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bhai. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
bhai, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
bhai in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
bhai you have here. The definition of the word
bhai will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
bhai, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Transliteration of Hindustani بھائی (bhāī) / भाई (bhāī) and other South Asian languages, ultimately from Sanskrit भ्रातृ (bhrātṛ). Doublet of brother, pal, frater, and friar.
Noun
bhai (plural bhais) (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Hinglish, Benglish)
- friend, dude, man
- brother
Caribbean Hindustani
Etymology
From Hindi भाई (bhāī).
Noun
bhai
- brother
Hlai
Etymology
From Proto-Hlai *ɓəj (“bamboo raft”), from Pre-Hlai *Cəʔbəj (Norquest, 2015). Compare Proto-Tai *beːᴬ (“raft”) (whence Thai แพ (pɛɛ)), Middle Chinese 排 (MC beaj).
Pronunciation
Noun
bhai
- bamboo raft
Southeastern Tepehuan
Etymology 1
Cognate with Northern Tepehuan báji, O'odham bahi, Mayo buasia, Hopi kwasi (“penis”).
Noun
bhai (plural bhaabhai)
- tail
Etymology 2
Cognate with O'odham s-bahi, Mayo buassi.
Adjective
bhai
- cooked
- ripe
References
- Willett, Elizabeth, et al. (2016) Diccionario tepehuano de Santa María Ocotán, Durango (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 48), electronic edition, Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., page 32