homeboy

English

Etymology

20th century United States African-American urban slang. Originated from travelers to metropolitan areas derived from American English as a blend of hometown +‎ boy. However, modern use is mostly by African-Americans and Latinos in the United States.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈhoʊm.bɔɪ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

homeboy (plural homeboys)

1. (colloquial) Someone, particularly a male acquaintance, from one’s hometown.
   • 2004, “Homeboy”, performed by JoJo:

     When the boy next door; Don't want to be my homeboy no more; Saw something that I never saw before; I think he wants to be my baby

2. (colloquial, African-American Vernacular) A close friend or fellow member of a youth gang.
3. (colloquial) A person.

Pronoun

homeboy (third-person singular, masculine, nominative or objective case)

1. (African-American Vernacular, slang) he or him
   • 2017 October 2, Complex (@Complex), YouTube‎^[1]:

     (1:38) If homeboy’s coming through with these, it’s quiet. Yeah no, it’s quiet for him. But, like, if he comes through with, y’know, these; you got some air maxes out here, you got some Jordans. Homeboy’s gonna, like, get it.

   • 2023 February 1, Fiona’s Videos 🎬 (@fiona_videos), Twitter‎^[2]:

     Homeboy rafikied a peacock with a squeegee.

   • 2023 January 31, IStandWithVic Posting Their L's Online (@ISWV_Losers), Twitter‎^[3]:

     He's talking about the jumpscare warnings in Dead Space. The ones you can turn off. Homeboy takes gaming way too fucking seriously.

   • 2023 January 28, Jovani Vasquez (@JovaniVasquez25), Twitter‎^[4]:

     He hit homeboy in his junk

   • 2023 January 28, LaughTalkTV (@LaughTalkTV), Twitter‎^[5]:

     Should’ve listen to homeboy

Related terms

Terms etymologically related to homeboy

• holmes
• homegirl
• homey
• homie

Translations

male from one's hometown

• Finnish: kotikylän kundi

male from one's youth gang

• Finnish: kamu (fi), kaveri (fi)
• Spanish: compinche (es) m or f

male person

• Finnish: jätkä (fi), kundi (fi)