# brethren

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbɹɛðɹən/ · frequency rank #14,708

## Definitions
1. plural of brother
2. kinsmen

## Etymology
From Early Modern English brethren, plural of brother, from Middle English brethren, from Middle English brethere, brether + -en (plural ending). Ultimately from Old English brōþor, brōþru (“brothers, brethren”), influenced by Old English brēþer, dative singular of brōþor (“brother”). Equivalent to brother + -en (plural ending). Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called umlaut.

## Common misspellings (13)
`bbrethren`, `berthren`, `brehtren`, `brethern`, `brethhren`, `brethrenn`, `brethrne`, `brethrren`, `bretrhen`, `bretthren`, `brrethren`, `brtehren`, `rbethren`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/brethren