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boy

boy

814 9.9
A racist, insulting way to address a Black man
  • noun
  • /bɔɪ/
  • Slur
translation icon : [insulto racista dirigido a un hombre negro]
  • The term 'boy' was historically used in a derogatory way to demean Black men during the era of segregation.
  • Black boy
  • African-American boy
  • Black men and boys

Examples

  • Let's give this boy his money.

  • Think on your sins, boy.

  • After a while, I told the white woman, "Maybe I send my boy to school next day."

    Academic text (2008)
  • I may be many things, sir, but I'm not your boy.

  • Consequently, Black boys and young adults work hard to earn respect and protect it.

    Academic text (2013)
  • However, they did not find a significant relationship between Black boys' racial attitudes and those of their fathers.

    Academic text (2004)
  • During his earliest years, others viewed DeShawn as a boy who would make it out of the projects.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Many people still remember how the word 'boy' was used unfairly to belittle Black men in the past.

  • In conversations about racial issues, the use of the word 'boy' can evoke painful memories of oppression among Black communities.

Idioms

boy howdy
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A loud excited word people say to show surprise or strong feeling

boy in the boat
  • Informal
9.9

A person who feels alone and confused, often singled out by others to fill a special role

Compounds

good boy
  • Baby Talk
144 1.0

A child or dog who behaves well and gets praise

big boy
  • Informal
126 5.3

A grown person who is more independent and responsible, said playfully

bad boy
  • Informal
108 6.1

A man who breaks rules and seems exciting but causes trouble

81 1.0

A very young male child

old boy
  • UK
42 8.0

A friendly way to call a man you know well

old boy
  • UK
34 7.6

A man who once went to a school, often a private school

pretty boy
  • Informal
34 5.5

A young man who has a delicate, attractive face

29 1.8

A worldwide group that teaches boys outdoor skills like camping and good citizenship

delivery boy
  • Informal
26 2.2

A young man who delivers food and packages to homes by bicycle or motorbike

23 3.6

A boy who helps a priest during church services

mama's boy
  • Offensive
21 7.2

A person who depends too much on their mother and does not make their own decisions

21 5.5

A man people see as a perfect example of something

college boy
  • Informal
21 3.0

A man who studies or once studied at college

18 1.7

A boy who grew up living and working on a farm

17 3.2

A young person paid to do small tasks such as delivering messages and packages

15 4.5

A man or boy who lives in a city and often dresses in smart clothes

15 2.8

A boy who belongs to a youth group that teaches outdoor skills and helps the community

sonny boy
  • Archaic
11 8.2

A friendly name adults use for a young boy

10 9.1

A white man often in the southern US who is friendly but supports his group and resists change

9 8.1

A person who is blamed or punished for other people's mistakes

7 9.9

A white man from the southern US who is friendly but often has unfair views and favors other men

7 5.6

A young person who is unusually talented for their age

7 3.1

A person who gives water to players during a game

messenger boy
  • Archaic
6 2.3

A boy who delivers messages and does small jobs for a business

old boy
  • Informal
5 7.2

An older man who is lively and full of energy

cabin boy
  • Archaic
4 6.5

A young boy who works on a ship and helps officers and passengers

4 2.8

A boy who picks up and gives balls to players during a tennis match

daddy's boy
  • Offensive
3 7.9

A boy or man who depends too much on his father

bat boy
  • US
3 5.2

A boy who takes care of bats and other equipment for a baseball team

A national United States organization that teaches young people character, citizenship, and leadership through scouting

old boy network
  • Literature
3 7.9

Men from the same schools who use connections to help each other get jobs and often keep others out

2 2.2

A young person in a group who learns camping, first aid and how to help others

Teddy boy
  • Archaic
2 9.9

A young British man in the 1950s and 1960s who wore long jackets and narrow trousers and acted rebellious

2 5.9

A young man who appears on a magazine front cover as a fashion model

boy scout
  • Informal
1 7.6

A person who is too innocent about how the world works and trusts others easily

office boy
  • Archaic
1 2.6

A young man who does simple office tasks like running errands and delivering messages

shop boy
  • Archaic
1 2.7

A young man who helps customers in a store

elevator boy
  • Archaic
1 8.2

A young man who operates an elevator in a hotel or office building

A person other people like more and treat better

monkey boy
  • Informal
1 8.2

A boy who is playful, energetic and a little naughty

1 9.9

A white man from the southern US who is friendly, loyal to his group, and sometimes intolerant

1 7.8

A young person who works in a meat shop and helps cut and wrap meat

grocery boy
  • Archaic
1 2.0

A boy or young man who delivers food and other items from a shop

A young man who has a lot of money but feels lonely or unhappy

teddy boy
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A young man in 1950s Britain who wore clothes from the early 1900s and liked rock and roll

boy Friday
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A man who helps someone by doing many different tasks

fuck boy
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A man who has casual sex without wanting a relationship and often uses people

mamma's boy
  • Offensive
1 8.1

A person who depends too much on their mother and cannot make their own decisions

mother's boy
  • Offensive
1 7.5

A man or boy who depends too much on his mother and cannot make decisions alone

1 3.9

A young man who serves in the navy

barrow boy
  • Archaic
8.6

A young person who sells goods from a small handcart in a market

barrow-boy
  • Archaic
9.6

A man who sells fruit and vegetables from a small cart in the street

bendy-boy
  • Informal
9.9

A person, often a performer, who can move their body into unusual shapes

boy mom
  • Informal
9.1

A mother who has only sons and enjoys sports and play with them

9.9

A lively, very clever boy who is kind and fun

Chelsea boy
  • Archaic
9.8

A fashionable young man from Chelsea in London who wears stylish clothes and acts confident

bad boy image
  • Informal
6.3

An attractive look of not following rules, often in men

backroom boy
  • Archaic
8.4

A person who gives expert advice and makes decisions behind the scenes

A young boy who walks in a wedding scattering petals

flower boy
  • Informal
7.6

A young man admired for soft, pretty looks and stylish clothes, often in fashion or pop culture

9.9

An illegal drug used at parties that makes people sleepy and dizzy

5.3

A large sandwich made from a long crusty roll filled with meat and cheese

scally boy
  • Slang
9.9

A boy who often causes trouble and is cheeky

soy boy
  • Slur
9.9

An insulting word for a man seen as weak or not masculine, often used online

wolf boy
  • Literature
9.9

A boy believed to have been raised by wolves who behaves like a wild animal

Surface Forms

boy singular
boys plural

Etymology

Boy was also used by people in power as an insult to call a grown Black man a 'boy', a way to deny him respect and equality. Because of this history, that use is painful and strongly offensive today.