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Where does the word "brother" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic brōþēr, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).
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Where does the word "brother" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic brōþēr, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).
Brother’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: brōþēr meant “brother.” Matches Latin 'frāter' and Sanskrit 'bhrātṛ'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as brōþor. Also used for fellow monks, as Latin 'frāter' was. It reached English by 1500s as brother. The old plural 'brethren' survives for members of a religious community. Today, brother means a son of the same parents as another person.
- Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient brōþēr "brother", matches Latin 'frāter' and Sanskrit 'bhrātṛ'.
- Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s brōþor "brother", also used for fellow monks, as Latin 'frāter' was.
- Stage 3 · English · 1500s brother "male sibling", the old plural 'brethren' survives for members of a religious community.