sonny
word
/ˈsəni/
SUH-nee
/sˈʌni/
SUH-nee
Definition
A friendly or old-fashioned way to address a boy or young man. It can also be used by an older person to speak to someone younger in a slightly familiar, affectionate, or sometimes condescending way.
Usage & Nuances
Common in older speech, movies, or regional English. It often sounds warm from a parent, grandparent, or older man, but between strangers it can sound patronizing. Similar to 'kid' or 'son', but more old-fashioned.
Spanish: hijo (forma afectuosa) - chicoPortuguese (BR): filho (forma carinhosa) - garotoPortuguese (PT): filho (forma carinhosa) - rapazChinese (Simplified): 孩子（亲切称呼男孩） - 小子Chinese (Traditional): 孩子（親切稱呼男孩） - 小子Hindi: बेटा (स्नेहपूर्ण संबोधन) - लड़काArabic: يا بُنيّ - يا فتىBengali: বাছা - ছেলে (স্নেহ বা উপহাসভরে)Russian: сынок - мальчик (разговорное)Japanese: 坊や - お坊ちゃんVietnamese: nhóc - cậu bé (thân mật hoặc trêu đùa)Korean: 꼬마야 - 아가야Turkish: delikanlı - ufaklıkUrdu: بیٹا - لڑکے (محبت یا مذاق سے)Indonesian: nak - bocah (akrab/dengan nada membimbing)
Example Sentences
Come here, sonny, and sit by me.
basic
The old man smiled and said, "Good job, sonny."
basic
Don't worry, sonny. Everything is okay.
basic
Listen, sonny, that's not how we do things around here.
natural
Easy there, sonny—you don't need to prove anything to me.
natural
He kept calling me sonny, and honestly it got on my nerves.
natural