son
suhn
Son (noun) means a person's male child. Example: “They named their newborn son after his grandfather.”
noun
1
A person's male child.
"They named their newborn son after his grandfather."
"Her son is starting university this autumn."
"Their eldest son plays the violin in the school orchestra."
2
A familiar or informal way for an older person to address a younger male.
""Take a seat, son," said the officer."
"Don't worry about it, son, everyone makes mistakes when they start out."
"Listen, son, you should always check the oil before a long drive."
How to use son
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA male child, or an informal way to address a boy or young man.
Common pairings
an only son
father and son
son of
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Word forms
- Plural
- sons
- Third person singular
- sons
- Past tense
- sonned
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They named their newborn _____ after his grandfather.
Etymology
From Old English sunu, "son", from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to give birth".
Related words
Rhymes for son
See all rhymes for 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.
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