Buddy is an informal word for “friend”, especially in American English. It also means a partner in an activity: a study buddy studies with you, a gym buddy trains with you. Hey, buddy sounds warm to a child, but to an adult stranger it can sound irritated. Neutrally, friend or partner.
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a study / workout buddy; be buddies; a buddy system; Hey, buddy!
- My study buddy checks my notes while I check hers.
- The two neighbours became walking buddies during the winter.
- The school pairs each new pupil with a buddy who can explain the daily routine.
What changed
First versionWe have been study buddys since September.
RevisionWe have been study buddies since September.
Buddy ends in a consonant plus y, and such words change y to ies in the plural: buddy → buddies, like city → cities. Buddys comes from simply adding -s, but the y rule applies here too.
A best friend is your closest friend; a study buddy doesn't have to be. A colleague works alongside you but isn't there to help you. Partner is the neutral, businesslike word: study partner instead of study buddy.
Your turn
The two students became study ___.
Show the answer
buddies — The correct form is buddies: after a consonant, the final y becomes ies. Buddys is a spelling mistake.
Describe how a study partner helps you. Use study buddy and show how you help each other.
My study buddy asks me questions about the chapter, and I help her review the diagrams.
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