лондон. ― Brát mi se preseli vo London. ― My brother has moved to London.

   Те сакам, брате. ― Te sakam, brate. ― I love you brother.

2. (slang) bro, mate, pal, dude, buddy, bud, dawg (to address somebody, usually used by youngsters)

   Ка́ј си, бе, брат? ― Káj si, be, brat? ― What's up, bro?

   Шо́ има, брат? ― Šó ima, brat? ― What up, dawg?

   Брат, ќе одиме на́ кафе или слабо? ― Brat, ḱe odime ná kafe ili slabo? ― Bro, we goin' for coffee or nah?

   Брат, мораш да го видиш ова. ― Brat, moraš da go vidiš ova. ― Dude, you have to see this.

   Не́, бе, брат. ― Né, be, brat. ― Nah, man/bro/mate/dude.

3. (colloquial) Used to designate someone resembling the person in question, especially in character (hyperbolically suggesting that he could therefore be that person's brother).

Usage notes

• When this word is used in the sense of "brother", the vocative form is mostly "брате". When it's used in the sense of "mate", "bro", "pal", or "buddy", the vocative form is mostly "брату". However, in the second sense, the vocative form is not used. Among youngsters, the basic form "брат" is dominant (and quite popular, at that).

Declension

Declension of брат

	singular	plural
indefinite	брат (brat)	браќа (braḱa)
definite unspecified	братот (bratot)	браќата (braḱata)
definite proximal	братов (bratov)	браќава (braḱava)
definite distal	братон (braton)	браќана (braḱana)
vocative	брату (bratu) брате (brate)	браќа (braḱa)
count form	—	брата (brata)

References

• “брат” in Дигитален речник на македонскиот јазик (Digitalen rečnik na makedonskiot jazik) [Digital dictionary of the Macedonian language] − drmj.eu

Pannonian Rusyn

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr

Proto-Balto-Slavic *brā́ˀtē

Proto-Slavic *bràtrъ

Old Slovak brat

Pannonian Rusyn брат

Inherited from Old Slovak brat, from Proto-Slavic *bràtrъ. Cognates include Polish and Slovak brat and Belarusian, Carpathian Rusyn, Russian, and Ukrainian брат (brat).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈbrat]
• Rhymes: -at
• Hyphenation: брат

Noun

брат (brat) m pers (diminutive брацик, possessive adjective братов, relational adjective братски)

1. brother

   Coordinate term: шестра (šestra)

   мацерин брат ― macerin brat ― maternal uncle (literally, “mother's brother”)

   мужов брат ― mužov brat ― brother-in-law (literally, “husband's brother”)

Declension

Declension of брат (brat)

	singular	plural
nominative	брат (brat)	браца (braca)
genitive	брата (brata)	братох (bratox)
dative	братови (bratovi)	братом (bratom)
accusative	брата (brata)	братох (bratox)
instrumental	братом (bratom)	братами (bratami)
locative	братови (bratovi)	братох (bratox)
vocative	брату (bratu)	браца (braca)

Related terms

adjectives

• братозабивацки (bratozabivacki)

nouns

• братия m pers (bratija)
• братняк m pers (bratnjak)
• братозабойнїк m pers (bratozabojnjik)
• братозабойство n (bratozabojstvo)
• братолюбиє n (bratoljubije)
• братство n (bratstvo)

References

• Medʹeši, H.; Fejsa, M.; Timko-Djitko, O. (2010), “брат”, in Ramač, Ju., editor, Руско-сербски словнїк [Rusyn-Serbian Dictionary] (in Pannonian Rusyn), Novi Sad: Faculty of Philosophy, page 66
• Fejsa, M.; Šlemender, M.; Čelʹovski, S. (2022), “brother”, in Анґлийско-руски словнїк [English-Rusyn Dictionary] (in Pannonian Rusyn), Novi Sad: Faculty of Philosophy; Ruska matka, →ISBN, page 44

Russian

Alternative forms

• братъ (brat) — pre-1918 spelling

Etymology

PIE word
*bʰréh₂tēr

Inherited from Old East Slavic братъ (bratŭ), from Proto-Slavic *bratrъ, *bratъ.

Cognates include Sanskrit भ्रातृ (bhrātṛ), Latin frāter, English brother and English pal.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [brat]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Audio (Saint Petersburg):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -at

Noun

брат • (brat) m anim (genitive бра́та, nominative plural бра́тья^*, genitive plural бра́тьев^*, relational adjective бра́тский, possessive adjective бра́тов, diminutive бра́тик or бра́тец or брато́к or брати́шка, augmentative брата́н or брату́ха, hypocorism брати́ша or братю́ля or братю́ня, expressive term брате́лло or брате́льник) (* The soft ending of the plural was originally used for feminine collective nouns, and the meaning of братья then was brotherhood.)

