big/little brother
 

Dear native English speakers,

I have a question about older/younger brother.
Would someone help me?

Do you ever use the term "elder brother" meaning "older brother"?

Do you ever use the words "big brother" meaning older brother and "little brother" or "kid brother" meaning younger brother?

Hirashin

That's kind of a yes and no. Like when talking to my sister she just says my name. But like when she's describing me to her friends i would be her "Little brother". Does that answer your question at all?

Thank you for the response, Kuronue san.

How about the others? Do you use all of them?

I hear that in the US only children use "big brother".

Hirashin

Just as Kuronue said.

Generally we just call each other by name.

Brother, sister is generally reserved when you're speaking to someone else about them and when you want to give an indication on who he/she is to you. As an example,
"So my sister said that and that".
If its more of a formal company, then you sometimes add the little / big parts, but its rare.

I have referred to my younger brother as "little brother" all of his life in informal company - both directly (in place of his name) and referentially. Its a laughable irony now that he is nearly a foot taller and very muscular, but the diminutive nature of the word "little" is still the way I see him.

However, in less formal situations I simply refer to him as my brother and by his name when speaking directly to him.

I don't have an older brother but I do have a younger one and I just call him my 'little brother' :)

I usually call my little brother as "oi you" but when talking about him i would say my little brother.

My kids call each other by their names and other nicknames they've aquired for each other.......But when they're friends ask the older answers "Never seen him before." And the younger answers. "what person I don't see anyone there." But I have heard them say "he's my bro." and as for their sister they answer. "She our little sis." I'm guessing because of her stature. :D

I've always said my carnala. or my sis. even tho she's only half my sister.

Yes, I always tend to called my older brother "big brother"
and my younger little brother for some reason. :D

We just use each others names.

In the part of New York I live in, if you're talking to someone about your younger/older brother then we say "big brother / little brother" "older brother / younger brother" or "big sister / little sister" "older sister / younger sister"

kid brother
 

Thank you all for the interesting replies.

I have seen "kid brother" used. For example:
Junglecity.com -

Jennifer: Who is he?
Erin: That's Michael's kid brother.
Jennifer: I didn't know he had a kid brother.
Erin: We hadn't seen him for years because he lives in the east coast. They aren't that close.

Is the dialog above unnatural to native speakers?
Don't anyone use it referring to "younger brother"?

Hirashin

I think in the us or other western country they don't have a term for that & i have ask that question with a British fren of mine.

what i noticed most Asian countries do have a term for for older or younger brother or sister, can you think of some?

cantonese, chinese
Tai lo - big brother
Sai lo - small brother

filipino, philippines
Kuya - elder bother
ate - elder sister

putonghua, chinese
jieje - elder sis
meimei - younger sis

"kid brother" is used in terms if the other is a lot younger than the other.

For example.....

I'm 32 and my sister is 18 I'd call her "kid sister"

My oldest son is 13 and his brother is 12 he'd call his brother "younger brother"

They in turn would call their 2 year old sister "kid sister"

Thank you
 

Thank you all for the help. I appreciate it.

Some people say they use "big brother" but others say they don't.

I've noticed the usage of such words depends heavily on the person, family, and the area. It's very complicated but interesting.

Hirashin
:)