Word
bonnie
Phoneticsbon·nie
US/ˈbɑni/
UK/bˈɒni/
Definitions
01beautiful or attractive
adj. beautiful, pretty, or attractive to look at.
adj. denoting physical beauty, attractiveness, or a pleasing appearance. Primarily used in Scots and Northern English dialects.
“The singer sang a song about a bonnie lass he met in the mountains.”
“The poet described the bonnie banks of the loch, capturing the serene beauty of the Scottish highlands in the morning mist.”
Dialect · British English
Usage
Commonly precedes the noun it describes, such as 'bonnie lad' or 'bonnie lass'.
Synonyms
02fine or good
adj. good, fine, or healthy.
adj. expressing general approval or describing something as fine or healthy; occasionally used ironically to mean the opposite.
“That is a bonnie baby you have there, so healthy and strong.”
“After the storm cleared, it turned into a bonnie day for a walk along the coast.”
Dialect · British English
Teaching tip
In some contexts, particularly in Geordie or Scots dialects, this can be used sarcastically to mean 'a fine mess'.
03a bonfire
n. a large outdoor fire, often built very high for a celebration.
n. a large bonfire, specifically one constructed to a significant height for cultural celebrations such as Eleventh Night.
“The local community gathered to watch the bonnie burn in the town square.”
“The construction of the bonnie required weeks of preparation, with residents stacking wooden pallets several storeys high.”
Dialect · Informal
Usage
Primarily used in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.
Synonyms
Etymology
Originally an American nickname from Scottish bonnie (“fine, beautiful”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/bonnie