0
Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary
His girl vs her boy
Hello,
I'm analysing english dictionaries, especially the entries "boy" and "girl" because of my thesis. Now I've noticed that there is an entry "girl" for girlfriend or sweetheart, but none for "boy" meaning "boyfriend". So I've got the question, if it's not possible to say "He's her boy", if you want to say that he is her girlfriend/lover? Does it always means he is her son? Or is it also common to call a boyfriend of a girl/woman her boy? Or can she say "my boy"?
I'm analysing english dictionaries, especially the entries "boy" and "girl" because of my thesis. Now I've noticed that there is an entry "girl" for girlfriend or sweetheart, but none for "boy" meaning "boyfriend". So I've got the question, if it's not possible to say "He's her boy", if you want to say that he is her girlfriend/lover? Does it always means he is her son? Or is it also common to call a boyfriend of a girl/woman her boy? Or can she say "my boy"?
Top answer
Yes, English is a bit uneven in the connotative definitions of "boy" and "girl" For lovers: Woman: He's my man. The slang term boy-toy is for a temporary fun, sexual relationship. Man: She's my girl.
- Yes, English is a bit uneven in the connotative definitions of "boy" and "girl" For lovers: Woman: He's my man.
- The slang term boy-toy is for a temporary fun, sexual relationship.
- Man: She's my girl.
- (refers to a girlfriend) She's my woman.
- (usually refers to an exclusive relationship such as a wife) Boy is very derogatory and offensive when one grown man is addressing another grown man.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
Yes, English is a bit uneven in the connotative definitions of "boy" and "girl"
For lovers:
Woman: He's my man.
The slang term boy-toy is for a temporary fun, sexual relationship.
Man:
She's my girl. (refers to a girlfriend)
She's my woman. (usually refers to an exclusive relationship such as a wife)
Boy is very derogatory and offensive
For lovers:
Woman: He's my man.
The slang term boy-toy is for a temporary fun, sexual relationship.
Man:
She's my girl. (refers to a girlfriend)
She's my woman. (usually refers to an exclusive relationship such as a wife)
Boy is very derogatory and offensive
00
Thank you. So there are no situations in which you can say "my boy"/"her boy" meaning someones boyfriend or lover? Even if it's not as common as "girl" for girlfriend?
I'm asking because I have to judge if it is maybe gendered that there aren't any references for "boy" as "boyfriend", but always for "girl" as "girlfriend". If it is possible to call someones boyfriend "her boy" (/my boy), eve
I'm asking because I have to judge if it is maybe gendered that there aren't any references for "boy" as "boyfriend", but always for "girl" as "girlfriend". If it is possible to call someones boyfriend "her boy" (/my boy), eve
00
AnonymousSo there are no situations in which you can say "my boy"/"her boy" meaning someones boyfriend or lover?No, not in my experience.
0
Related Questions