What Does It Mean If a Girl Calls You Bro?

Co-authored by Kristina Mirgorodskaya and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: July 3, 2024 Fact Checked

When a girl calls you “bro,” it can be very confusing—does that mean you’re in the friend zone? Does it mean she has feelings for you? What if she calls everyone bro? Fortunately, with our tips, you can figure out what it means for you and her going forward. Keep reading to learn exactly why a girl might call you bro and what to reply when a girl calls you bro.

1

She sees you as a friend.

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Sometimes, people say “bro” to show that you’re just friends. Yes, it’s true—a girl calling you “bro” could mean you’re in the friend zone. Pay attention to how she says it: does she make a point to enunciate the word? Is she only calling you bro and no one else? If so, she might be making a point that she doesn’t like you. ^{[1]
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- If you aren’t sure, there are other ways to find out you’re in the friend zone . For example, she might avoid hanging out with you alone or tell you all about her relationship problems and her crushes.
- If your goal is to get out of the friend zone, don’t call her “bro” back. This might show her that you only think of her as a friend, and it could solidify your friend zone status in her mind.

2

She thinks of you as a brother.

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“Bro” is short for brother, which could mean she sees you that way. Thinking of you like a brother is even deeper than friendship—it means she truly feels like she can be herself around you. Again, this isn’t a bad thing at all, but it might not be what you’re looking for if you like her romantically. ^{[2]
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- She might also say things like, “You’re like my brother!” or, “It’s like we’re related!”

3

She trusts you.

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She might feel comfortable around you as a friend. If you’re the one she calls when she’s having problems or she spills all her secrets to you, she’s probably calling you bro as a sign of platonic endearment. This isn’t a bad thing, but it does probably mean that she sees you as a friend rather than a potential date. ^{[3]
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- The best way to get out of the friend zone is to express your feelings to her. It might sound scary, but telling her that you like her is the only way to know if she likes you, too.

4

She secretly likes you.

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She might be calling you “bro” because she’s nervous. Confusing, right? Sometimes, a girl will call you bro or dude because she actually does have feelings for you. She might be trying to hide her feelings, or she could be doing it to calm her own nerves. ^{[4]
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- Not sure if she likes you back? You can tell if she likes you by taking note of her body language: if she makes a lot of eye contact with you or touches you on the arm often, there’s a good chance that she has feelings for you.

Quiz

wikiHow Quiz: Does She Like Me?

Some girls can feel like a total mystery. How can you figure out if she likes you just as a friend or if she wants something more? Take this quiz to find out!

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