Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Junge | /ˈjʊŋə/ | masculine |
| Bub | /buːp/ (Germany) /b̥ʊp/ |
masculine |
| Bube | /ˈbuːbə/ (Germany) /ˈb̥uːbɛ/ |
masculine |
| Knabe | /ˈknaːbə/ | dated, literary, masculine, regional |
| Bueb | Alemannic German, masculine |
The primary meaning is a male child. In certain contexts, the word Junge can also function as an interjection. When used as Junge! or Junge!, it expresses surprise or emphasis, similar to how an English speaker might say "Boy!" or "Man!" to show emotion.
Which one should you use?
While Junge is the standard and most common way to refer to a boy in modern German, other forms exist. Bub is a colloquial alternative, and Bube is another masculine form. Knabe is a much more specialized term used in specific contexts, and Bueb is a specific dialectal variant.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Junge is the standard term for everyday use. Bub is colloquial, making it more informal. Knabe is a dated or literary term that is rarely heard in modern daily conversation, though it may appear in formal, traditional or poetic writing. Bube is also a masculine form available for use.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Bub is a common term used in Southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Bueb is used specifically in Alemannic-German dialects.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Junge is Jungen. All the listed forms for boy are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈjʊŋə/
Did you know?
- In a deck of German playing cards, the Jack is called the Bube.
- In German, the term Knabe shares the same linguistic ancestor as the English word 'knave', which refers to a dishonest man.
- While Junge is the standard today, it only became the dominant term for 'boy' across all of Germany during the 20th century.
Examples in context
- Es ist ein Bub.It's a boy.This sentence uses Bub to identify a boy.Tatoeba #5121008 by brauchinet, translation #5120801 by Ricardo14
- Wo ist der Knabe?Where's the boy?This sentence uses Knabe to ask about the location of the boy.Tatoeba #1687841 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1664244 by Spamster
- Das ist der Junge.This is the boy.This sentence uses Junge to identify the boy.Tatoeba #584327 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #56312 by CM
- Der Junge spielt gerne Fußball.The boy likes playing soccer.
- Der junge Knabe las begeistert seine Bücher.The young boy enthusiastically read his books.
- Komm her, Bub!Come here, boy!
- 1028 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are looking at a photo of a child.
- MaximilianIst das dein Sohn?Is that your son?
- LauraNein, das ist ein Junge aus meiner Klasse.No, that is a boy from my class.
- MaximilianEr sieht sehr nett aus.He looks very nice.
- LauraJa, der Junge ist wirklich sehr lieb.Yes, the boy is really very sweet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boy” translations and entries Junge, Bub, Bube, Knabe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bube, Junge, Knabe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
