boyo

English

Etymology

From boy +‎ -o.

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /bɔɪ.əʊ/
- Audio (Southern England): (file)
(US) IPA^(key): /bɔɪo/
Rhymes: -ɔɪəʊ

Noun

boyo (plural boyos)

(Ireland) A boy or lad.
(sometimes derogatory) A stereotypically Welsh form of address for a man, usually younger than the speaker.
- 1980, Tristan Jones, “Down the Old Kent Road”, in Adrift‎, Sheridan House, Inc, published 1992, →ISBN, page 73:
  “Can’t get onboard the boat,” Dai finished for me. “Bloody typical, it is, boyo.”
- 1984, William Gibson, Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 13:
  “What brings you around, boyo?” Deane asked, offering Case a narrow bonbon wrapped in blue-and-white checked paper.
- 1984, Frederick Forsyth, The Fourth Protocol, London: Hutchinson, →ISBN, page 301:
  ‘This, er, initiator of polonium and lithium, would it be used in an anti-personnel bomb?’ he asked. ‘Oh yes, you could say so, boyo,’ replied the Welshman.
- 1995, Peter Ho Davies, “The Ugliest House in the World”, in The Ugliest House in the World: Stories‎, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, published 2003, →ISBN, page 4:
  A taff is a Welshman. Everyone in the doctors’ mess calls me taff or taffy. Mr Swain, the mortuary attendant, calls me boyo, especially during the rugby season when Wales lose badly.
- 2006, Francis Kerr Young, Hang on a Second!‎, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 210:
  “You’re crazy boyo!” Taffy gaped at his shipmate’s rosy cheeks, their hugh brightened by the Canadian blasts. “Now, what in the bloody hell were you doing out there boyo?”

Usage notes

(form of address for a man): When used to address a Welshman by a non-Welshman this can be (perceived as) derogatory or patronising; use by obviously Welsh people to anyone is rarely derogatory but may still be patronising, especially if used to address someone older than oneself.