Romeo
Romeo (noun) means a passionate, devoted boyfriend or lover. Example: “He showed up with roses, playing the romeo.”
How to Use Romeo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA man who plays the passionate lover — sometimes sincerely, sometimes just to seduce.
Word Forms
Romeos plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He showed up with roses, playing the _____.
Etymology
From the tragic hero of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, whose name has come to stand for any passionate male lover.
Related Words
Rhymes for Romeo
See all rhymes for Romeo →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Romeo” mean?
The word “Romeo” means a passionate, devoted boyfriend or lover. In plain terms, a man who plays the passionate lover — sometimes sincerely, sometimes just to seduce.
How do you pronounce “Romeo”?
“Romeo” is pronounced ROH-mee-oh (/ˈɹoʊmioʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Romeo” in a sentence?
Here is “Romeo” used in a sentence: “He showed up with roses, playing the romeo.”
What part of speech is “Romeo”?
“Romeo” is a noun.
Is “Romeo” a common word?
“Romeo” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Romeo” have?
“Romeo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a passionate, devoted boyfriend or lover.
What is the difference between calling someone a Romeo and calling them a womanizer?
Both senses of romeo describe a man's romantic behavior, but they point in opposite directions: one sense describes a passionate, devoted lover, while the other describes a man known for insincerely seducing women. Context determines which meaning is intended.
Is calling someone a "romeo" a compliment or an insult?
It depends on which sense is meant — describing someone as a devoted, passionate lover is generally positive, while calling someone a romeo in the sense of a womanizer is critical of insincere seduction.
Is romeo capitalized when used as a common noun?
When used generically to describe a type of man rather than a specific character, "romeo" is often written lowercase, though it is also frequently capitalized since it derives from a proper name.