Plural of Brethren: Usage, Origins, and Grammar Explained in Depth

The word “brethren” holds a special place in the English language. Unlike most plural nouns, it is both rare and irregular—an alternate, archaic plural of brother with deep roots in religious, historical, and literary English. Understanding brethren is essential for anyone seeking mastery of advanced grammar, as well as for those interested in biblical texts, formal writing, or the evolution of English.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the definition, grammatical structure, historical origins, and modern usage of brethren. We’ll clarify when to use brethren versus brothers, examine common mistakes, and provide dozens of examples and practice exercises for learners at every level. Whether you are a student, teacher, editor, translator, or language enthusiast, this article will offer you a complete understanding of this fascinating word.

Scope of This Article: We will cover the meaning and classification of brethren, its morphological and syntactic features, its uses in different contexts, a wide variety of examples, practical usage rules, frequent errors, exercises with answers, advanced linguistic insights, and an FAQ section for quick reference.

Who will benefit? ESL/EFL students, native English speakers, academics, translators, editors, writers, and anyone with an interest in the nuances of English grammar, especially those who want to read or interpret historical, literary, or religious texts accurately.

Table of Contents

• 3. Definition Section
  • A. What Is “Brethren”?
  • B. Grammatical Classification
  • C. Function and Usage Contexts
• 4. Structural Breakdown
  • A. Morphological Structure
  • B. Irregular Plural Patterns
  • C. Syntactic Role
  • D. Usage with Determiners and Modifiers
• 5. Types or Categories
  • A. “Brethren” in Religious Contexts
  • B. “Brethren” in Secular or Literary Usage
  • C. Modern vs. Archaic “Brethren”
• 6. Examples Section
  • A. Basic Examples
  • B. Religious Texts and Ceremonial Language
  • C. Modern Organizational Names
  • D. Comparative Examples: “Brothers” vs. “Brethren”
  • E. Complex Sentences
  • F. Example Tables
• 7. Usage Rules
  • A. When to Use “Brethren” vs. “Brothers”
  • B. Agreement with Verbs and Pronouns
  • C. Modifiers and Quantifiers
  • D. Possessive Forms
  • E. Idioms and Fixed Expressions
  • F. Special Cases and Exceptions
  • G. Summary Table
• 8. Common Mistakes
  • A. Overgeneralizing Plural Forms
  • B. Incorrect Modifiers
  • C. Verb Agreement Errors
  • D. Confusing “Brethren” with “Brothers” in Modern Usage
  • E. Table: Common Errors vs. Correct Forms
• 9. Practice Exercises
  • A. Fill-in-the-Blank
  • B. Error Correction
  • C. Identification
  • D. Sentence Construction
  • E. Matching Exercise
  • F. Table: Exercise Answers
• 10. Advanced Topics
  • A. Etymology and Historical Linguistics
  • B. Semantic Shift and Pragmatics
  • C. Register and Stylistic Considerations
  • D. Comparative Analysis with Other Irregular Plurals
  • E. Corpus Analysis
• 11. FAQ Section
• 12. Conclusion

3. Definition Section

A. What Is “Brethren”?

“Brethren” is an archaic, literary, or religious plural of the noun brother. While brothers is the standard plural used in everyday English, brethren appears mainly in formal, historical, or religious contexts.

The distinction is important: brothers refers to male siblings or, more generally, to men with a close relationship, while brethren is used for members of a group, often religious or fraternal, and rarely refers to literal family members today.

Table 1: Comparison of “Brother,” “Brothers,” and “Brethren”

Form	Definition	Usage Context	Example
brother	Singular male sibling	Family, general	My brother is younger than me.
brothers	Regular plural of “brother”	Family, informal, general	I have two brothers.
brethren	Irregular, archaic or religious plural of “brother”	Religious, ceremonial, literary	The brethren gathered for prayer.

B. Grammatical Classification

Brethren is a countable noun in origin but is now used almost exclusively as a plural-only noun. It does not have a modern singular form and is never used with numbers.

Table 2: Grammatical Features of “Brethren”

Feature	Value	Note
Number	Plural only	No singular form
Case	Subject, object, possessive (brethren’s)	Plural forms
Countability	Group noun	Not used with specific numbers (“two brethren” = incorrect)
Gender	Masculine or mixed	Typically refers to males or a group

C. Function and Usage Contexts

Brethren is most often found in religious or ceremonial contexts, such as church services or fraternal organizations. In modern English, it is rare outside these settings, though it occasionally appears in literature or historical references.

