What is the meaning of the word "βρε"?
The word “βρε” is actually the vocative case “μωρέ” of the “μωρός, -ή, -ό” adjective.The etymology of “μωρός” is “μη + ώρα” (not + time) and it means “ανώριμος” (immature) or idiot.It is interesting to note that the neutral of “μωρός” is “μωρό” (baby), which is obviously immature.In everyday speech “βρε” has lost this extreme negative meaning and simply shows great familiarity with the person we are talking too. For this reason it would sound like an insult and we would never use it if we wanted to be polite and formal.Example:Βρε Γιάννη, πως τα περνάς; (Giannis, how are you doing?)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vasiliki Baskou, Instructor/Director, https://learn-greek-online.com.
I'd like to add another synonym for "βρε", which is "ωρέ". I think they used ωρέ in the 19th century, when Greece was still part of the Ottoman empire.