son
gb/sˈʌn/ us/sˈʌn/
A1
English
~ 700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
relation
1
male child of parents
A boy or man who is someone’s child.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s son
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'son' with 'sun' because they sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.
Synonyms
boy (General term for a male child, not necessarily in relation to parents.)
|
offspring (Formal or biological term for a child; gender-neutral.)
Antonyms
daughter (The female child of someone's parents.)
Collocations
eldest son
|only son
|proud son
|son and daughter
|son of [someone]
Themes
family
|daily life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They have two sons and one daughter.
- Her son just started school this year.
- I met John's son at the party.
- Their eldest son is studying abroad.
- She introduced me to her son, Michael.
Learner examples
- I have one son and one daughter.
- My son is five years old.
- Her son plays football.
- Their son is very tall.
- This is my son, David.
Noun
B1
relation
2
man seen as figurative child
A man from a certain family, group, or place, not always a real child.
Usage pattern:
son of [place/group]
Synonyms
native (Someone born in a place; gender-neutral.)
Collocations
son of the soil
|son of God
|son of the city
Themes
society
|identity
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He is a true son of the city.
- As a son of the church, he devoted his life to service.
- They called him a son of the revolution.
Learner examples
- He is a son of this town.
- They say he is a son of the king.
- He is a son of the mountains.
Grammar
Expressions
son and heir
1/sˈʌn ˈænd ˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
male child inheritor
A male child who will get the family property or title in the future.
Examples
- They proudly introduced their newborn as their son and heir.
- The king's son and heir was prepared for his future role.
son of a gun
1/sˈʌn əv ə ɡˈʌn/
idiom
informal
mild surprise or admiration
A friendly way to show surprise or that you think someone is clever or lucky.
Examples
- Well, you son of a gun, you actually did it!
- Well, son of a gun! I didn't expect to see you here.
- You son of a gun, that was amazing.
- That son of a gun fixed my car for free.
like father, like son
1/lˈaɪk fˈɑðɚ | lˈaɪk sˈʌn/
idiom
Son is similar to his father
A son often acts or looks like his father.
Examples
- He loves fishing just like his dad—like father, like son.
- He loves fishing, just like his dad. Like father, like son.
- He loves fishing just like his dad. Like father, like son.
- He loves fixing cars, just like his dad. Like father, like son.
- They both have the same laugh. Like father, like son.
- Both are stubborn—like father, like son.
- They both have the same laugh—like father, like son.