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brother

bro-der/ˈbɾoðeɾ/

“brother” means “bro” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

bro

Also: buddy, dude
NounmB1slang
MexicoNicaraguaSpain
Two young men laughing and giving each other a high-five in a park.

📝 In Action

¡Qué onda, brother! ¿Cómo has estado?

A2

Hey bro! How have you been?

Él no es mi primo, pero es mi brother de toda la vida.

B1

He's not my cousin, but he's been my best friend forever.

Oye, brother, ¿me puedes hacer un paro?

B2

Hey dude, can you do me a favor?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cuate (buddy (Mexico))
  • pana (pal (Caribbean/Venezuela))
  • parcero (bro (Colombia))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • mi buen brother – my good friend
  • brother del alma – soul brother / best friend

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser brothers – to be very close friends

brother

Also: hermano
NounmA2informal
Two young boys who look alike sitting together on a wooden bench, one with his arm around the other.

📝 In Action

Mi brother vive en Estados Unidos.

A2

My brother lives in the United States.

Tengo dos brothers y una hermana.

A2

I have two brothers and one sister.

Ese es el carro de mi brother.

B1

That is my brother's car.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • sister (sister (slang/Spanglish))

Common Collocations

  • mi brother mayor – my older brother

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "brother" in Spanish:

bro→brother→buddy→dude→hermano→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: brother

Question 1 of 3

If someone in Mexico says, 'Es mi brother,' what do they most likely mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
hermano(brother (standard)) — Noun
brotherito(little bro) — Noun
bróder(phonetic spelling of brother) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Borrowed directly from the English word 'brother'. It gained popularity in Latin America through movies, music, and proximity to the United States.

First recorded: Mid-20th century

Cognates (Related words)

German: BruderLatin: frater

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'brother' used in Spain?

Not really. People in Spain usually use 'tío' (uncle), 'macho', or 'colega' to mean 'bro' or 'dude'.

Can I use 'brother' for a girl?

Usually, no. It is masculine. For a female friend, you might hear 'sister' (sis) or more commonly 'amiga' or 'nena'.

Why don't they just say 'hermano'?

Using the English word 'brother' adds a specific 'cool' or casual flavor to the conversation that the standard word 'hermano' doesn't always have.