el boy
boy
Definition & meaning
Boy is primarily an English word, not a standard Spanish word. In English, it means a male child or young man. Common Spanish equivalents include chico [ ], muchacho [ ], and niño [ ], depending on age and context.
As a regional English borrowing, boy is also used in some Spanish-speaking areas, notably Cuba, for a hotel worker who carries guests’ luggage—roughly, a botones [ ].
Grammar & Word origin
In English, boy is a masculine countable noun: a boy, two boys. It comes from Middle English boi. When used in Spanish as a regional borrowing, it generally keeps the English spelling and pronunciation; it is not a standard Spanish noun.
Synonyms & antonyms
Spanish equivalents for the usual English meaning include chico [ ] and muchacho [ ]. Niño [ ] more strongly suggests a child, while joven [ ] is more age-neutral and can refer to a young person of any gender.
A gender counterpart is chica [ ] or niña [ ], though these are not antonyms in every context.
Common phrases & collocations
English phrases include little boy, schoolboy, and boyfriend. In Spanish, corresponding expressions include niño pequeño [ ] and novio [ ]; these are translations, not Spanish phrases containing boy.
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Examples
El boy scout camina por el bosque.noun
The boy scout walks through the forest.
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