• Religious: “Dear brethren, let us pray.”
• Fraternal: “All the brethren of the lodge were present.”
• Historical/Literary: “He called upon his brethren to stand together.”

In contrast, brothers is used for literal family relationships or in less formal groupings.

4. Structural Breakdown

A. Morphological Structure

The word brethren comes from Old English brēþer or brōþor (singular), and brēþru or brōþru (plural). Over centuries, this became brether and eventually brethren. Its formation is similar to other “en” plurals in English, such as children and oxen.

Table 3: Morphological Progression: “Brother” to “Brethren”

Period	Singular	Plural	Comments
Old English	brōþor	brēþru / brōþru	Original forms
Middle English	brother	brether / brethren	Transition stage
Modern English	brother	brothers / brethren	Dual plural forms

B. Irregular Plural Patterns

English has several irregular plurals, often inherited from Old English or influenced by other languages. Brethren is one of only a few nouns with an “en” plural ending.

Table 4: Irregular Plural Nouns in English

Singular	Plural	Pattern	Example Sentence
man	men	Vowel change	The men are working.
child	children	+en suffix	The children are playing.
ox	oxen	+en suffix	The oxen pulled the cart.
brother	brethren	+en suffix (archaic)	The brethren gathered at the church.
foot	feet	Vowel change	Her feet hurt.

C. Syntactic Role

Brethren can serve as the subject, object, or possessive noun in a sentence. Its usage is always plural.

• Subject: “The brethren have arrived.”
• Object: “He welcomed the brethren warmly.”
• Possessive: “The brethren’s decision was unanimous.”

(See Example Tables in Section 6F for more detailed breakdowns.)

D. Usage with Determiners and Modifiers

Brethren is generally used with the or possessive pronouns, but not with numbers or the indefinite article a/an.

Table 5: Acceptable and Unacceptable Modifiers for “Brethren”

Modifier	Example	Acceptable?	Comment
the	the brethren	Yes	Standard usage
these	these brethren	Yes	Group reference
many	many brethren	Yes	Acceptable quantifier
two/three, etc.	two brethren	No	Not used with specific numbers
a/an	a brethren	No	Never used with indefinite articles
all	all brethren	Yes	Group quantifier

5. Types or Categories

A. “Brethren” in Religious Contexts

Brethren has a long-standing association with religious communities. In Christianity, it is often used to address or refer to members of a church or congregation, especially in biblical or ceremonial language. It also appears in other faiths, such as Judaism, when referring to the collective community.

• “Brethren, let us rejoice together in faith.”
• “The Apostle addressed his brethren in Christ.”

(See Section 6B for 10 further religious examples.)

B. “Brethren” in Secular or Literary Usage

While rare today, brethren has appeared in historical documents, speeches, and literature as a way to emphasize fraternity or unity among men.

• “My brethren, we must stand united in this cause.”
• “He called upon his brethren for support.”

Notable authors such as Shakespeare and Dickens have used brethren for dramatic or unifying effect.

C. Modern vs. Archaic “Brethren”

In modern language, brethren is mostly limited to religious or fraternal organizations, while brothers is preferred elsewhere. Some organizations retain “brethren” in their official names.

Table 6: Organizations Using “Brethren” in Their Names

Organization Name	Context	Modern or Historical
Plymouth Brethren	Christian denomination	Modern
Church of the Brethren	Protestant church	Modern
Moravian Brethren	Religious group	Historical/Modern
United Brethren in Christ	Religious group	Modern
Free Will Baptists (Original name: Free Will Baptist Brethren)	Religious group	Historical

6. Examples Section

A. Basic Examples

1. The brethren gathered for the annual meeting.
2. All brethren are welcome to attend the ceremony.
3. The decision was made by the brethren collectively.
4. He greeted his brethren with a warm embrace.
5. The brethren voted unanimously.
6. Many brethren traveled from distant lands.
7. The brethren’s voices filled the hall with song.
8. Among the brethren, there was great joy.
9. The brethren worked together on the project.
10. Several brethren volunteered for the task.

B. Religious Texts and Ceremonial Language

11. “And now, brethren, I commend you to God.” (Acts 20:32)
12. “Let the brethren love one another.”
13. “Brethren, pray for us.” (1 Thessalonians 5:25)
14. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” (James 1:2)
15. “The brethren rejoiced at the good news.”
16. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, bring him back.”
17. “All the brethren send you greetings.”
18. “Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.” (1 Thessalonians 5:26)
19. “The brethren were steadfast in their faith.”
20. “We are brethren in Christ.”

