ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bhai

n. countable
C2 Proficiency bhai

n. a word for 'brother' or 'friend' used in South Asia. You use it to address a man in a friendly or respectful way, even if you are not related.

n. a term of address for a brother, male peer, or friend, originating from Hindi and Urdu. Often used as a marker of solidarity or respect within South Asian communities.


SIMPLE

Don't worry about it, bhai, everything will be fine.

CONTEXTUAL

He greeted the shopkeeper as 'bhai' before asking for the price of the mangoes.

COMPLEX

The term bhai has evolved from a simple kinship label to a versatile social honorific that bridges the gap between familial intimacy and casual street-level camaraderie.

Usage

Often used as a vocative to address someone directly; can also be used as a suffix after a name.

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