noun
sonny
SUH-nee
noun
1
An informal, friendly way of addressing a young boy.
""Watch your step, sonny," the old man said with a smile."
2
A way of addressing a boy or man that carries a note of contempt or warning rather than warmth.
""Don't try that again, sonny," the officer warned."
How to Use Sonny
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual way of calling a boy or younger man "son," friendly or scolding depending on tone.
When to use it
Informal and can sound condescending, especially from a stranger to an adult man.
Word Forms
sonnies plural
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"Watch your step, _____," the old man said with a smile.
Etymology
From son + the diminutive/familiar suffix -y.