C. Modern Organizational Names

• The Plymouth Brethren are known for their simple worship style.
• Members of the Church of the Brethren gathered for worship.
• The Moravian Brethren have a long history of missionary work.
• He joined the United Brethren in Christ congregation.
• All the Brethren organizations emphasize community and service.

D. Comparative Examples: “Brothers” vs. “Brethren”

Table 7: “Brothers” vs. “Brethren” in Context

Context	Brothers	Brethren
Family	My brothers and I went to the park.	— (not used)
Religious	— (rare)	The brethren gathered for worship.
Fraternal organization	—	All the brethren attended the lodge meeting.
General friendship	They are close friends, like brothers.	— (rare)
Literary/ceremonial	—	My brethren, I appeal to you for unity.
Specific number	I have three brothers.	— (incorrect: *three brethren)

31. Brothers: “Simon has two brothers.” | Brethren: “The brethren welcomed Simon.”
32. Brothers: “My brothers are visiting.” | Brethren: “All brethren are invited.”
33. Brothers: “He lost his brothers in the war.” | Brethren: “The brethren remembered the fallen.”
34. Brothers: “The brothers built a house together.” | Brethren: “The brethren built a new chapel.”
35. Brothers: “Four brothers started a business.” | Brethren: “The brethren began a new enterprise.”
36. Brothers: “His brothers are doctors.” | Brethren: “The brethren are skilled in many trades.”
37. Brothers: “I love my brothers.” | Brethren: “Let us love our brethren.”
38. Brothers: “My brothers and I disagree.” | Brethren: “The brethren disagreed about the plan.”
39. Brothers: “The brothers were late.” | Brethren: “The brethren were delayed by the storm.”
40. Brothers: “She saw her brothers at the event.” | Brethren: “She addressed the brethren from the stage.”

E. Complex Sentences

41. Among the brethren who traveled from afar, many had never visited the city before.
42. The brethren, having deliberated for hours, finally reached a unanimous decision.
43. If the brethren had been informed earlier, they could have prevented the misunderstanding.
44. The responsibilities of the brethren extend beyond the walls of the sanctuary.
45. It was the brethren’s compassion and unity that inspired the community to action.
46. Although differences existed, the brethren maintained a spirit of harmony and respect.
47. With the brethren’s support, the project was completed ahead of schedule.
48. Should any brethren require assistance, they are encouraged to seek help from the council.

F. Example Tables

Table 8: “Brethren” in Subject, Object, and Possessive Cases

Case	Example
Subject	The brethren have arrived.
Object	He welcomed the brethren.
Possessive	The brethren’s decision was final.

Table 9: “Brethren” with Different Modifiers

Modifier	Correct Example	Incorrect Example
the	the brethren	—
all	all the brethren	—
many	many brethren	—
a/an	—	a brethren
three	—	three brethren

Table 10: Frequency of “Brethren” in Modern vs. Historical Texts

Time Period	Examples per Million Words	Typical Context
1800s	200	Bible, religious tracts, literature
1900s	50	Religious, ceremonial
2000s	10	Church, formal organizations

Table 11: “Brethren” in Famous Quotations

Quotation	Source
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”	Psalms 133:1
“Go to my brethren and say unto them…”	John 20:17 (Bible)
“We must all live together as brethren or perish together as fools.”	Martin Luther King Jr.

Table 12: Incorrect vs. Correct Usage Examples

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Two brethren came to visit.	Two brothers came to visit.	“Brethren” not used with numbers; use “brothers.”
A brethren is here.	A brother is here.	“Brethren” is plural only, never singular.
The brethren is here.	The brethren are here.	Use plural verb with “brethren.”
My family includes three brethren.	My family includes three brothers.	Use “brothers” for specific count/family.
These brethren is happy.	These brethren are happy.	Maintain subject-verb agreement.

7. Usage Rules

A. When to Use “Brethren” vs. “Brothers”

Brethren is used for:

• Religious or ceremonial groupings
• Fraternal organizations
• Archaic or literary effect

Brothers is used for:

• Family relationships (siblings)
• Informal or general groupings of men
• Everyday English

Decision Tree:

1. Are you referring to literal male siblings? → Use brothers.
2. Is the context religious, formal, or ceremonial? → Use brethren.
3. Are you addressing a group in a formal speech or text? → Brethren may be appropriate.
4. Are you specifying a number? → Use brothers (never brethren).

