KalamBrother in Arabic
The Arabic word for brother is أخ (akh), and "my brother" is أخي (akhī). In dialects it changes: أخويا (akhūya) in Egypt, خيّي (khayyi) in Lebanon and Syria, أخوي (akhūy) in the Gulf, and خويا (khūya) in Morocco. All of these are also used to mean "bro" with friends.
Literally: “brother”
Brother across the Arab world
Arabic changes from country to country. Here's what you'll actually hear.
Plural: إخوة (ikhwa). The formal word for a full brother is شقيق (shaqīq).
"Your brother" is akhūk. "My siblings" is ikhwāti.
Levantineخيّي / أخويkhayyi / akhūyKhayyi is Lebanese and Syrian; Palestinians and Jordanians usually say akhūy.
GulfأخويakhūyAlso the go-to way to address any man politely, like "bro" or "brother."
DarijaخوياkhūyaMoroccan and Algerian. Also how you casually address any man.
Other ways to say brother
How to say it right
The sounds English speakers find tricky, and how to get them right.
Practise with feedbackThe kh is the rough sound in Scottish "loch" or German "Bach," made at the back of the mouth. Akh ends right on it, so let it scrape briefly.
Akh begins with a soft glottal catch, like the break in "uh-oh." Keep the a short.
Khayyi has a doubled y: KHAY-yi. Hold the y slightly before the final i.
In akhūya, akhūy and khūya the ū is long and stressed: a-KHOO-ya, KHOO-ya.
Example sentences
This is my little brother.
LevantineMy older brother lives in Alexandria.
EgyptianHow are you, bro?
GulfI have one brother and two sisters.
Standard (MSA)Bro, where are you going?
DarijaUsing it like a local
Arabs use "brother" far beyond family. Calling a stranger ya akhi or akhūy is polite and friendly, and you'll hear it from taxi drivers, shopkeepers and old friends. The Quran says "The believers are but brothers" (إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ, 49:10), and many Muslims call each other brother for that reason.
Older brothers often carry real responsibility, looking out for younger siblings and sometimes for sisters' affairs. In many families the eldest son steps into a parent-like role when the father is away or has passed.
Ya akhi can also be a sigh of frustration, like "come on, man!" It can also soften a disagreement: "ya akhi, that's not what I meant." Tone tells you which one you're getting. With women, use ya ukhti instead.
Brother: common questions
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What does akhi mean?
أخي (akhī) means "my brother." It is used for an actual brother and also to address a friend or stranger, like "bro" or "brother." Among Muslims it carries a sense of brotherhood in faith.
How do you say bro in Arabic?
Say ya akhi in most places, akhūy in the Gulf, khayyo or khayyi in Lebanon and Syria, and khūya in Morocco. Egyptians say ya akhūya, though among friends they often say ya ṣāḥbi (my friend) instead.
What is the plural of brother in Arabic?
The plural is إخوة (ikhwa) for brothers or siblings in a family. إخوان (ikhwān) is also a plural and is often used for brothers in a broader, communal sense, like brethren or fellow members.
What does khayyi mean?
خيّي (khayyi) means "my brother" in Lebanese and Syrian Arabic. It is short for akhi and is used for real brothers and, affectionately, for close friends. The playful form khayyo is common too.
Related words & phrases
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