bonny
An adjective primarily used in British and Scottish English to describe someone, especially a woman or child, who is physically attractive, healthy, and cheerful. It conveys a sense of natural beauty combined with a robust or wholesome appearance.
Exemples
3 sur 5The couple was recently blessed with a bonny baby boy who sleeps through the night.
The parents had a very healthy and attractive infant son who rests well.
The historical novel describes the protagonist as a bonny maiden of the highlands.
The old story portrays the main character as a beautiful young woman from the mountains.
You're looking right bonny in that new summer dress!
You look very pretty and healthy wearing that new dress for summer.
Famille de mots
Astuce mémo
Think of 'bonny' as a 'bonus'—a bonny person has the bonus of being both pretty and healthy at the same time.
Quiz rapide
The grandmother pinched the child's cheeks and remarked on what a _____ baby he was.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : bonny
Exemples
The couple was recently blessed with a bonny baby boy who sleeps through the night.
everydayThe parents had a very healthy and attractive infant son who rests well.
The historical novel describes the protagonist as a bonny maiden of the highlands.
formalThe old story portrays the main character as a beautiful young woman from the mountains.
You're looking right bonny in that new summer dress!
informalYou look very pretty and healthy wearing that new dress for summer.
In Scottish folk traditions, the 'bonny' archetype often represents idealized pastoral health.
academicIn traditional songs, the 'attractive/healthy' figure represents perfect rural vitality.
The marketing team wants a bonny, wholesome image for our new organic dairy line.
businessThe advertising department wants an attractive and healthy look for the natural milk products.
Famille de mots
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
The bonny banks
The beautiful shores (often of a Scottish Loch)
Bonny and blithe
Attractive and happy/carefree
A bonny bride
A beautiful and radiant woman on her wedding day
Souvent confondu avec
'Boney' (or bony) means having very little flesh or being skeletal, whereas 'bonny' means looking healthy and plump.
'Bonnie' is simply the alternative spelling, often used as a proper name, while 'bonny' is the more common adjective form.
Notes d'usage
The word is most frequently found in Scotland, Northern England, and Ireland. It implies a 'glow' of health rather than just facial symmetry.
Erreurs courantes
Learners often mistake it for a purely academic term because it appears in literature, but it is actually a regional dialect word that sounds very informal or quaint in standard American English.
Astuce mémo
Think of 'bonny' as a 'bonus'—a bonny person has the bonus of being both pretty and healthy at the same time.
Origine du mot
Derived from the Middle French 'bon' (good), similar to how 'pretty' evolved from meaning 'cunning' to 'attractive'.
Modèles grammaticaux
Contexte culturel
Deeply rooted in Scottish identity, famously appearing in the song 'The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond'.
Quiz rapide
The grandmother pinched the child's cheeks and remarked on what a _____ baby he was.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : bonny
Vocabulaire associé
Mots lis
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