half-brother
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half-brother
A male relative with whom you share only one parent, either the mother or the father.
Mein Halbbruder und ich haben denselben Vater, aber unterschiedliche Mütter.
My half-brother and I have the same father, but different mothers.
The word is made up of 'halb' (half) and 'Bruder' (brother). The prefix 'halb-' expresses here that the family relationship exists only halfway, since only one parent is shared.
Er hat einen Halbbruder aus der ersten Ehe seines Vaters.
He has a half-brother from his father’s first marriage.
The pattern with the prefix 'halb-' is used for various family members. There is also 'die Halbschwester' (half-sister) and the neutral plural 'die Halbgeschwister' (half-siblings).
Ich verstehe mich sehr gut mit meiner Halbschwester.
I get along very well with my half-sister.
To explain the relationship more precisely, people often use the phrase 'Wir haben denselben Vater' (we have the same father) or 'Wir haben dieselbe Mutter' (we have the same mother).
Mein Halbbruder und ich haben dieselbe Mutter, aber verschiedene Väter.
My half-brother and I have the same mother, but different fathers.
brother
'der Bruder' and 'der Halbbruder' both refer to a male relative in the family. 'Bruder' can be used generally for a male sibling. 'Halbbruder' is more specific: you share only one parent, either the same mother or the same father. The words can be confused because in everyday language a half-brother is often simply called 'Bruder'. If the exact family relationship is important, 'Halbbruder' is clearer.
Am Morgen erzählt Paul, dass sein Halbbruder denselben Vater hat.
In the morning, Paul says that his half-brother has the same father.
Mia besucht heute ihren Bruder im Krankenhaus.
Mia is visiting her brother in the hospital today.