BOY - Definition & Meaning for Kids

Simple definitions and word synonyms for kids.

Meaning 1

Part of speech: Noun

a friendly informal reference to a grown man

Example: he likes to play golf with the boys

Categories: Man, Adult male

Meaning 2

Part of speech: Noun

(ethnic slur) offensive and disparaging term for Black man

Example: get out of my way, boy

Categories: Black man

Synonyms

Son, Male child, Boy

Antonyms

Girl, female_child, Daughter

🌱 Word Origin (Etymology)

The word "boy" comes from Proto-Indo-European *bʰā-. It started in Proto-Germanic *bō-. Then it appeared in Proto-Germanic *bōjô. Later, people used it in Old English bōia. After that, it was Middle English boy. Many other languages have similar words:.

Scots: boy
West Frisian: boai
Middle Dutch: boi
Low German: Boi
West Flemish: boe
Dutch: boef
German: Bube
Icelandic: bófi

🔗 Related Words

bully – A related word in the same word family.

🧩 Fun Fact

A word passing through this many languages survived because it named something universally important.