Table 13: Situational Guide for “Brethren” vs. “Brothers”

Situation	Recommended Word	Example
Family (siblings)	brothers	I have two brothers.
Church address	brethren	Dear brethren, let us pray.
Fraternal society	brethren	All the brethren are present.
Literary/historic speech	brethren	My brethren, I appeal to you.
Counting members	brothers	There are five brothers in the group.

B. Agreement with Verbs and Pronouns

Brethren always takes plural verbs and plural pronouns.

• The brethren are here. (not is)
• The brethren have decided.
• We welcomed them (the brethren) to the meeting.

C. Modifiers and Quantifiers

Acceptable quantifiers with brethren include: all, many, several, some, few. Not acceptable: two, three, specific numbers.

• Correct: Many brethren attended.
• Incorrect: Three brethren attended. (Use “three brothers”)

D. Possessive Forms

The possessive form of brethren is brethren’s.

• The brethren’s decision was final.
• We respected the brethren’s traditions.

E. Idioms and Fixed Expressions

• “Brethren, let us…” (common in religious addresses)
• “Brethren in Christ” (fellow Christians)
• “My dear brethren”
• “All the brethren”

F. Special Cases and Exceptions

Brethren is sometimes used for groups who are not literal brothers but share a spiritual, organizational, or fraternal bond.

• Members of the lodge are called brethren.
• Church members are often addressed as brethren.

G. Summary Table

Table 14: Quick Reference—Usage Rules for “Brethren”

Rule	Correct	Incorrect
Used with numbers	—	Three brethren
Plural verb agreement	The brethren are happy.	The brethren is happy.
Possessive form	The brethren’s decision	The brethren decision
Articles	The brethren	A brethren
Context	Religious, fraternal, literary	Family count

8. Common Mistakes

A. Overgeneralizing Plural Forms

• Incorrect: “Two brethrens went to the store.”
• Correct: “Two brothers went to the store.”

B. Incorrect Modifiers

• Incorrect: “Three brethren attended.”
• Correct: “Three brothers attended.”
• Correct: “The brethren attended.”

C. Verb Agreement Errors

• Incorrect: “The brethren is present.”
• Correct: “The brethren are present.”

D. Confusing “Brethren” with “Brothers” in Modern Usage

• Incorrect for family: “My brethren and I played soccer.”
• Correct: “My brothers and I played soccer.”
• Correct for religious: “Brethren, let us pray.”

E. Table: Common Errors vs. Correct Forms

Table 15: Common Errors and Corrections

Mistake	Correction	Explanation
Two brethren	Two brothers	“Brethren” not used with numbers
The brethren is here	The brethren are here	Use plural verb for “brethren”
My brethren and I (family context)	My brothers and I	Use “brothers” for siblings
These brethren is	These brethren are	Plural subject requires plural verb
A brethren	A brother	“Brethren” is plural only

9. Practice Exercises

A. Fill-in-the-Blank

1. My two ________ are older than me.
2. The ________ gathered for worship.
3. He has four ________.
4. All the ________ agreed on the plan.
5. The ________ of the lodge met last night.
6. Simon and his ________ went fishing.
7. The church welcomed new ________ into the congregation.
8. Several ________ spoke at the meeting.
9. The ________’s decision was respected.
10. I love my ________ very much.

B. Error Correction

1. There are three brethren in my family.
2. The brethren is singing a hymn.
3. Each brethren brought a candle.
4. I met my brethren at the park.
5. Five brethren helped build the house.
6. A brethren is missing.
7. The brethren’s was loud.
8. He spoke to his brethren (referring to his siblings).
9. The brethren was here.
10. My two brethren are doctors.

C. Identification

For each sentence, is “brethren” used correctly? (Yes/No)

1. The brethren gathered for evening prayers.
2. He has two brethren at home.
3. All the brethren are welcome to contribute.
4. I saw my brethren playing soccer.
5. Many brethren attended the service.

