laddie

IPA/ˈlædi/
IPA/ˈlædi/

laddie — noun

1. A friendly informal word for a boy or young man, used especially in Scotland and

1.nounC1
Definition

A friendly informal word for a boy or young man, used especially in Scotland and northern England. It can also be used by an older person when speaking directly to a boy.

Example

Young Hamish is a brave laddie who always helps his grandfather on the farm.

term of endearment in description

The old fisherman smiled at the laddie trying to catch fish from the pier.

Common collocations
  • wee laddie
  • young laddie
  • brave laddie
  • good laddie
  • little laddie
Synonyms
  • lad

    The standard root form; less regional and more widely understood across the UK.

  • boy

    The neutral, universal term with no regional or informal shading.

  • youngster

    Broader in meaning; can refer to a child of either gender and sounds slightly more formal.

Antonyms
  • lassie

    The female counterpart in Scots and Northern English usage.

Usage Note

Primarily used in Scotland and northern England, and in Scottish literature. Not common in American English or in formal writing. Older speakers often use it as a warm, affectionate way to address a boy whose name they do not know.

Common Mistakes

The laddie is a formal title for a young man.
Laddie is an informal word from Scotland for a boy or young man.
Laddie is informal and regional, not a formal title.
She is a smart laddie.
She is a smart lassie.
Laddie refers to a male; lassie is the female equivalent.
I saw a laddie in New York.
I saw a boy in New York.
Laddie is not commonly understood in American English; use 'boy' in non-UK contexts.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Laddie sits at the most informal and regionally marked end of this group. Lad is the neutral UK-friendly term for a male child or young man; it is widely understood across Britain but less common in the US. Boy is the universal standard, understood in every variety of English, but it lacks the warmth and familiarity of laddie. Youngster is more general (works for girls too) and slightly more formal, often used by adults referring to children as a group. Youth can mean a teenage boy but often carries a formal or institutional tone ('the youth of today'). Use laddie when you want a distinctly Scottish or northern-English flavour — for example, calling a young neighbour 'a fine wee laddie' suggests affection and regional identity in a way that 'a good young boy' simply does not.

lad ↗boy ↗youngster ↗youth ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • wee laddie
  • young laddie
  • old laddie
  • brave laddie
  • little laddie

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishScotsEnglish

Laddie is formed by adding the Scots diminutive suffix '-ie' (equivalent to English '-y' or '-ie') to the word 'lad', which means a boy or young man. 'Lad' itself traces back to Middle English, possibly from Old Norse 'ladd' meaning a young male. The '-ie' ending is a hallmark of Scots and Northern English, giving the word a warm, familiar tone. By the 19th century, 'laddie' was well established in Scottish poetry and folk songs as a term of endearment.