bru, noun

/ˌbruː/
Forms:
Also broe.
Origin:
Shortened form of broer.
colloquial
‘Mate’, ‘pal’, ‘friend’, ‘buddy’, used familiarly or affectionately, often as a term of address. Cf. bra sense 2. See also boet.
1989 M. Brand in Fair Lady 25 Oct. 92My bru, my brother; friend; comrade.
1991 L. Colbourne Informant, Durban, KwaZulu-NatalGive me a gwaai/skyf, my bru...(Please give me a cigarette, brother).
2004 H. Strachan in Make a Skyf, Man 7This, Bru, was an angler’s place...And weight for weight there’s no game-fish in the waters of this world like the one called Saltatrix, the dancer...
2013 climbing.co.za (DSAE Corpus)Like jaaa, actually, I’m tuning you, these brus are lank serious my ou.
2015 dailymaverick.co.za (DSAE Corpus)I still greet guys from the gangs, I say “Aweh, my broe” so that they know I am not a threat, I do not wish them ill. I am friendly with everyone around here as well.
2017 citizen.co.za (DSAE Corpus)Our condolences to you and your family bru.
‘Mate’, ‘pal’, ‘friend’, ‘buddy’, used familiarly or affectionately, often as a term of address.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

19892017

Browse Related Words

By Category

Titles and Modes of Address
Family and Social Relationships

By Usage

colloquial
brown tick, noun phrasen. phr.brummer fly, noun phrasen. phr.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English