sonny
/ˈsʌni/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: sonnies
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A familiar form of address for a boy.
NounRegister: dated
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Form of address to a boy or man, to express contempt, warning etc.
NounRegister: colloquial, dated
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “sonny” mean?
A familiar form of address for a boy.
Is “sonny” formal or informal?
sonny is generally dated.