bruv

English

Etymology

PIE word
*bʰréh₂tēr

Clipping of bruvver.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɹʌv/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌv

Noun

bruv (plural bruvs)

1. (UK, Canada, chiefly MLE, MTE, Australia, slang) Brother, mate, friend.
   • 1992, Today:

     The lads in the Nags 'Ead were just talking about your bit of managerial bovver and I said to Rodney, 'Bruv, this could be my big chance.'

2. (Internet slang, text messaging, chiefly humorous) ironic usage of bruv by people whose dialect would otherwise call for bruh.

Usage notes

• Used mainly in London or other city dialects, particularly in Multicultural London English. This term is also used in Canada, more specifically in Toronto, where the dialect mostly uses this term in Multicultural Toronto English. This term is also used in Australia, mainly in urbanised cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, and is often used ironically as a form of hostility.

See also

• bra
• brah
• brev
• bro
• bruh
• fam