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Broski is a less popular form of bro—also known as another fun, casual way of addressing friends. While it’s easy to use (just substitute it for “bro” or “dude”), you might be wondering how exactly it differs from other male terms of endearment and whether it’s only for men. This comprehensive article will cover everything you could ever want to know about broski, so you can be sure you’ll be using it in no time!
Broski is a compound formed from “bro”, a shortened form of the word brother, and “-ski”, a Slavic suffix that makes the works more casual. If someone is your broski, they are your very close friend. If you have a group of broskis, you are in a tight-knit group of friends.
Broski are close friends. Broski, like brother, is a term of endearment that comes from “brother culture”.[1]
Broski can refer to a single person or a group of close-knit friends—broskis. Bro culture bros (distinguished by their frequent use of the word bro) may use this word interchangeably with “dude” to refer to someone without actually commenting on their relationship.- Broski is less popular than the word brother and is a loose synonym for dude, brother or buddy.
- Some alternative spellings are broskie and brosky.
- What’s up Broski, we haven’t seen you for a long time.
- Broskis and I are going out for drinks tonight.
- Pour me a beer, broski.
- Hey broski, take it easy. I’m just trying to have a good time here.
- Don’t worry, he’s cool. He’s my broski.
- Nice to meet you broski.
- I love you broski.
“Broški” can be a person of any gender. Although it originally only referred to men, bro, and hence broski, has become so popular that anyone can use it. However, some people may not want to be called that, so only use it with people who are cool with being brosky.
- Make sure your friends don’t feel like you’re mocking them when you use this term. Because of the frat culture connotations (stupidity, misogyny, etc.), you may want to ask before using it and explain that it’s a term of endearment.
Broski is a variation of the word “bro”. Bro, short for brother, dates back to the 16th century, although it may have been used only as an abbreviation in writing. Bro, as we know it today, comes from African American English and has been used in black churches for at least two centuries.[2]
- In many churches, especially black churches, men are often referred to as “brother”, shortened to “brother”. Due to the destruction of black historical documents and lack of access to the tools needed for written records, the abbreviation could be used well before the 1800s.
- “Bro” and “bruh” were originally used as prefixes, like Mr.
- In many churches, especially black churches, men are often referred to as “brother”, shortened to “brother”. Due to the destruction of black historical documents and lack of access to the tools needed for written records, the abbreviation could be used well before the 1800s.
“Ski” is a Slavic suffix that turns nouns into adjectives. The “-ski” ending has become popular in English slang over the past two decades. It is used as a diminutive (in English only), meaning it makes the word more playful and casual, like turning “whatever” into “whatevski” or “brew” into “brewski”.[3]
- We’re out of brewski, broski. Whatevski, let’s go to the store.
Broski is a bromanteau. Bromanteau, a play on “portmanteau”, the word is made up of “bro” and another word. Some of the most commonly used are “bromance” (bro romance), “brogrammer” (very bro programmer) and “brobituary” (elegy for a bro who left the brosphere for a partner or job).[4]
“Bro” was absorbed by white culture in the 20th century. The word “bro” was popularly used during the 20th century in American activist movements, especially those fighting for black liberation. Non-black participants in these movements started using the word, and then young white people started using it to emulate black culture.[5]
“Brother culture” emerged from brotherhood culture. When frat culture began, a “bro” was someone who used the word bro—often. Usually, the stereotypical brother was a white frat brother, and the term was associated with male bouffant heads, backwards baseball caps, salmon shorts, misogyny, and boat shoes.[6]
“Bro” entered popular culture in the 2020s. While frat bro culture was used positively among frat boys, those frat boys also became the subject of frat jokes. With the amount of buzz that came from making fun of young, stupid men, brother became a byword for anyone and everyone.[7]
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