broþr

Broþr is a historical spelling of the Old English noun for a male sibling, commonly understood today as “brother.” The form uses the thorn letter þ, which stood for the “th” sound, and reflects the orthographic practices of early medieval English before later standardization. In Old English texts, related forms such as broþor appear, illustrating the same underlying word.

Etymology and cognates

The word derives from Proto-Germanic *brōþēr, a root that produced a family of related terms across Germanic languages. Modern descendants include English brother; German Bruder; Dutch broer; Swedish bror; Danish bror; Norwegian bror; and Icelandic bróðir. These cognates demonstrate a shared Germanic root for the concept of a male sibling, with each language preserving its own phonological and orthographic developments over time.

Usage and evolution

In Old English, the term functioned as a normal noun for a male sibling, with inflectional forms adapting to case and number. The thorn-based spellings reflect the period’s script, phonology, and the lack of standardized spelling. Over the centuries, the modern English form evolved to “brother,” while surrounding Germanic languages developed their own standardized equivalents.

See also

Old English language, Proto-Germanic, Germanic languages, thorn (letter), brother (linguistics)

Note: This article focuses on the historical orthography and etymology of the term as represented by the form broþr, situating it within the broader family of Germanic words for “brother.”