Boy in Different Languages
Discover 'Boy' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'boy' is simple, yet carries significant meaning and cultural importance across the globe. Often, it is one of the first words we learn as children, yet as we grow, we come to understand its deeper implications. A boy is typically defined as a young male human, but the word can also signify innocence, potential, and the excitement of youth.
Throughout history, boys have been the subject of countless stories, songs, and works of art. From Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer to the Harry Potter series' Harry and Ron, boys have captured our hearts and imaginations for centuries. Moreover, the concept of 'boyhood' has been explored in-depth by psychologists, sociologists, and educators, highlighting its importance in human development and cultural contexts.
For those interested in language and culture, understanding the translation of 'boy' in different languages can provide fascinating insights into how different societies view and value youth. For instance, the word for 'boy' in Spanish is 'niño', while in French, it's 'garçon'. In Mandarin Chinese, 'boy' is translated as '男孩子' (nánháizi), and in Japanese, it's '少年' (shōnen).
Join us as we explore the many translations of the word 'boy' and delve into the rich cultural significance behind them.
Boy
Boy in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | seuntjie | ||
| The word "seuntjie" is also a term of endearment for a young male child, similar to "sonny" in English. | |||
| Amharic | ወንድ ልጅ | ||
| Hausa | yaro | ||
| The word "yaro" can also refer to a young man or a male friend. | |||
| Igbo | nwata nwoke | ||
| "Nwata nwoke" means not only "boy" but also a male child that has not yet reached puberty. | |||
| Malagasy | zazalahy | ||
| "Zazalahy" also means "child" or "youth" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mnyamata | ||
| The word "mnyamata" in Nyanja can also refer to a "younger male cousin", or to a "younger male nephew" | |||
| Shona | mukomana | ||
| The word mukomana ("boy") can also refer to a young married man. | |||
| Somali | wiil | ||
| Wiil in Somali also means "son," "child," or "descendant." | |||
| Sesotho | moshanyana | ||
| The word "moshanyana" (boy) may also derive from "semoshanyana", meaning "the little one who looks after cattle". | |||
| Swahili | kijana | ||
| The term "kijana" in Swahili can also refer to a young unmarried man. | |||
| Xhosa | inkwenkwe | ||
| In Xhosa, the word 'inkwenkwe' can also refer to a young, unmarried man or a bachelor. | |||
| Yoruba | ọmọkunrin | ||
| The Yoruba word "ọmọkunrin" can also be used to refer to a male child who has reached the age of puberty. | |||
| Zulu | umfana | ||
| In Zulu, 'umfana' also refers to a young male animal or a man who is not yet married, indicating its range of meanings beyond 'boy'. | |||
| Bambara | cɛmani | ||
| Ewe | ŋutsuvi | ||
| Kinyarwanda | umuhungu | ||
| Lingala | mwana-mobali | ||
| Luganda | omulenzi | ||
| Sepedi | mošemane | ||
| Twi (Akan) | abarimawa | ||
Boy in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | صبي | ||
| The Arabic word for "boy", "صبي", originally meant "young man, youth". | |||
| Hebrew | יֶלֶד | ||
| The word "יֶלֶד" can also mean "child" or "son" in Hebrew. | |||
| Pashto | هلک | ||
| The word "هلک" also means "servant" or "attendant" in Pashto. | |||
| Arabic | صبي | ||
| The Arabic word for "boy", "صبي", originally meant "young man, youth". | |||
Boy in Western European Languages
| Albanian | djalë | ||
| The word | |||
| Basque | mutila | ||
| The word "mutila" can also be used to refer to a young man or a male friend, and its root is related to the word "mutill" meaning "small". | |||
| Catalan | noi | ||
| The word "noi" in Catalan can also refer to a young man or a boyfriend. | |||
| Croatian | dječak | ||
| The Croatian word for 'boy,' "dječak," ultimately derives from the Proto-Slavic word for "child," and is cognate with words in other Slavic languages such as the Polish "dziecko" and the Russian "дитя" (ditya). | |||
| Danish | dreng | ||
| Dreng, meaning "boy" in Danish, is cognate with English "drain" and German "drängen," both referring to flowing substances. | |||
| Dutch | jongen | ||
| The word "jongen" can also refer to a cabin boy or an apprentice. | |||
| English | boy | ||
| The term 'boy' originally derived from the Latin 'bellus' meaning 'handsome' and was applied to men or children. | |||
| French | garçon | ||
| In Old French, 'garçon' also could mean 'servant' of any age regardless of sex. | |||
| Frisian | jonge | ||
| In the Groningen dialect, jonge can also mean 'friend' or 'mate'. | |||
| Galician | rapaz | ||
| In Galician, "rapaz" can also mean "young man" or "lover". | |||
| German | junge | ||
| The German word "Junge" originally meant "young person" regardless of gender, and is still used in this sense in some dialects. | |||
| Icelandic | strákur | ||
| The word "strákur" can also refer to a young man or a rascal. | |||
| Irish | buachaill | ||
| The word 'buachaill' derives from the Old Irish word 'boachailiche', meaning 'herdsman' or 'cattle tender'. | |||
| Italian | ragazzo | ||
| In Italian, "ragazzo" can also refer to a young horse or a type of traditional Italian bread. | |||
| Luxembourgish | jong | ||
| The Luxembourgish word "Jong" can also refer to a waiter in a café. | |||
| Maltese | tifel | ||
| The word "tifel" is derived from the Arabic word "tifl" (طفل), which means "child" or "infant". | |||
| Norwegian | gutt | ||
| Gutt in Norwegian also means "intestinal fortitude" or "intestinal feeling". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | garoto | ||
| The word "garoto" originally meant "stable boy" and is related to the Spanish "garrote" (club) and Arabic "'arūd" (horseman). | |||
| Scots Gaelic | balach | ||
| The word "balach" can also mean "child" or "servant" in Scots Gaelic. | |||
| Spanish | niño | ||
| The Spanish word "niño" comes from the Latin word for "child" which also gave English the words "infant" and "nephew."} | |||
| Swedish | pojke | ||
| "Pojke" is etymologically related to the Old English word "pæc" meaning "lad". | |||
| Welsh | bachgen | ||
| The word "bachgen" can also mean "little pig" or "piglet" in Welsh. | |||
Boy in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | хлопчык | ||
| The word “хлопчык” originates from the Old Slavonic word “хлопьцъ” which means a young male servant. | |||
| Bosnian | dečko | ||
| In Bosnian slang, "dečko" can also mean "friend". | |||
| Bulgarian | момче | ||
| The word "момче" is also used for a young man in his twenties. | |||
| Czech | chlapec | ||
| "Chlapec" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*xlopъ, | |||
| Estonian | poiss | ||
| The Estonian word "poiss" has been derived from the Proto-Finnic word "poike" or the Proto-Germanic word "pagaz". | |||
| Finnish | poika | ||
| The Finnish term "poika", like some other Indo-European words for boy (*pawr-), is a derivative or relative of "father (*ph₂tēr)". | |||
| Hungarian | fiú | ||
| The word "fiú" is of Turkic origin, meaning "young horse" or "little horse". | |||
| Latvian | zēns | ||
| "Zēns" is a derivative of the Proto-Indo-European root *yuwn-ko-, which also gave rise to the English word "young". | |||
| Lithuanian | berniukas | ||
| The word "berniukas" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*bʰerǵʰ-", meaning "to shine" or "to be bright". | |||
| Macedonian | момче | ||
| The word "момче" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*moldь", which also means "young man" or "servant". | |||
| Polish | chłopiec | ||
| "Chłopiec" originally meant "servant" or "farmhand" in Old Polish. | |||
| Romanian | băiat | ||
| "Băiat" also means "village boy" or "handsome young man" | |||
| Russian | мальчик | ||
| The word "мальчик" originally meant "little one" and could refer to both boys and girls. | |||
| Serbian | дечко | ||
| The word 'дечко' (boy) is often used in Serbia to refer to an affectionate or romantic young male. | |||
| Slovak | chlapec | ||
| The word "chlapec" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "*xlapъ", meaning "servant" or "slave". | |||
| Slovenian | fant | ||
| The word 'fant' in Slovenian, meaning 'boy', also appears in the surname 'Hladnik', which refers to someone who lives near a cold spring. | |||
| Ukrainian | хлопчик | ||
| The word "хлопчик" is a diminutive and endearing term for "boy" used in Ukrainian informal speech. | |||
Boy in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | ছেলে | ||
| In medieval Bengali, "ছেলে" was a term for "follower, disciple" and often used as a suffix for the names of teachers. | |||
| Gujarati | છોકરો | ||
| The Gujarati word "છોકરો" can also refer to a student or an apprentice. | |||
| Hindi | लड़का | ||
| The word 'लड़का' (ladka) can also refer to a young unmarried man or a servant. | |||
| Kannada | ಹುಡುಗ | ||
| The word `huduga` in Kannada originates from the Dravidian word `huduga` meaning `son`. | |||
| Malayalam | പയ്യൻ | ||
| The word 'പയ്യൻ' is derived from the Proto-Dravidian word 'paṇi', meaning 'young man' or 'servant'. | |||
| Marathi | मुलगा | ||
| Marathi word 'मुलगा' is derived from Sanskrit 'mulaka', meaning 'root' or 'offspring' from the root 'mul', meaning 'to grow'. | |||
| Nepali | केटा | ||
| The word "केटा" (boy) can also mean "young goat" in Nepali. | |||
| Punjabi | ਮੁੰਡਾ | ||
| "ਮੁੰਡਾ" can also mean "a young man" or "a man of no account" in Punjabi. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | කොල්ලා | ||
| Sinhala "කොල්ලා" originally meant "a young member of a guild" and is often associated with "a low-caste person". | |||
| Tamil | சிறுவன் | ||
| In Tamil, சிறுவன் can also refer to a young man or an unmarried man. | |||
| Telugu | అబ్బాయి | ||
| "అబ్బాయి" also means "young man" or "youth" and is derived from the Sanskrit word "आभाय" (ābhāya), meaning "radiance" or "splendor." | |||
| Urdu | لڑکا | ||
| The word "لڑکا" can also refer to a young man, especially one who has not yet reached the age of maturity. | |||
Boy in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 男孩 | ||
| The character "孩" in "男孩" also means "child" or "infant". | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 男孩 | ||
| 男孩 (男孩) can also mean "servant" or "page" in ancient Chinese. | |||
| Japanese | 男の子 | ||
| The word "男の子" literally means "male child" and can also refer to a young apprentice or a male servant. | |||
| Korean | 소년 | ||
| The word "소년" (sonyeo) literally means "young male" and can also refer to a "male child," "young man," or "immature person." | |||
| Mongolian | хүү | ||
| The word "хүү" can also refer to a son or a young male animal. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ယောက်ျားလေး | ||
Boy in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | anak laki-laki | ||
| The word 'anak laki-laki' literally means 'child male' in Indonesian, highlighting the gender-specific nature of the term. | |||
| Javanese | bocah lanang | ||
| Javanese "bocah lanang" comes from Old Javanese "boca" (child) and "lanang" (male) | |||
| Khmer | ក្មេងប្រុស | ||
| Lao | ເດັກຊາຍ | ||
| Malay | budak lelaki | ||
| "Budak lelaki" means "boy" in Malay. Alternatively, it can mean "servant" if used in a context where the speaker is in a position of authority over the addressee. | |||
| Thai | เด็กชาย | ||
| The word "เด็กชาย" (boy) in Thai is derived from the Sanskrit word "दृष्टि" (sight) and the Pali word "दृष्टि" (view), reflecting the notion that a boy is one who sees or observes the world. | |||
| Vietnamese | con trai | ||
| "Con trai" can also mean "son" or "male descendant" in Vietnamese, depending on the context. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | batang lalaki | ||
Boy in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | oğlan | ||
| The word "oğlan" is ultimately derived from the Proto-Turkic word "oğul", meaning "son", and also carries the meaning of "male child" in Azerbaijani. | |||
| Kazakh | бала | ||
| The word "бала" also refers to a horse foal or a baby camel in Kazakh. | |||
| Kyrgyz | бала | ||
| The word "бала" in Kyrgyz can also refer to a child, a young person, or a servant. | |||
| Tajik | писар | ||
| The word "писар" can also refer to a "student" or "secretary" in some contexts. | |||
| Turkmen | oglan | ||
| Uzbek | bola | ||
| The Uzbek word "bola" can also mean "toy" or "puppet". | |||
| Uyghur | boy | ||
Boy in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | keiki kāne | ||
| In Hawaiian mythology, the term "keiki kāne" has origins in the story of Papa and Wākea, who gave birth to the wind, clouds, rain and lightning that preceded the birth of the islands. | |||
| Maori | tama | ||
| The word "tama" also means "son" and "precious one" in Maori. | |||
| Samoan | tama | ||
| The word "tama" can also mean "young chief" or "young warrior" depending on the context. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | lalaki | ||
| The word 'lalaki' originally meant 'strong one' in Tagalog, referring to a person's physical strength. | |||
Boy in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | yuqalla | ||
| Guarani | mitãrusu | ||
Boy in International Languages
| Esperanto | knabo | ||
| Originating from Old Slavic, "knabo" is also the root of many Esperanto words related to "boy" such as "knabineco" (boyhood). | |||
| Latin | puer | ||
| In Latin, puer can also refer to an apprentice or servant. | |||
Boy in Others Languages
| Greek | αγόρι | ||
| The word “αγόρι”, or ‘boy’ in English, comes from the Proto-Indo-European root “h₂yeǵ-”, which also means ‘young, lively’. | |||
| Hmong | tub | ||
| The Hmong word "tub" can also refer to a young man or a male cousin. | |||
| Kurdish | xort | ||
| The Kurdish word “xort” (boy) is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰer-, meaning “to grow” or “to become”. | |||
| Turkish | oğlan | ||
| The word "oğlan" can also mean "son" or "servant" in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | inkwenkwe | ||
| In Xhosa, the word 'inkwenkwe' can also refer to a young, unmarried man or a bachelor. | |||
| Yiddish | יינגל | ||
| The Yiddish word "יינגל" is also used to refer to a young man or a son, and is cognate with the German word "Jung". | |||
| Zulu | umfana | ||
| In Zulu, 'umfana' also refers to a young male animal or a man who is not yet married, indicating its range of meanings beyond 'boy'. | |||
| Assamese | ল’ৰা | ||
| Aymara | yuqalla | ||
| Bhojpuri | लईका | ||
| Dhivehi | ފިރިހެން ކުއްޖާ | ||
| Dogri | जागत | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | batang lalaki | ||
| Guarani | mitãrusu | ||
| Ilocano | ubing a lalaki | ||
| Krio | bɔy | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | کوڕ | ||
| Maithili | छौड़ा | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯅꯨꯄꯥꯃꯆꯥ | ||
| Mizo | mipa naupang | ||
| Oromo | gurbaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ପୁଅ | ||
| Quechua | wayna | ||
| Sanskrit | बालकः | ||
| Tatar | малай | ||
| Tigrinya | ወዲ | ||
| Tsonga | mufana | ||