Brethren
/ˈbrɛðrən/noun
A plural form of brother, especially used in formal, religious, or archaic contexts.
Did you know?Brethren preserves an old English plural pattern that was later reshaped by analogy, which is why it survives mainly in religious and ceremonial speech rather than everyday conversation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰréh₂tēr
“brother”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*broþēr
“brother”
Old English
OE
brōþor
“brother”
Old English
OE
brōþru
“plural form: brothers”
Middle English
ME
brether
“plural form of brother, influenced by an older weak plural ending”
Modern English
English
brethren
“archaic or formal plural of brother, especially in religious use”