boy
Not a girl
The core meaning of boy is the least problematic meaning: a male human who is not yet fully mature.
There is no sharp division between boy and man, but usage suggests that the shift occurs at age 18 or 19 for most speakers.
Designating a male over 19 as boy is either an insult or part of a compound (old boy, good old boy, local boy, golden boy) that has a specific, not necessarily disparaging meaning.
In other compounds, boy maintains its core meaning to denote a role or function normally filled by younger males: bat boy, rent boy, altar boy.
Boy is also a general-purpose exclamation to express surprise, admiration, or some other intense feeling.
Boy or young man
- youngsterPerson of tender years
- kidChild or young goat
- childPerson before puberty
- schoolboyMale student, typically young
teenager · adolescent · juvenile · minor · preteen · tween · teen · stripling
Male child relation
Informal address for boys
- dearTreasured or costly
- darlingBeloved person or pet
- sweetheartAffectionate name for beloved
- honeyBees' viscous nectar product
lad · kiddo · sport · buddy · champ · tiger · slugger · little one
Lovable troublemaker
- scampMischievous young person
- impMinor mischief-making devil
- troublemakerOne who creates discord
- pranksterSomeone who plays tricks
rapscallion · scallywag · naughty · roguish · impish · misbehaving · rowdy · ruffian
Having much vigor
- spiritedFull of vim
- livelyAnimated and energetic
- rambunctiousUncontrollably lively and loud
- boisterousNoisily cheerful and energetic
frolic · romp · roughhousing · adventurous · exuberant · active · playmate · games
Goodwill among companions
- friendshipBond of mutual affection
- bondBinding tie or connection
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- companionshipState of having company
buddy · pal · chum · fellowship · solidarity · kinship · brothers · comrades
lad
Boy or young man
schoolboy · teenager · adolescent · juvenile · minor · preteen · tween · teen · stripling · whippersnapper
son
Male child relation
bloke · dude · he · him · his · lad · male · masculine · gentleman · man
sonny
Informal address for boys
- dearTreasured or costly
- darlingBeloved person or pet
- sweetheartAffectionate name for beloved
honey · lad · kiddo · sport · buddy · champ · tiger · slugger · little one · junior
rascal
Lovable troublemaker
- scampMischievous young person
- impMinor mischief-making devil
- troublemakerOne who creates discord
prankster · rapscallion · scallywag · naughty · roguish · impish · misbehaving · rowdy · ruffian · hooligan
energetic
Having much vigor
- spiritedFull of vim
- livelyAnimated and energetic
- rambunctiousUncontrollably lively and loud
boisterous · frolic · romp · roughhousing · adventurous · exuberant · active · playmate · games · cheerful
camaraderie
Goodwill among companions
- friendshipBond of mutual affection
- bondBinding tie or connection
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
companionship · buddy · pal · chum · fellowship · solidarity · kinship · brothers · comrades · gang
houseboy
Male domestic servant
- pageboyAttendant or sleek hairstyle
- footmanUniformed domestic male attendant
- attendantOne who assists others
page · valet · batman · orderly · aide · helper · apprentice · lackey
- good boyPraise for obedient pet
- oh boyInterjection expressing excitement
- boys and girlsMale and female children
- baby boyYoung male child
- little boyYoung male child
- bad boyMale troublemaker
cowboy, boys, boyish, boyhood, busboy, bellboy, boyishly, boyishness, boylike