boy
boy
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "boy" is /bɔɪ/.
/bɔɪ/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: boy
Plural Noun: boys
Possessive Singular Noun: boy's
Possessive Plural Noun: boys'
Verb (transitive, informal, rare): boy (meaning to call someone "boy" or treat them like a boy)
Present simple (third person singular): boys
Present participle: boying
Past simple: boyed
Past participle: boyed
Interjection (informal): boy
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A male child or adolescent, typically from birth to young adulthood.
Synonyms: lad, youngster, youth, stripling, kid (informal)
Antonyms: girl, man (adult male)
Definition 2: A son.
Synonyms: son, offspring (male)
Antonyms: daughter
Definition 3 (informal): A man, especially when referring to a male friend or acquaintance, often in a casual or affectionate way.
Synonyms: guy, fellow, dude (informal), chap (British informal)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this informal usage, as it's a casual reference to a man, not an opposite gender or role.)
Definition 4 (dated/offensive): A male servant or worker, often used historically in a demeaning or colonial context.
Synonyms: servant, helper, attendant
Antonyms: master, employer
Verb
Definition 1 (informal, transitive): To address or refer to someone as "boy," often in a patronizing or informal manner.
Synonyms: address as "boy," label as "boy"
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; the action is specific to the word "boy.")
Interjection
Definition 1 (informal): Used to express surprise, excitement, admiration, or sometimes exasperation.
Synonyms: wow, gee (informal), oh boy (informal)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it's an exclamation.)
Examples of Use
Books
"The boy who lived" (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone). This iconic phrase refers to Harry Potter as a young male child.
"Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off—then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If after a diligent search you can find the land boy in all the land, or land-girl, or even land-baby, I will give you a reward. Now, when I say a boy, I mean a land boy; I do not mean a sea boy; I mean a land boy, that does not know the difference between a ship and a house" (Herman Melville, Moby Dick). Here, "boy" is used in its literal sense of a young male, but also playfully to refer to someone unfamiliar with the sea.
Newspapers
"Local boy makes good: From intern to CEO" (Headline, The New York Times, often used to describe someone who achieves success in their hometown).
"Police are searching for a missing 12-year-old boy last seen near Central Park" (The Guardian, news report). This refers to a male child.
Online Publications
"How to raise a confident boy in today's world" (Article title, Psychology Today online). This uses "boy" in the context of male child development.
"Meet the viral TikTok boy who stole the internet's heart" (BuzzFeed News online, referring to a young male internet sensation).
"Oh, boy! NASA releases stunning new images of Jupiter" (Space.com, an exclamation of excitement).
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Film: "Home Alone" (Title of the film, referring to a young boy left alone).
Television Series: "The Boys" (Title of the Amazon Prime Video series, referring to a group of male characters, often with an informal, slightly mischievous connotation).
Music: "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys (Band name, using "boys" informally to refer to a group of men).
Video Games: "God of War" (Kratos often calls his son Atreus, "Boy," as a direct address).
Podcasts: "My Favorite Murder" (Hosts sometimes use "Oh, boy" as an interjection to express disbelief or surprise during true crime stories).
General Public Discourse
"Come on, boys, let's get this done!" (A coach addressing his male sports team).
"That's my boy!" (A parent proudly exclaiming about their son's achievement).
"He's a good boy" (Referring to a male dog, common pet owner usage).
"Oh, boy, I really messed that up." (A common exclamation of self-reproach).
10 Famous Quotes Using Boy
"The boy who lived" (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone).
"What a good boy am I!" (Traditional Nursery Rhyme, "Little Jack Horner").
"And the boy grew, and the Lord was with him, and he prospered wherever he went." (1 Samuel 18:14, The Bible).
"Give a boy a gun, he'll rob a bank. Give a boy a bank, he'll rob the world." (Joker, The Dark Knight, film).
"A boy's best friend is his mother." (Norman Bates, Psycho, film).
"Every boy and every girl. Everybody in the world. Everybody's got to live." (Bob Marley, "One Love," song).
"Oh, boy! Here's to the future!" (Mickey Mouse, Steamboat Willie, cartoon short).
"My God, what a good boy he was!" (John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, referring to Lennie, highlighting his childlike innocence).
"This boy will be the death of me." (Often attributed to mothers or guardians in various media, expressing exasperation or affection).
"If a boy is told to be a good boy, he is told not to be himself." (Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist).
Etymology
The word "boy" has a somewhat mysterious past, but we can trace its journey through language.
It first appeared in English around the Middle English period (roughly 1150-1500 AD). Its earliest known use, dating back to around 1300, was actually in a broader sense than just a young male child. Back then, "boy" (or "boi," "boye") often meant "servant," "commoner," or even "knave" (a dishonest or mischievous person). So, it wasn't necessarily about age, but more about a person's lower social standing or a general male individual.
While its exact origins are still debated by language experts, many believe it came from other Germanic languages. For example, similar words exist in East Frisian ("boi" meaning "boy, young man") and West Frisian ("boai" also meaning "boy"). Some theories suggest it might even stem from an older Germanic root that meant "little brother" or a general "male relation." There's also a possibility it's connected to an Old English personal name, "Bōia."
Interestingly, the meaning of "boy" as a "male child before puberty" became more common in the mid-14th century, perhaps evolving from the earlier sense of "urchin" or "knave." Over time, the meaning of "male child" became its primary and most common use, while the older "servant" meaning became more dated or, in some historical contexts, even offensive.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Boy
Oh boy! (An exclamation of surprise, excitement, or dismay)
Boys will be boys. (An idiom suggesting that mischievous or boisterous behavior is characteristic of boys and young men)
Attaboy! (An exclamation of encouragement or approval, typically to a male)
The boy next door. (Refers to an unpretentious, dependable young man, often someone you grew up with)
Call boy (A person, usually male, employed to wake people or summon actors for performances)
Boy wonder (A young person who is exceptionally talented or successful in a particular field)
Fat boy (Often used humorously or derisively to refer to a large bomb, like "Fat Man" during WWII)
Boy scout (Refers to a member of the Boy Scouts organization, but also used colloquially to describe a highly moral, honest, or well-behaved person)
Errand boy (Someone, often young, who is employed to run errands)
Poster boy (A person or thing that is considered a perfect example or representation of a particular quality or cause)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of boy from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
