Shaun Groves
Do not bro me. Also, related, do not brah me.
Bro is often used to soften the blow of something unneccessarily evil someone has just said to me after they realize it was evil but just before the evil sentence is completed. Example: Don’t tell me I shouldn’t buy an iPhone. I don’t tell you how to spend YOUR money…bro.
Bro is also used frequently as an expression of closeness between strangers and me, strangers who I am not close to, strangers who are not related to me in any way that I am aware of. Example: I just love you, bro.
Bro is short for brother. It is used by people either very concerned with the efficiency of language or with talking like everyone else.
Bro was brought into the American Christian subculture by fraternity guys who got saved after waking up too many times in partially digested Corona, and became youth ministers or emergent church pastors with a testimony. Thus the frequent use of bro among youth ministers and emergent church pastors who like beer.
Bro evolved, about three years ago, at a Young Life meeting just outside of Dallas into the more laid back and less intelligible brah. No one’s sure how this occurred. Southwestern Theological Seminary is studying this evil linguistic transformation as I type. Truett Seminary is developing course work on its proper use in the pulpit, based upon research into its probable frequent utterance by early church fathers and using Kyle Lake as their contemporary model.
But, regardless, don’t bro or brah me.
Shawn says:
Why you gotta be so negative brah?
euphrony says:
Cool the motor, dude. What’s the big problemo with being my bro?
Ragamuffin says:
I think the “bro” and “brah” expressions predated any use by white bread fraternity boys. It was an expression used in the black community for years before it ever came into use amongst us honkies.
There’s nothing more pitiful than seeing white people try to use black slang. Reminds me of the 50-something year old white guy I overheard on the phone rattling off some points about a meeting or something to someone on a cellphone. At the end he said, “…so that’s the download on that.”
Now first, I think what he had overheard was “downlow”…but that’s not the proper context for that word either. What he meant to say was “lowdown,” as in, “so that’s the pertinent information on that.” “Downlow” means to keep something secret…as in, “Keep it on the downlow, brah.”
So there you go.
Todd says:
While the end of the bro-movement has long been approaching, I believe the “don’t taze me bro, don’t taze me” incident should serve as inspiration enough to drop the phrase from all intelligent, sober and post-college lexicons.
Cali Amy says:
oh, is this the beginning of a series? I look forward to the other commandments
john in colorado says:
you need to take a vacation, bro.
Seth Ward says:
Then hypothetically, “Cram it, brah” would be acceptable?
anne jackson says:
this post is off the hook.
jason77 says:
brah= did not know this to be so wide spread, I only call my best friend this..
also, if your still looking for Greek help I know a blogger over on Life With Christ:
http://martyrologist.lifewithchrist.org/
Nancy Tyler says:
Oh Waaaah. You’re just gonna have to continue tolerating “Bro” from me, Shaun.
I have been using “Bro” since college (20+ years) on my male Christian friends. I use it consciously, as a term of endearment AND as a form of protection.
If I say “Love ya, Bro” it’s me returning a (close) Christian male friend’s similar sentiment. When I return that expression to them, I mean “I love you as a brother in Christ. This is a safe friendship that we share.”
And male Christians I’m not as close to and who I want to know that I see them as brothers in Christ and not as potential love matches, I use “Bro” here and there in conversation and email.
Shawn Bashor says:
Fo Shizzle, no brah’s bein’ spit her’
Cruz-Control says:
Truett Seminary… ouch, brah.
-Cruz
Baylor ‘07
Truett ‘End-of-Time
Charlie Park says:
Can I bra you?
Kat says:
White folks are way too uptight to deserve to use ‘brah’, or even ‘bro’. It’s pidgin and sounds completely wrong unless you’ve got the Polynesian tattoos to back it up.
I support this rule.
Grovesfan says:
Here, here for the Polynesian tatoo requirement. After living in Hawaii for 4+ years, everybody was a “brah” after a while.
Beth
Kim B. says:
One of my Hawaiian friends refers to everyone as Brah……and since he is 6’4” 250lbs, you kinda just learn to love it !!! But, seriously, when you know it is said in love…it’ “ok brah” !!!!
Jonathan Reinhardt says:
I’m with Shaun on this. The same goes for strangers who try to create false intimacy by calling others whom they’ve never met before “bud” or “buddy”. Someone should tell tham that’s one of the quickest ways to make an enemy.
Seth Ward says:
After livin’ in the apple for two months… I’d settle for a brah. Or a bro. Even a bra.
Jonathan, When people call you “buddy” up here, it’s usually not in a nice context.
Scott says:
I think Brah is a Hawaiian thing, which was popularized among “Dog the Bounty Hunter” watchers. Everybody was a “brah” to Dog…which is ironic, given his current issues.
Alas.
I respect the private life of my soft rock heroes and would never refer to them as “Bro” or any version thereof. Not that I haven’t Google Earthed the cul-de-sac!
Shaun Groves says:
Frightening.
thecachinnator says:
It’s the subject of my thesis. I’ll let you know my research findings.
brody says:
I think it might work for me though… that’s the problem….
Halpin says:
what if I use “bro” when speaking to my actual brother? Because I often do this.
I don’t say it to anyone else, so am I breaking the Shlog commandment?
Anon says:
Is it cool if I call you Shaun, or would you prefer Mr. Groves? OR since ninja’s aren’t supposed to give their identities away, I could not call you at all…
Molly Ranae says:
I am with Nancy on this one…the brother in Christ context…except when I am talking to my blood brothers, whom I generally refer to as “broha.” Is that a double breakage of the commandment…because I just realized “broha” combines the subject matters of both “Thou shalt nots”?
portorikan says:
brah, Bro has been around for like, years man. Fo’ real, yo!
Just Matt says:
How about Brotha? Like Desmond on lost.
Fay says:
Equally annoying is the improper use (or overuse) of the term “sis” or “sister.” For example:
If we’re on a date, but not yet dating, don’t use “sis” as a term of endearment—it’s just weird.
Do not call me “Sister Shakes.” That’s what they called my Mom in the charismatic church I grew up in. It makes me feel old.
The Leprechaun says:
Insert comment here about brah size.
andrew t says:
What about other “bro” derivatives, such as “broseph”?
kathryn says:
this is hilarious!
Talena says:
The only person on this earth I call “bro” is my brother.
Up here in Red-Neck-Ville, we say “Hey, man.”
And there is really nothing endearing or offensive about it. Perhaps more people should use the term, since it is completely, one-hundred-percent accurate. (At least when speaking to someone of the male gender. I get seriously offended if our server in a restaurant refers to my husband and I as “You guys.” Maybe I’ll make that the subject of a blog post on my own blog!)
Have a good trip!