der
Bruder
📖 What does "der Bruder" mean?
The word der Bruder has several meanings:
- Male Sibling: The most common meaning is a male child of the same parents. Example: Mein älterer Bruder wohnt in Berlin. (My older brother lives in Berlin.)
- Member of an Order: It also refers to a male member of a religious community or order (monk). Example: Bruder Thomas lebt im Kloster. (Brother Thomas lives in the monastery.)
- Close Friend / Comrade: Figuratively, it can also refer to a very close friend, a like-minded person, or a comrade (similar to 'buddy' or 'bro'). Example: Wir sind wie Brüder. (We are like brothers.) / Was geht, Bruder? (What's up, bro? - slang)
🚨 The word is always masculine and therefore exclusively uses the article "der".
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
📊 Grammar of "der Bruder"
"Bruder" is a masculine noun. It belongs to the strong nouns, which take an umlaut in the plural and the ending "-n" in the dative plural.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | der | Bruder |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | den | Bruder |
| Dative (To/For whom?) | dem | Bruder |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des | Bruders |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Brüder |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Brüder |
| Dative (To/For whom?) | den | Brüdern |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Brüder |
📝 Example Sentences
- Nominative Singular: Der Bruder meiner Freundin ist sehr sportlich. (My girlfriend's brother is very athletic.)
- Accusative Singular: Ich habe den Bruder gestern im Park gesehen. (I saw the brother yesterday in the park.)
- Dative Singular: Wir helfen dem Bruder beim Umzug. (We are helping the brother with his move.)
- Genitive Singular: Das ist das Fahrrad des Bruders. (That is the brother's bicycle.)
- Nominative Plural: Seine Brüder sind alle älter als er. (His brothers are all older than him.)
- Dative Plural: Sie hat mit ihren Brüdern gesprochen. (She spoke with her brothers.)
🗣️ How is "Bruder" used?
- In family context: The most common use refers to the male sibling. People say "großer Bruder" (older brother), "kleiner Bruder" (younger brother), "Zwillingsbruder" (twin brother).
- In religious communities: Members of male orders are often addressed as "Bruder" (e.g., "Bruder Franziskus" - Brother Francis).
- Figuratively: It can express connection and solidarity ("Brüder im Geiste" - brothers in spirit) or serve as an informal address among men/friends ("Hey Bruder, alles klar?" - Hey bro, what's up?). This form of address is common in certain social groups or youth language.
- In compound words: The word appears in many compounds, e.g., Bruderschaft (brotherhood), Bruderkuss (fraternal kiss), Stiefbruder (stepbrother), Halbbruder (half-brother).
⚠️ The informal address "Bruder" can be received differently depending on the context and person. It is not appropriate in all social situations.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Bruder"
Article Mnemonic (Der)
Remember: Many male family members are der – der Vater (father), der Sohn (son), der Onkel (uncle), and also der Bruder. The '-er' ending is common for 'der' nouns, and 'Bruder' fits this pattern.
Meaning Mnemonic (Sibling/Ally)
"Bruder" sounds very much like its English equivalent, brother. Imagine your brother offering you a bruised apple - a bit rough (like brothers can be!), but still family.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for "Bruder"
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- For sibling: Bruderherz (affectionate term), leiblicher Bruder (biological brother)
- For member of an order: Ordensbruder, Mönch (monk), Frater (friar)
- For friend/comrade: Kumpel (buddy), Kamerad (comrade), Freund (friend), Kollege (colleague, depending on context), Bro (slang)
- General (figurative): Verbündeter (ally), Gleichgesinnter (like-minded person), Mitbruder (fellow brother/member)
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Fragt der kleine Bruder seine große Schwester: "Du, sag mal, warum hast du eigentlich so viele Schuhe?" Antwortet die Schwester: "Damit ich für jeden Anlass die passenden habe!" Fragt der Bruder zurück: "Und warum hast du dann nur einen Bruder?"
EN: The little brother asks his big sister: "Hey, tell me, why do you actually have so many shoes?" The sister replies: "So that I have the right ones for every occasion!" The brother asks back: "And why do you only have one brother then?"
📜 Poem about Brothers
DE:
Ein Bruder, das ist einer,
mal groß und manchmal kleiner.
Mal Freund, mal Rivale im Spiel,
doch hält er zu dir, das ist das Ziel.
Er teilt mit dir Freud und Leid,
steht dir zur Seite, jederzeit.
Ein Band, das hält ein Leben lang,
mit Lachen, Streit und Gesang.
EN:
A brother, that is someone,
sometimes big and sometimes a little one.
Sometimes friend, sometimes rival in the game,
but sticking by you, that's the aim.
He shares with you joy and sorrow,
stands by your side, today and tomorrow.
A bond that lasts a whole life long,
with laughter, quarrels, and song.
🧩 Riddle
DE:
Ich teile Eltern mit dir,
bin männlich, das sag ich hier.
Manchmal nerv ich, manchmal bin ich nett,
steh oft neben deinem Bett (im Etagenbett vielleicht!).
Wer bin ich? Lösung: der Bruder
EN:
I share parents with you,
I'm male, I'm telling you true.
Sometimes annoying, sometimes nice,
Often stand next to your bed (in a bunk bed, perhaps precise!).
Who am I?
Solution: the brother (der Bruder)
💡 Other Information
- Etymology: The German word "Bruder" comes from Old High German "bruoder" and has Indo-European roots (related to Latin "frater", English "brother"). Originally, it referred to male members of the same clan or community.
- Related Terms: Bruderschaft (brotherhood, fraternity), brüderlich (brotherly, fraternal - adjective), verbrüdern (to fraternize - verb), Halbbruder (half-brother), Stiefbruder (stepbrother).
- Cultural Significance: The concept of brotherhood (Brüderlichkeit) plays an important role in many cultures and religions (e.g., charity, solidarity).
Summary: is it der, die or das Bruder?
The word "Bruder" is masculine, so it always uses the article "der": der Bruder. The plural form is "die Brüder".
