Breh (n)

Means: Friend, typically male

Usage: “My breh’s got my back, Miss. No way he’d grass me up”

An allegiance with one’s friends is imperative for a humble boy fighting off the unfair and constant onslaught of girlie putdowns, parental guidance and last-minute maths homework, so he’s quick to knight the chosen ones with terms of endearment. Pronounced “br’er” (as in the rabbit), this is the latest in a long line of derivatives of brother, replacing bro (not cool enough), bruv (not exotic enough) and bruvatolla (not actually a word that anyone’s ever used). Breh is, in fact, a shortening of “brethren”, although the Yoof take this from the Jamaican street slang for “male friend”, oblivious to its origins as the archaic plural of brother loaded with religious significance. Maybe a quick history lesson is all that’s needed to nip its use in the bud.