boyo

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /bɔɪ.əʊ/

  Rhymes: -ɔɪəʊ

Noun

boyo (plural boyos)

1. (Ireland) A boy or lad.
2. (sometimes derogatory (see usage notes)) A stereotypically Welsh form of address for a man (usually younger than the speaker).
   • 1980, Tristan Jones, “Down the Old Kent Road”, in Adrift^[1], Sheridan House, Inc, ISBN 9780924486302, published 1992, page 73:

     “Can’t get onboard the boat,” Dai finished for me. “Bloody typical, it is, boyo.”

   • 1995, Peter Ho Davies, “The Ugliest House in the World”, in The Ugliest House in the World: Stories^[2], Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 9780395924808, published 2003, 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!^[3], Lulu.com, ISBN 9781411657267, 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.

Anagrams

• yobo

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Ladino

Noun

boyo m (Latin spelling)

1. a stuffed salted pastry

Derived terms

• boyiko