son
A male child or man in relation to his parents. It is a fundamental kinship term used to describe a direct male descendant in a family.
Examples
3 of 5My son starts school next Monday.
My son starts school next Monday.
The estate was bequeathed to the eldest son of the deceased.
The estate was bequeathed to the eldest son of the deceased.
That's my son! He just scored a goal!
That's my son! He just scored a goal!
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the 'O' in 'son' as a small boy's head, whereas the 'U' in 'sun' looks like a bowl catching the light from the sky.
Quick Quiz
He has two children: a daughter and a ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: son
Examples
My son starts school next Monday.
everydayMy son starts school next Monday.
The estate was bequeathed to the eldest son of the deceased.
formalThe estate was bequeathed to the eldest son of the deceased.
That's my son! He just scored a goal!
informalThat's my son! He just scored a goal!
The research tracks the social mobility of the son compared to the father.
academicThe research tracks the social mobility of the son compared to the father.
The founder is preparing his son to take over the CEO position.
businessThe founder is preparing his son to take over the CEO position.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Like father, like son
Like father, like son
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
Favorite son
Favorite son
Often Confused With
Sun is the star that gives light to Earth, while son is a male child; they are homophones (pronounced the same).
Usage Notes
The word 'son' is used regardless of the person's age; a 50-year-old man is still his mother's son.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misspell 'son' as 'sun' because they sound identical.
Memory Tip
Think of the 'O' in 'son' as a small boy's head, whereas the 'U' in 'sun' looks like a bowl catching the light from the sky.
Word Origin
From Old English 'sunu', originating from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to give birth'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many historical and some modern cultures, the eldest son is traditionally expected to inherit the family name or estate.
Quick Quiz
He has two children: a daughter and a ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: son
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
A grandson is the son of one's son or daughter. It is a term...
brotherUsed as an adjective to describe a person, organization, or...
fatherA father is a male parent of a child. This term describes bo...
motherA female parent who has given birth to or raised a child. It...
childA young human being below the age of puberty or the legal ag...
daughterA daughter is a female child or person in relation to her pa...
More Family words
grandparent
A1A grandparent is the parent of one's father or mother. It is a general term that refers to either a grandfather or a grandmother within a family structure.
grandson
A1A grandson is the son of one's son or daughter. It is a term used to describe a male child in relation to his grandparents.
granddaughter
A1A granddaughter is the daughter of a person's son or daughter. It describes the relationship between a female child and her grandparents.
grandchild
A1A grandchild is the child of one's son or daughter. It represents the second generation of descendants after one's own children.
uncle
A1An uncle is the brother of one's father or mother, or the husband of one's aunt. It is a term used to describe a specific male relative within a family structure.
niece
A1A niece is the daughter of your brother or sister. It also refers to the daughter of your husband's or wife's brother or sister.
descendant
A1A descendant is a person who comes from a specific ancestor or family line. It refers to someone who is the child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a person from the past.
wedding
A1A wedding is a formal ceremony where two people are legally joined in marriage. It usually includes a party called a reception for family and friends to celebrate the new couple.
divorced
A1A status describing a person who was previously married but has legally ended their marriage. It is the state of being no longer joined to a spouse by law.
spouse
A1A spouse is a person someone is married to. It is a general word that can mean either a husband or a wife regardless of gender.
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free