1. brother

   родно́й брат ― rodnój brat ― brother (sibling)

   двою́родный брат ― dvojúrodnyj brat ― cousin, first cousin

   трою́родный брат ― trojúrodnyj brat ― second cousin

   единокро́вный брат ― jedinokróvnyj brat ― paternal half brother

   единоутро́бный брат ― jedinoutróbnyj brat ― maternal half brother

   сво́дный брат ― svódnyj brat ― stepbrother

   • 1883, Антон Чехов [Anton Chekhov], Радость; English translation from Constance Garnett, transl., Joy, 1921:

     Сестра́ спры́гнула с посте́ли и, наки́нув на себя́ одея́ло, подошла́ к бра́ту.

     Sestrá sprýgnula s postéli i, nakínuv na sebjá odejálo, podošlá k brátu.

     His sister jumped out of bed and, throwing a quilt round her, went in to her brother.

2. old boy, pal
3. kind, sort

Declension

Declension of брат (anim masc-form hard-stem accent-a irreg) 

	singular	plural
nominative	бра́т brát	бра́тья△* brátʹja△*
genitive	бра́та bráta	бра́тьев△* brátʹjev△*
dative	бра́ту brátu	бра́тьям△* brátʹjam△*
accusative	бра́та bráta	бра́тьев△* brátʹjev△*
instrumental	бра́том brátom	бра́тьями△* brátʹjami△*
prepositional	бра́те bráte	бра́тьях△* brátʹjax△*
vocative	бра́те bráte

^△ Irregular.
^* The soft ending of the plural was originally used for feminine collective nouns, and the meaning of братья then was brotherhood.

Synonyms

• (Anticorisms:) брата́н m anim (bratán), брату́ха m anim (bratúxa)

Coordinate terms

Russian family terms

семья́ (semʹjá, “family”)		Male	Female	Neutral
parent		оте́ц (otéc, “father”) familiar: па́па (pápa), ба́тя (bátja)	мать (matʹ, “mother”) familiar: ма́ма (máma)	роди́тель (rodítelʹ, “parent”)
grandparent		дед (ded, “grandfather”) familiar: де́душка (déduška)	ба́бушка (bábuška, “grandmother”) colloquial: ба́бка (bábka)	прароди́тель (prarodítelʹ, “grandparent”)
sibling		брат (brat, “brother”)	сестра́ (sestrá, “sister”)	rare: си́блинг (síbling, “sibling”)
cousin		двою́родный брат (dvojúrodnyj brat, “male first cousin”) трою́родный брат (trojúrodnyj brat, “male second cousin”) rare: кузе́н (kuzén, “male cousin, however distant”)	двою́родная сестра́ (dvojúrodnaja sestrá, “female first cousin”) трою́родная сестра́ (trojúrodnaja sestrá, “female second cusin”) rare: кузи́на (kuzína, “female cousin, however distant”)	–
child		сын (syn, “son”)	дочь (dočʹ, “daughter”)	ребёнок (rebjónok, “child”) plural: де́ти (déti, “children”)
grandchild		внук (vnuk, “grandson”)	вну́чка (vnúčka, “granddaughter”)	plural: вну́ки (vnúki, “grandchildren”)
parent's sibling		дя́дя (djádja, “uncle”)	тётя (tjótja, “aunt”)	–
sibling's child		племя́нник (plemjánnik, “nephew”)	племя́нница (plemjánnica, “niece”)	–
spouse		муж (muž, “husband”), супру́г (suprúg, “male spouse”)	жена́ (žená, “wife”), супру́га (suprúga, “female spouse”)	plural: супру́ги (suprúgi, “married couple”)
spouse's parent	marital	свёкор (svjókor, “marital father-in-law”)	свекро́вь (svekróvʹ, “marital mother-in-law”)	–
	uxorial	тесть (testʹ, “uxorial father-in-law”)	тёща (tjóšča, “uxorial mother-in-law”)	–
child's spouse		зять (zjatʹ, “son-in-law”)	сноха́ (snoxá), неве́стка (nevéstka, “daughter-in-law”)	–
child's spouse's parent		сват (svat, “co-father-in-law”)	сва́тья (svátʹja, “co-mother-in-law”)	–
sibling's spouse		зять (zjatʹ, “sibilar brother-in-law”)	неве́стка (nevéstka, “sibilar sister-in-law”)	–
spouse's sibling	marital	де́верь (déverʹ, “marital brother-in-law”)	золо́вка (zolóvka, “marital sister-in-law”)	–
	uxorial	шу́рин (šúrin, “uxorial brother-in-law”)	своя́ченица (svojáčenica, “uxorial sister-in-law”)	–
spouse's sibling's spouse	marital	–	я́тровь (játrovʹ, “sister-in-law (husband's brother's wife)”)	–
	uxorial	своя́к (svoják, “brother-in-law (wife's sister's husband)”)	–	–
stepparent		о́тчим (ótčim, “stepfather”)	ма́чеха (máčexa, “stepmother”)	–
stepchild		па́сынок (pásynok, “stepson”)	па́дчерица (pádčerica, “stepdaughter”)	–

