ভাই

What does ভাই mean?

ভাই (bhai) is a Bangla noun that means brother in English.

Literally means brother, but in Bangladeshi culture it serves as the universal, friendly honorific for addressing any male peer, shopkeeper, rickshaw puller, or stranger. Adding it after a name, such as রহিম ভাই (rohim bhai), expresses warmth and respect without sounding overly distant. Learners should embrace using ভাই (bhai) with service workers and acquaintances, as it is essential for polite daily navigation in Bangladesh.

How do you say “brother” in Bangla?

Say ভাই, pronounced bhai. Press play to hear a native Bangladeshi voice say it.

Pronunciation tips

• It has a breathy consonant (bh, chh, dh, kh, th): say it with a small puff of air, as if a soft h follows.

These sounds have no exact English match. Practise them letter by letter in the Bengali alphabet guide.