puer
[ˈpu.ɛr]masculine
The Latin word for boy is puer.
puer is a common noun used to refer to a male child.
Meaning: male child (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word puer changes its form depending on its role in a sentence. The plural form is pueri (boys). To indicate a direct object, use the accusative form puerum (boy). The genitive plural form, meaning 'of the boys', is puerorum. For the dative and ablative plural, use pueris (to/for the boys).
Did you know?
- While puer means 'boy', the related Latin term puerilis is used today in English as 'puerile' to mean childishly silly.
- Despite its meaning as 'boy', the word puer is used in the phrase puer aeternus to describe a man who stays psychologically young.
Examples in context
- Quis est hic puer?Who is that boy?This sentence is useful for asking 'Who is that boy?' using puer.Tatoeba #2178060 by Martka, translation #67978 by CK
- Qui puer id fecit?Which boy did that?This sentence is useful for asking 'Which boy did that?' using puer.Tatoeba #11481569 by soweli_Elepanto, translation #6274199 by CK
- Hic puer est piger.This boy is lazy.This sentence is useful for stating 'This boy is lazy' using puer.Tatoeba #812092 by rado, translation #1102794 by CM
- Puer videt stellamThe boy sees the star
- Veni, puerule!Come here, little boy!
- 190 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A woman and a man are watching children in a garden.
- QuintusPuer currit.The boy is running.
- AureliaPuer est laetus.The boy is happy.
- QuintusUbi est mater pueri?Where is the boy's mother?
- AureliaMater pueri adest.The boy's mother is here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boy” translations and entries puer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries puer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
