broers

Broers is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for brothers, the plural of broer. It refers to male siblings and is used in everyday speech to denote more than one brother. In most contexts it is simply a factual or familial term, as in Mijn broers wonen hier.

Etymology: The word derives from Proto-Germanic *broþer-, cognate with the English brother and the German Bruder. The modern spelling broers reflects standard Dutch and Afrikaans plural formation by adding -s to the singular broer.

Usage notes: In religious or formal contexts, the term broeders is common, while broers is the everyday plural in secular use. The word can also appear as a surname in Dutch- and Flemish-speaking regions.

Other notes: Broers can function as part of family names in genealogical or census records, and is a recognizable element in Dutch- and Afrikaans-speaking communities. As with related terms, it is distinct from broeders, which tends to be used in more formal or religious contexts.