How to pronounce brother
Say it like BRUHTH-er. Brother has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRUHTH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce brother. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BRUHTH
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Brother pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BRUHTHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of brother
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BRUHTH-uh.
What does brother mean?
- a male with the same parents as someone else“my brother still lives with our parents”
- a male person who is a fellow member (of a fraternity or religion or other group)“none of his brothers would betray him”
- a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
Where does brother come from?
Cognate with Scots breeder, bridder, brither, broder, brother, bruther (“brother”), Yola brover, brower (“brother”), North Frisian brouder, bruler, Bröđer (“brother”), Saterland Frisian Brour, Brúur (“brother”), West Frisian broer (“brother
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with brother
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of brother.
Questions about saying brother
How do you pronounce brother?
Say BRUHTH-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈbrʌðɚ/. In British English it is /ˈbrʌðə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in brother?
Brother has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRUHTH). Broken into parts: BRUHTH · er.
Is brother pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbrʌðə/ (BRUHTH-uh).