Korean word

소년

Pronunciation

Romanizationsonyeon

Meaning

  • nounboy

Example

어제 소년을 길에서 봤어요.eo je so nyeo neul ki re seo pwa sseo yo

Yesterday, I saw a boy on the street.

Illustration for 소년 (boy)

More examples

우리 동네 소년들이 운동장에서 뛰고 있어요.u ri tong ne so nyeon deu ri un dong jang e seo ttwi go i sseo yo

The boys in our neighborhood are running on the playground.

Core concept

A young male person, still in childhood or the teenage years.

Common phrases

  • 소년들so nyeon deul

    boys

  • 소년 시절so nyeon si jeol

    boyhood

  • 소년과 소녀so nyeon gwa so nyeo

    boys and girls

Similar words

남자아이namjaai: A boy spoken about in ordinary daily life.
아이ai: A young child of any gender who is cared for by adults.
애ae: A child spoken of casually and familiarly, with a tone that may sound rude when spoken harshly.

Definition in Korean

어린 나이의 남자아이나 청소년을 가리키는 말.eo rin na i ui nam ja a i na cheong so nyeo neul ka ri ki neun mal

Word origin

The word was formed from Sino-Korean elements for few and years, pointing to someone who has not lived many years.

Usage tips

  • The word can cover both a child and a teenager, so English boy is usually a better match than a word limited to little children.

Opposites

Word lists with this word