bru
Bru (noun) means a friendly term of address for a man, roughly equivalent to "bro" or "mate.". Example: “Howzit, bru, long time no see!”
How to use bru
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn South African slang, calling someone "bru" is like calling them "bro" or "mate" — casual and friendly.
Chiefly South African English slang; the ethnic-group sense is unrelated and comes from a completely different source.
Word forms
brus plural, Bru plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Howzit, _____, long time no see!
Etymology
The South African slang sense comes from Afrikaans broer ("brother"), shortened in everyday speech — a cousin of English "bro" that developed independently.
Frequently asked questions
What does “bru” mean?
The word “bru” means a friendly term of address for a man, roughly equivalent to "bro" or "mate.". In plain terms, in South African slang, calling someone "bru" is like calling them "bro" or "mate" — casual and friendly.
How do you use “bru” in a sentence?
Here is “bru” used in a sentence: “Howzit, bru, long time no see!”
What part of speech is “bru”?
“Bru” is a noun.
Where does the word “bru” come from?
The word “bru” comes from Afrikaans. The South African slang sense comes from Afrikaans broer ("brother"), shortened in everyday speech — a cousin of English "bro" that developed independently.
How many meanings does “bru” have?
“Bru” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a friendly term of address for a man, roughly equivalent to "bro" or "mate.".
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