brother
gb/bɹˈʌðɚ/ us/bɹˈʌðɚ/
A1
English
~ 900
fiútestvér, fivér, tesó, testvér, szerzetes testvér
NOUN
A1
1
fiútestvér
A2
fivér
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s brother
My younger brother just started college.
Az öcsém most kezdte el az egyetemet.
She has two brothers and one sister.
Két fiútestvére és egy lánytestvére van.
His brother lives in another city.
I went fishing with my older brother last weekend.
They are twin brothers and look exactly alike.
Learner examples
My brother is ten years old.
A fiútestvérem tízéves.
I play games with my brother.
A fiútestvéremmel szoktam játszani.
Her brother is very tall.
Do you have a brother?
My brother likes football.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'brother' with 'cousin', but a cousin is not a sibling.
Meaning
A male sibling
Collocations
older brother
|younger brother
|big brother
|little brother
|twin brother
Synonyms
sibling (More general; can refer to a brother or sister.)
Antonyms
sister (Refers to a female sibling instead of a male sibling.)
Themes
family
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A boy or man who has the same mother and father as you.
A male person who has the same parents as another person.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is my brother
We've been through so much together—he's like a brother to me.
Annyi mindenen mentünk keresztül együtt – olyan nekem, mintha a testvérem lenne.
In this neighborhood, everyone calls each other 'brother'.
Ebben a környéken mindenki tesónak szólítja egymást.
He's not my real brother, but we've been best friends since childhood.
Learner examples
He is like a brother to me.
Olyan nekem, mintha a testvérem lenne.
I call my best friend my brother.
A legjobb barátomat tesómnak hívom.
My neighbor is my brother in spirit.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this always means a real sibling; in informal speech it can mean a close friend.
Meaning
Close male friend (informal)
Collocations
like a brother
|my brother in arms
Synonyms
buddy (Informal; emphasizes friendship rather than family bond.)
Antonyms
stranger (Someone you do not know or have no close relationship with.)
Themes
friendship
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A man or boy who is a very close friend, like family.
A man or boy regarded as a close friend, often like a family member.
NOUN
B2
3
testvér
B2
Usage pattern:
Brother [name]
Brother Thomas will lead the prayer today.
Ma Tamás testvér vezeti az imát.
The brothers at the monastery grow their own food.
A kolostor testvérei maguk termelik meg az élelmüket.
He decided to become a Franciscan brother after college.
Learner examples
Brother John works in the church.
János testvér a templomban dolgozik.
The brothers live in the monastery.
A testvérek a kolostorban élnek.
I met Brother Paul at the service.
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse 'brother' here with 'priest'; not all brothers are priests.
Meaning
Male member of religious order
Collocations
lay brother
|Franciscan brother
Synonyms
monk (Specifically refers to a man living under religious vows; 'brother' can be used for monks and other members.)
Antonyms
layperson (Someone who is not part of the religious order.)
Themes
religion
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A man in a religious group, usually in Christianity, who is not a priest.
A man who is a member of a religious community, especially in Christian monastic orders, often without being ordained as a priest.
Grammar
Dictionary form
brother
IPA
GB/bɹˈʌðɚ/
US/bɹˈʌðɚ/
Syllables & stress
broth - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (broth)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: brother
- Plural: brothers
Word family
Forms
brothers
noun
Core family
brotherhood
noun B2
brotherly
adjective
Expressions
big brother
1/bˈɪɡ bɹˈʌðɚ/
fixed phrase
Older male sibling
An older male sibling.
Examples
- My big brother taught me how to ride a bike.
- She looks up to her big brother.
blood brothers
1/blˈʌd bɹˈʌðɚz/
fixed phrase
Men with strong loyalty pact
Two men who have promised to be loyal to each other forever, sometimes by mixing their blood.
Examples
- They became blood brothers after surviving the war together.
- We swore to be blood brothers when we were kids.
brother from another mother
1/bɹˈʌðɚ fɹˈʌm ənˈʌðɚ mˈʌðɚ/
idiom
informal
Close male friend (not related)
A male friend who feels like a real brother but is not related to you by blood.
Examples
- We've been friends since childhood—he's my brother from another mother.
- You can trust him; he's like your brother from another mother.
brothers in arms
1/bɹˈʌðɚz ˈɪn ˈɑɹmz/
idiom
Companions in battle or struggle
People who have fought together in war or shared a difficult experience.
Examples
- The soldiers saw each other as brothers in arms.
- We are brothers in arms against poverty.
little brother
1/lˈɪtəl bɹˈʌðɚ/
fixed phrase
Younger male sibling
A younger male sibling.
Examples
- My little brother loves video games.
- I have to pick up my little brother from school.