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Broeders

Broeders is the plural of the Dutch noun broeder, meaning brother. In everyday language it refers to male siblings. The term is also used more broadly to denote male members of certain groups or communities, especially in religious or fraternal contexts, and can function as a form of address among men.

Etymology and cognates

The word broeder stems from Old Dutch broeder, which goes back to the Proto-Germanic form *broþer-. It

Religious and fraternal usage

In many Christian traditions, male members of religious communities are described as broeders. This usage distinguishes

Modern and social usage

Beyond religious contexts, broeders can refer to fellow men within a community or organization and is sometimes

See also

Broederschap; Broederlijk Delen (name of a Belgian NGO, illustrating the broader cultural use of the term)

is
cognate
with
English
brother
and
German
Bruder.
The
Dutch
variant
with
the
suffix
-der
is
part
of
a
common
set
of
Germanic
forms
for
kinship
terms.
them
from
other
roles
such
as
monks,
clergy,
or
zusters
(sisters).
Religious
orders
or
congregations
may
incorporate
the
term
into
their
official
names
or
self-designations,
reflecting
a
sense
of
fraternity
and
shared
vows.
The
exact
practices
and
status
of
broeders
vary
by
order
and
tradition.
used
in
phrases
like
broeders
en
zusters
to
emphasize
solidarity
within
a
congregation.
The
related
concept
broederschap
denotes
fraternity
or
a
sense
of
brotherly
association,
and
is
used
for
secular
fraternal
organizations
as
well
as
for
broader
social
ties.