son
6 synonyms and 4 antonyms for son, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person's male child.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use son
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English sunu, "son", from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to give birth".
Full origin of son →Frequently asked questions
What does “son” mean?
The word “son” means a person's male child. In plain terms, a male child, or an informal way to address a boy or young man.
How do you pronounce “son”?
“Son” is pronounced suhn (/sʌn/ in IPA).
How do you use “son” in a sentence?
Here is “son” used in a sentence: “They named their newborn son after his grandfather.”
What is another word for “son”?
Words with a similar meaning to “son” include boy and lad.
What is the opposite of “son”?
The opposite of “son” — its antonyms — are daughter, father, mother and parent.
What part of speech is “son”?
“Son” is a noun.
Where does the word “son” come from?
The word “son” comes from Old English. From Old English sunu, "son", from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to give birth".
Is “son” a common word?
“Son” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a son and a daughter?
A son is a person's male child, while a daughter is a person's female child. The two words are the direct counterparts within a family, distinguished only by gender. Both describe the relationship of a child to their parents, regardless of the child's age — an adult can still be someone's son or daughter.
Does the word son change with age?
No. Son describes a family relationship, not a stage of life, so a person remains their parents' son from birth throughout adulthood. A newborn boy and a grown man are both sons to their parents. The word marks kinship and gender, not how old the child happens to be.
What is a son-in-law?
A son-in-law is the husband of your child, joining the family through marriage rather than birth. Related terms include stepson, the son of your spouse from another relationship, and godson, a boy you sponsor spiritually. Each describes a male in a son-like role formed by ties other than direct parentage.