buddy

CEFRB1

/ˈbʌdi/

noun · pronoun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A close friend or companion.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A partner for a particular activity.

Examples

  • They have been buddies since they were in school.

  • I feel your pain, buddy.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
3
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • [ˈbʌɾi]
  • /-di/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. An informal and friendly address to a stranger, usually male; a friendly (or occasionally antagonistic) placeholder name for a person one does not know.

  2. A friend or casual acquaintance.

pronoun

Extra meaning

  1. A person far removed from the conversation.

More examples

In context

  • An old college buddy of mine

  • Tom is my buddy.

  • drinking buddies

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Since first grade, Tom has been my closest friend, or blank, and we do everything together still.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

First appears c. 1788, in the writings of Charles Dibdin, of uncertain origin. Possibly from *bruddy, *bruthy, a child-talk alteration of brother. Alternatively, perhaps from British colloquial butty (“companion”), also the form of an older dialect term meaning workmate, associated with coal mining. Itself believed derived from 1530 as booty fellow, a partner with whom one shares booty or loot. Alternatively, compare Scots buddo, bodda (“buddy, kiddo, dear”), related to Icelandic budda (“purse"; also "short, stout person”).