Derived terms

• брата́ние n (bratánije)
• брата́ться impf (bratátʹsja)
• братва́ f (bratvá)
• бра́тский (brátskij)
• бра́тство n (brátstvo)
• побрати́м m anim (pobratím)
• собра́т m anim (sobrát)

Compound words:

• братоуби́йство n (bratoubíjstvo), братоуби́йственный (bratoubíjstvennyj)
• медбра́т m anim (medbrát)

Compounds:

• брат на бра́та (brat na bráta)

Phrases

• не сват, не брат (ne svat, ne brat)
• сам чёрт не брат (sam čort ne brat)

Related terms

• бра́тия f (brátija)

Borrowed

Related via Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr:

• фра́трия f (frátrija)

Descendants

• → Armenian: բրատ (brat) (slang)
• → Azerbaijani: brat (slang)
• → Georgian: ბრატ (braṭ) (slang)
• → Yakut: быраат (bïraat)

References

• Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), “брат”, in Oleg Trubachyov, transl., Этимологический словарь русского языка [Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language] (in Russian), Moscow: Progress

Further reading

• Dal, Vladimir (1880–1882), “брат”, in Толковый Словарь живаго великорускаго языка [Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language] (in Russian), 2nd edition, Publication of the bookseller-typographer Wolf, M. O.

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *bratrъ, *bratъ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /brât/

Noun

бра̏т m anim (Latin spelling brȁt, relational adjective бра̀тскӣ, diminutive бра̏тић)

1. brother
2. (colloquial, chiefly in the vocative) mate, pal, buddy

Usage notes

There is no plural form for this noun. Instead, the collective term бра̏ћа is used for plural meanings.

Declension

Declension of брат

	singular
nominative	брат
genitive	брата
dative	брату
accusative	брата
vocative	брате
locative	брату
instrumental	братом

Derived terms

• брата̀кати се
• брата́нац
• бра̏тац
• бра̀тија
• бра̏тимити се
• бра̏тӣмство
• бра̏тӣнство
• бра̏тити се
• бра̏тић
• бра̏тјенац
• бра̏то̄в
• бра̏товљев
• бра̏товљӣ
• бра̏товскӣ
• брато́вштина
• бра̏тољӯбље
• братоу̀билачкӣ
• братоу̀бојица
• братоу̀бо̄јство
• бра̀тство
• бра̀тучед

Further reading

• “брат”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2026

Ukrainian

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *bratrъ, *bratъ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [brat]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -at
• Hyphenation: брат

Noun

брат • (brat) m pers (genitive бра́та, nominative plural брати́, genitive plural браті́в, relational adjective бра́тній or бра́тський or брате́рський, diminutive бра́тик or бра́тець or брату́нь)

1. brother (biological sibling)
2. brother (member of the Christian brotherhood)
3. pal, mate

Declension

Declension of брат
(pers hard masc-form accent-c)

	singular	plural
nominative	брат brat	брати́ bratý
genitive	бра́та bráta	браті́в bratív
dative	бра́тові, бра́ту brátovi, brátu	брата́м bratám
accusative	бра́та bráta	браті́в bratív
instrumental	бра́том brátom	брата́ми bratámy
locative	бра́тові, бра́ту, бра́ті brátovi, brátu, bráti	брата́х bratáx
vocative	бра́те bráte	брати́ bratý

Related terms

• бра́ття (bráttja)

Further reading

• Bilodid, I. K., editor (1970–1980), “брат”, in Словник української мови: в 11 т. [Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language: in 11 vols] (in Ukrainian), Kyiv: Naukova Dumka
• Shyrokov, V. A., editor (2010–2025), “брат”, in Словник української мови: у 20 т. [Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language: in 20 vols] (in Ukrainian), volume 1–15 (а – п'ять), Kyiv: Наукова думка; Український мовно-інформаційний фонд, →ISBN
• Melnychuk, O. S., editor (1982–2012), “брат”, in Етимологічний словник української мови [Etymological Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language] (in Ukrainian), volume I (), Kyiv: Naukova dumka, page 246
• “брат”, in Горох – Словозміна [Horox – Slovozmina, Horokh – Inflection]‎^[1]