boyfriend en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈbɔɪfɹənd/ (General-American)
- /ˈbɔɪˌfɹɛnd/ (General-American)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰā- Proto-Germanic *bō- Proto-West Germanic *bōjō Old English *bōia Middle English boye English boy Proto-Indo-European *preyH- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *priHós Proto-Germanic *frijōną Proto-Germanic *frijōndz Proto-West Germanic *friund Old English frēond Middle English frend English friend English boyfriend From boy + friend.
Meanings
-
A male partner in an unmarried romantic relationship.
I was playing the drums and my boyfriend was playing the electric guitar.
Referring to someone as your boyfriend or girlfriend suggests several things about your relationship, said Leah Carey, a sex and relationship coach and podcast host of “Good Girls Talk About Sex.”
2024 October 24, Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, “More straight couples are calling each other partner. Here’s why”, in CNN, archived from the original on 10 Feb 2025:If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go / I can take you places you ain’t never been before.
2012, “Boyfriend”, performed by Justin Bieber:Whether he’s interested in the latest tech, takes pride in his personal style or loves spending his free time in the gym, these meaningful gifts for boyfriends are sure to win his heart all over again.
2024 December 17, Ellen McAlpine and Noelle Ike, “The 58 best gifts for boyfriends in 2025”, in CNN, archived from the original on 29 Jan 2025:
- A male friend.
- (attributive, often) A style of women's clothing that draws heavily from corresponding men's garments.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| boy-friend | alternative, dated | lexicographic | |
| boy friend | alternative, dated | lexicographic | |
| boyfriends | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| boifriend | Internet, alternative | lexicographic |
Coordinates
significant other · girlfriend · lover · fiancé · theyfriend · enbyfriend · husband
Deriveds
boyfriend loophole · friendboy · boyfriend dick · Jesus is my boyfriend · boyfriendhood · ex-boyfriend · boyfriend jeans · boyfriend experience · unboyfriend · boyfriendship · friend-boy · boyfriendish · friend boy · trophy boyfriend · e-boyfriend · boyfriendless · boyfriendable · boyfriend-ish · do you have a boyfriend · boyfriendy · Golden Retriever boyfriend
Descendants
boefren · boipren · بایفْرینْڈ · бойфре́нд · 보이프렌드 · boyfrìnn · ボーイフレンド · பாய்ஃப்ரெண்ட் · boefren · बॉयफ़्रेंड · Boyfriend
Synonyms
comrade · friend · guyfriend · crony · mate · shag · fettler · buddy · babber · kith · mate · bruv · mucker · chaver · compadre · fam · surry · dude · dawg · buddy · butty · homie · gink · tovarish · cocker · wantok · good old boy · geez · punk · pal · matey · billy · marrow · chum · companion · cove · old bean · china · cobber · pal · sport · geezer · duck · chuck · peeps · bredrin · lover · buddo · homeskillet · bud · cock · pardner
Translations (227)
sk priateľ (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fr compagnon (male partner in a romantic relationship) · my ရည်းစား (male partner in a romantic relationship) · lt draugas (male friend) · ja ボーイフレンド (male partner in a romantic relationship) · it ragazzo (male partner in a romantic relationship) · cy sboner (male partner in a romantic relationship) · hi बॉयफ़्रेंड (male partner in a romantic relationship) · pl chłopak (male partner in a romantic relationship) · pt namorado (male partner in a romantic relationship) · vec amigo (male friend) · ar حَبِيب (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ca amic (male friend) · uk при́ятель (male partner in a romantic relationship) · pl przyjaciel (male friend) · nl vriend (male partner in a romantic relationship) · is vinur (male friend) · lb Frënd (male partner in a romantic relationship) · cmn 男的朋友 (male friend) · hy ընկեր (male partner in a romantic relationship) · yue 條仔 /条仔 (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ms teman lelaki (male partner in a romantic relationship) · mk дечко (male partner in a romantic relationship) · hi साथी (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fi poikakaveri (male partner in a romantic relationship) · el αγόρι (male partner in a romantic relationship) · nrf galant (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ru прия́тель (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fi miesystävä (male partner in a romantic relationship) · az istəkli (male partner in a romantic relationship) · lou kalin (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ro prieten (male partner in a romantic relationship) · mr बॉयफ्रेंड (male partner in a romantic relationship) · pl sympatia (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fa-ira دوسْتپِسَر (male partner in a romantic relationship) · la amāns (male partner in a romantic relationship) · pl kumpel (male friend) · gl mozo (male partner in a romantic relationship) · vec moros (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fi ystävä (male friend) · fr un ami (male friend) · ur بوائے فَرینْڈ (male partner in a romantic relationship) · io amikulo (male friend) · sw mpenzi (male partner in a romantic relationship) · bo དགའ་རོགས (male partner in a romantic relationship) · cmn 對象 /对象 (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ru друг (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ka ბოიფრენდი (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sl prijatelj (male partner in a romantic relationship) · cs kluk (male partner in a romantic relationship) · pam irug (male partner in a romantic relationship) · uk коха́ний (male partner in a romantic relationship) · la amātor (male partner in a romantic relationship) · uk па́рубок (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ar صَدِيق (male friend) · gl noivo (male partner in a romantic relationship) · tl nobyo (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sh при̏јатељ (male partner in a romantic relationship) · mn найз банди (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ro iubit (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ro amant (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sv kille (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ja カレ (male partner in a romantic relationship) · tr arkadaş (male friend) · lou lamour (male partner in a romantic relationship) · nb venn (male friend) · lt draugas (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ru бойфре́нд (male partner in a romantic relationship) · uk хло́пець (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ru това́рищ (male friend) · fr keum (male partner in a romantic relationship) · es novio (male partner in a romantic relationship) · uk друг (male partner in a romantic relationship) · et poiss (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sl fant (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ur بای فْرینْڈ (male partner in a romantic relationship) · nb kjæreste (male partner in a romantic relationship) · eo amikiĉo (male friend) · bg прия́тел (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ka მეგობარი მამაკაცი (male partner in a romantic relationship) · bg га́дже (male partner in a romantic relationship) · wa madjopin (male partner in a romantic relationship) · eu mutil-lagun (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fr petit copain (male partner in a romantic relationship) · pt amigo (male friend) · fr partenaire (male partner in a romantic relationship) · es chongo (male partner in a romantic relationship) · es enamorado (male partner in a romantic relationship) · bn প্রেমিক (male partner in a romantic relationship) · eo viramiko (male friend) · hi पुरुष मित्र (male partner in a romantic relationship) · io amoratulo (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fa-ira حَبیب (male partner in a romantic relationship) · la amīculus (male partner in a romantic relationship) · lo ຜູ້ບ່າວ (male partner in a romantic relationship) · se irgi (male partner in a romantic relationship) · la amīcus (male friend) · et poissõber (male partner in a romantic relationship) · tg маъшуқ (male partner in a romantic relationship) · de fester Freund (male partner in a romantic relationship) · mg sipa (male partner in a romantic relationship) · be хло́пец (male partner in a romantic relationship) · it amico (male friend) · hi दोस्त (male partner in a romantic relationship) · yue 男朋友 (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sq dashnor (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ja 彼 (male partner in a romantic relationship) · hi मित्र (male partner in a romantic relationship) · lt vaikinas (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ka შეყვარებული მამაკაცი (male partner in a romantic relationship) · lou boyfrìnn (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fr mon/ton/son copain (male partner in a romantic relationship) · de Freund (male friend) · tr erkek arkadaş (male partner in a romantic relationship) · lb Frënd (male friend) · az oynaş (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ro amic (male friend) · ms teman lelaki (male friend) · fr mec (male partner in a romantic relationship) · dsb pśijaśel (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sv käraste (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ka შეყვარებული ბიჭი (male partner in a romantic relationship) · rm marus (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ka შეყვარებული (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ru возлю́бленный (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ga stócach (male partner in a romantic relationship) · nn kjæraste (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sh dȅčko (male partner in a romantic relationship) · da kæreste (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ru молодой человек (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ga buachaill (male partner in a romantic relationship) · et kavaler (male partner in a romantic relationship) · la amīcus (male partner in a romantic relationship) · vi bạn trai (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ar زَمِيل (male friend) · de Boyfriend (male partner in a romantic relationship) · nl lief (male partner in a romantic relationship) · el γκόμενος (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ko 남자친구 (male partner in a romantic relationship) · mk момче (male partner in a romantic relationship) · it fidanzato (male partner in a romantic relationship) · tg маҳбуб (male partner in a romantic relationship) · pam lalaking kaluguran (male friend) · fr chéri (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ru прия́тель (male friend) · vo hiflen (see flen) (male friend) · kl angutaat (male partner in a romantic relationship) · de mein/dein/ihr/sein Freund (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ru дружо́к (male partner in a romantic relationship) · nn kjærast (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sv pojkvän (male partner in a romantic relationship) · be каха́нак (male partner in a romantic relationship) · vec moroxo (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fr mon/ton/son ami (male partner in a romantic relationship) · af kêrel (male partner in a romantic relationship) · bg момче́ (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ca xicot (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ko 남사친 (male friend) · ur حَبِیب (male partner in a romantic relationship) · is kærasti (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ro prieten (male friend) · ms kawan lelaki (male friend) · ar خَلِيل (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ovd tjärest (male partner in a romantic relationship) · cs přítel (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ru друг (male friend) · ka მეგობარი ბიჭი (male partner in a romantic relationship) · mk пријател (male partner in a romantic relationship) · he חבר \ חָבֵר (male partner in a romantic relationship) · km មិត្តប្រុស (male partner in a romantic relationship) · cmn 男朋友 (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fr petit ami (male partner in a romantic relationship) · tr sevgili (male partner in a romantic relationship) · hy ընկեր (male friend) · ru па́рень (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sv killkompis (male friend) · fi poikaystävä (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fr sigisbée (male partner in a romantic relationship) · tg дӯстписар (male partner in a romantic relationship) · cs milenec (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ko 남친 (male partner in a romantic relationship) · wa galant (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fr amoureux (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ka მეგობარი კაცი (male partner in a romantic relationship) · pam tau (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ru кавале́р (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fi kaveri (male friend) · fo sjeikur (male partner in a romantic relationship) · he חבר \ חָבֵר (male friend) · th แฟน (male partner in a romantic relationship) · es amigo (male friend) · cy cariad (male partner in a romantic relationship) · tpi boipren (male partner in a romantic relationship) · lou bo (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ru ухажёр (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ia nuptio (male partner in a romantic relationship) · be пры́яцель (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sq dashur (male partner in a romantic relationship) · tpw aba'yba (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sh де̏чко (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fr un copain (male friend) · ce тӏехьийза кӏант (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ja カレシ (male partner in a romantic relationship) · cs kamarád (male friend) · az sevgili (male partner in a romantic relationship) · vi người yêu (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ko 애인 (male partner in a romantic relationship) · hi प्रेमी (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ca nòvio (male partner in a romantic relationship) · eo koramiko (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ja 彼氏 (male partner in a romantic relationship) · be ся́бар (male partner in a romantic relationship) · hi प्रिय (male partner in a romantic relationship) · cs přítel (male friend) · ko 보이프렌드 (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ar رَفِيق (male friend) · nv hweʼeshkii (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ovd flaks (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ary صْحاب (male partner in a romantic relationship) · fr chum (male partner in a romantic relationship) · mr मित्र (male friend) · pl przyjaciel (male partner in a romantic relationship) · sh prȉjatelj (male partner in a romantic relationship) · ar رَفِيق (male partner in a romantic relationship) · es pololo (male partner in a romantic relationship) · es jevo (male partner in a romantic relationship) · es gebo (male partner in a romantic relationship)