D. Sentence Construction

Write a sentence using “brethren” in each context:

1. Religious address
2. Fraternal organization
3. Possessive form
4. With a quantifier
5. Literary or ceremonial speech

E. Matching Exercise

Definition/Context	Correct Form (choose: brothers or brethren)
Male siblings in your family
Group of church members
Counting (e.g., “four ___”)
Addressing a congregation (“Dear ___”)
Informal friends (“They are like ___ to me”)

F. Table: Exercise Answers

Table 16: Practice Exercise Answer Key

Section	Question	Answer
Fill-in-the-Blank	1	brothers
	2	brethren
	3	brothers
	4	brethren
	5	brethren
	6	brothers
	7	brethren
	8	brethren
	9	brethren’s
	10	brothers
Error Correction	1	There are three brothers in my family.
	2	The brethren are singing a hymn.
	3	Each brother brought a candle.
	4	I met my brothers at the park.
	5	Five brothers helped build the house.
	6	A brother is missing.
	7	The brethren were loud.
	8	He spoke to his brothers.
	9	The brethren were here.
	10	My two brothers are doctors.
Identification	1	Yes
	2	No
	3	Yes
	4	No
	5	Yes
Matching	Family siblings	brothers
	Church members	brethren
	Counting (“four ___”)	brothers
	Congregation address	brethren
	Informal friends	brothers

10. Advanced Topics

A. Etymology and Historical Linguistics

Brethren stems from the Old English brēþer and Proto-Germanic *brōþēr. The irregular plural was formed by analogy with other “en” plurals in Old and Middle English (children, oxen). Over time, brethren became restricted to special contexts, while brothers emerged as the standard plural.

B. Semantic Shift and Pragmatics

The meaning of brethren has shifted from a general plural of “brother” to a specialized form denoting spiritual, ceremonial, or organizational kinship. Its connotations are now strongly tied to unity, formality, and tradition.

C. Register and Stylistic Considerations

Brethren is considered formal, archaic, or ceremonial in register. It is rarely used in informal speech or writing, and its use instantly lends a sense of solemnity or tradition to the context.

D. Comparative Analysis with Other Irregular Plurals

Table 17: “Brethren” vs. Other Irregular Plurals

Singular	Irregular Plural	Standard Plural (if any)	Usage Notes
child	children	—	Standard plural
ox	oxen	oxes (rare, nonstandard)	Irregular, mostly historical
brother	brethren	brothers	Brethren is archaic, specialized
man	men	—	Common irregular plural
woman	women	—	Common irregular plural

E. Corpus Analysis

Modern English corpora show that brethren is low frequency, mainly appearing in religious or formal texts. Collocations include dear brethren, my brethren, all the brethren, gathered brethren.

Table 18: Corpus Data Samples for “Brethren”

Collocation	Frequency (per million words)	Context
dear brethren	3	Religious address
my brethren	5	Biblical, ceremonial
the brethren	8	Church, fraternal meeting

11. FAQ Section

1. Is “brethren” the plural of “brother”?
   Yes, “brethren” is an archaic, literary, or religious plural of “brother,” but “brothers” is the standard modern plural.
2. When should I use “brethren” instead of “brothers”?
   Use “brethren” in religious, ceremonial, or formal contexts, or when addressing a group as a spiritual or fraternal collective.
3. Can “brethren” ever be used in informal contexts?
   No, “brethren” is not appropriate for informal or everyday contexts; use “brothers” instead.
4. Is “brethren” still used in modern English?
   Yes, but mainly in religious, ceremonial, or certain organizational settings.
5. What is the possessive form of “brethren”?
   The possessive is “brethren’s” (e.g., “The brethren’s meeting”).
6. Can I say “two brethren”?
   No, “brethren” cannot be used with numbers. Use “two brothers.”
7. Are there other words with similar irregular plurals?
   Yes, examples include “children,” “oxen,” “men,” and “women.”
8. Are “brethren” and “brothers” interchangeable in religious texts?
   In historical or traditional texts, “brethren” is preferred; in modern texts, “brothers” may be used.
9. How did “brethren” originate?
   It developed from Old English plural forms, influenced by irregular “en” plurals like “children.”
10. Why do some organizations still use “brethren”?
    To maintain tradition, convey unity, and reflect historical or religious roots.
11. Is “brethren” singular or plural?
    “Brethren” is always plural.
12. What is the adjective form related to “brethren”?
    There is no standard adjective form; “fraternal” or “brotherly” are used instead.

12. Conclusion

Brethren is a unique and fascinating irregular plural in English, historically used as an alternative to brothers in formal, religious, and ceremonial settings. Its use today is limited but important for anyone reading classic literature, religious texts, or working in academic, translation, or editorial fields.

Choosing between brethren and brothers depends on context and register—always use brothers for family or in informal situations, and brethren for religious or formal group references. Remember to check the tables and examples above for quick guidance.

Mastery of brethren not only helps avoid common errors but also deepens your understanding of English’s historical and stylistic richness. Continue practicing with the exercises provided, and use this article as a reference whenever you encounter this distinctive word.