Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'brother'

English Word: brother

Key Russian Translations:

• брат [brat] - [General, Informal/Formal]
• братан [bratˈan] - [Informal, Colloquial, Often used among friends]

Frequency: High (especially "брат")

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for "брат"; B1 (Intermediate) for "братан" due to colloquial usage

Pronunciation (Russian):

брат: [brat]

Note on брат: The stress is on the single syllable. The "r" is rolled slightly, typical of Russian pronunciation.

братан: [bratˈan]

Note on братан: Stress falls on the second syllable. Often pronounced with a friendly or casual tone.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Sibling (Male)

Translation(s) & Context:

• брат - Used to refer to a biological brother or a close male relative.

Usage Examples:

• Мой брат старше меня на три года.

  My brother is three years older than me.

• У тебя есть брат или сестра?

  Do you have a brother or a sister?

• Брат помогает мне с уроками.

  My brother helps me with homework.

2. Informal Term of Address (Friend or Peer)

Translation(s) & Context:

• братан - Used colloquially to address a friend or peer, similar to "bro" in English.

Usage Examples:

• Эй, братан, как дела?

  Hey, bro, how are you?

• Братан, помоги мне с этим.

  Bro, help me with this.

• Спасибо, братан, ты выручил!

  Thanks, bro, you saved me!

Russian Forms/Inflections:

брат (noun, masculine): Follows the standard masculine declension pattern in Russian.

братан (noun, masculine): Primarily used in nominative form in colloquial speech. Declension is less common due to its informal nature.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for брат (as sibling):

• братец (less common, often affectionate or diminutive)

Synonyms for братан (as colloquial "bro"):

• браток (similarly informal, slight variation in tone)
• друг (friend, more neutral)

Antonyms for брат:

• сестра (sister)

Related Phrases:

• старший брат - "older brother"
• младший брат - "younger brother"
• брат по крови - "blood brother" (literal or figurative)
• братья навек - "brothers forever" (often used in toasts or oaths)

Usage Notes:

• "брат" is the standard and most neutral term for "brother" in Russian, suitable for both formal and informal contexts when referring to a sibling.
• "братан" is highly informal and should only be used among close friends or peers. Using it in formal settings or with strangers can be seen as inappropriate or overly familiar.
• When addressing someone as "братан," tone and context are crucial—it conveys camaraderie but can sound forced if overused by non-native speakers.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "братан" to refer to a biological brother in a formal context.
  Incorrect: Мой братан старше меня.
  Correct: Мой брат старше меня.
  Explanation: "братан" is not appropriate for family references in most cases; it is a slang term for friends or peers.
• Error: Misusing cases with "брат."
  Incorrect: Я вижу брат.
  Correct: Я вижу брата.
  Explanation: Russian nouns decline based on their role in the sentence. "брат" must take the accusative case ("брата") when it is the direct object.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the term "брат" carries a strong sense of familial bond and loyalty. It is also frequently used in literature, songs, and proverbs to symbolize unity or camaraderie (e.g., "братья навек" - "brothers forever"). The informal "братан" reflects a post-Soviet trend of adopting slang among younger generations, often associated with street or youth culture.

Related Concepts:

• сестра (sister)
• семья (family)
• родственник (relative)
• друг (friend)