brat

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brother, religious brother, friar, monk, brother
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A male sibling, extended to religious brothers, members of fellowships, companions in solidarity, and fellow human beings.

Examples

  • Bracia kurkowi spotkali się na rynku.
    The shooting-brotherhood brothers met in the market square.
  • Przyjęto go jako brata do dawnego cechu.
    He was accepted as a brother into the old guild.
  • Brat kurkowy niósł sztandar podczas pochodu.
    A shooting-brotherhood brother carried the banner during the procession.
  • Po latach pogodziłem się z młodszym bratem.
    After years I reconciled with my younger brother.
  • Nie zostawię cię samego, bracie.
    I will not leave you alone, brother.

Similar words

towarzysz
bliźni
konfrater
braciszek
braciak
zakonnik
współbrat
współbrat
braciszek
współbrat

Meanings

Male sibling

noun
family
neutral
A boy or man in relation to another child of the same parents.

Examples

  • Mój starszy brat mieszka w Gdańsku.
    My older brother lives in Gdańsk.
  • Ona ma dwóch braci i jedną siostrę.
    She has two brothers and one sister.
  • Po latach pogodziłem się z młodszym bratem.
    After years I reconciled with my younger brother.
  • Nie widziałem swojego brata od wakacji.
    I have not seen my brother since the summer holidays.
  • Zaprosiła brata na rodzinny obiad.
    She invited her brother to a family dinner.

Similar words

Religious brother

noun
religious
neutral
A man who belongs to a male religious order, especially when called Brother.

Examples

  • Brat Marek pracuje w klasztornej bibliotece.
    Brother Marek works in the monastery library.
  • W klasztorze rozmawialiśmy z bratem furtianem.
    At the monastery we spoke with the gatekeeper brother.
  • Nowi bracia złożyli śluby w kaplicy.
    The new brothers took their vows in the chapel.
  • Poprosiła brata franciszkanina o modlitwę.
    She asked the Franciscan brother for prayer.
  • Ten brat nie jest księdzem, lecz zakonnikiem.
    This brother is not a priest but a religious brother.

Similar words

Brotherhood member

noun
social
neutral
A man who belongs to a brotherhood, guild, lodge, or similar fellowship.

Examples

  • Brat kurkowy niósł sztandar podczas pochodu.
    A shooting-brotherhood brother carried the banner during the procession.
  • Na zebraniu głos zabrał brat mason.
    At the meeting a Masonic brother took the floor.
  • Każdy brat bractwa miał prawo do głosu.
    Each brother of the brotherhood had the right to vote.
  • Przyjęto go jako brata do dawnego cechu.
    He was accepted as a brother into the old guild.
  • Bracia kurkowi spotkali się na rynku.
    The shooting-brotherhood brothers met in the market square.

Similar words

Companion in solidarity

noun
relationships
neutral
A man treated as a brother because of shared beliefs, origin, work, struggle, or close solidarity.

Examples

  • Po latach wspólnej pracy traktował kolegów jak braci.
    After years of working together, he treated his colleagues like brothers.
  • Żołnierze nazywali siebie braćmi z frontu.
    The soldiers called themselves brothers from the front.
  • Uchodźcy odnaleźli w nim brata w niedoli.
    The refugees found in him a brother in misfortune.
  • Bracia w wierze spotykali się co tydzień.
    Brothers in faith met every week.
  • Nie zostawię cię samego, bracie.
    I will not leave you alone, brother.

Similar words

Fellow human being

noun
humanity
literary
Any human being seen as kin through shared humanity and therefore deserving care, respect, and support.

Examples

  • Przypominał, że każdy człowiek jest naszym bratem.
    He reminded them that every person is our brother.
  • W kazaniu mówił o pomocy głodnym braciom.
    In the sermon he spoke about helping hungry brothers.
  • Traktuj obcego jak brata, nie jak wroga.
    Treat a stranger like a brother, not like an enemy.
  • Wszyscy jesteśmy braćmi mimo różnic.
    We are all brothers despite our differences.
  • Hasło głosiło, że człowiek człowiekowi powinien być bratem.
    The slogan said that one person should be a brother to another.

Similar words

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *bratrъ, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr, with Polish attestations from the first half of the fourteenth century.

FAQ

What does brat mean in Polish?

Brat most often means a male sibling, but it can also mean a religious brother, a brotherhood member, a comrade, or a fellow human being.

How is brat pronounced?

Brat is pronounced /brat/, with a clear final t.

What is the plural of brat?

The usual personal plural is bracia, with forms such as braci and braćmi in other cases.

Is brat the opposite of siostra?

In the family sense, siostra is the natural opposite because it means sister.

Can brat mean a monk or friar?

Yes. Brat can mean a male member of a religious order, especially in brat zakonny or titles such as brat Marek.

Can brat mean friend?

It can mean a companion bound by shared life, faith, work, or struggle, but ordinary friend is usually przyjaciel or kolega.

What case follows numbers with brat?

After dwóch, Polish uses genitive plural, as in dwóch braci.

Where does brat come from?

Brat continues an old Slavic kinship word from Proto-Slavic *bratrъ, related to English brother and German Bruder.

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