bub

American  

[buhb] / bʌb /

noun

Slang.

• bubs
  plural

1. (used as an often insolent term of address) brother; buddy.

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bub British  

/ bʌb /

noun

1. informal fellow; youngster: used as a form of address

2. slang

   1. a baby

   2. the first grade of schooling; nursery school

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bubs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bub

1830–40, perhaps < German Bub, short for Bube boy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bub bubs

What that translates to, intentionally or not, is you’re on your own now, bub.

From Salon ● Nov. 29, 2025

Make no mistake about it, bub, Southern California is car country.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2023

Just before Eboli’s “O don fatal,” the conductor pointed out to principal bassoon William Short how “it’s very different without the bub bub bub of the trumpets.”

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 28, 2022

Hey now, I’m the one asking the questions, bub!

From The Verge ● Feb. 26, 2016

Even to his ex-room-mate, Plain Smith, the grim and slovenly school-teacher who had called him "bub" and discouraged his confidences, Carl presented the attractions of Professor Frazer's lectures when he met him on the campus.

From The Trail of the Hawk A Comedy of the Seriousness of Life by Sinclair Lewis

I just want to see my bubs progress.”

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 18, 2020

Richardson said she understood why some parents would enter the competition because they were proud of their bubs, but she had other priorities in her life and wouldn’t enter Elowen, born last July.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 6, 2019

Yet the breastfeeding was wonderful and I fed all my bubs for a year.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 19, 2017

I went up to see how she was this afternoon, not knowing anything, and there I found a pair of bubs in the nest, and old ma Stainwright bossing the show.

From The White Peacock by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence