NYT Dictionary

BUBBA

/ˈbʌbə/
NounBUB-babub-ba · 2 syllablesGrade 12

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026

Meaning

Brother; used as term of familiar address.

Etymology

Origin: German

Possibly an alteration of brother or bub, said by a young child not yet able to pronounce brother properly, but note similar terms in other Germanic languages derived from Proto-Germanic *bō-, *bō-, such as West Frisian bobbe, German Bube (“boy”), dialectal Swedish babbe (“little boy”), English babe, Dutch boef (“mischievous lad, rascal”), Middle Low German bōve, and Icelandic bófi. Also compare sissy.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

auntboybrethrenbrotherbubbuckbudbuddycoltcousin

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 11 recorded puzzles:

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