Definition
Historically, a boy or young man employed to tend fig trees, harvest figs, or manage a fig orchard or plantation.
Etymology
From fig (the fruit) plus boy (young male). This occupational term emerged when fig cultivation was economically significant in Mediterranean and subtropical regions.
Kelly Says
Job titles like 'figboy' remind us that centuries ago, specialized agricultural work created specific roles for children—fig cultivation required year-round tending and careful harvest timing.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ፍቅር ወንድ"
fikir wen-d
ARالعربية
ولد التين
wald at-teen
BNবাংলা
ফিকের ছেলে
fiker chele
CACatalà
noia de figa
no-ya de fee-ga
CSČeština
chlapec s fíky
khl-ap-ets s fee-kee
DADansk
fiken dreng
fee-en dreng
DEDeutsch
Feigenjungen
fay-gen-yoon-gen
ELΕλληνικά
παιδί με φίκους
pa-idi me fee-koos
ESEspañol
chico de higos
chee-koh deh ee-gohs
FAفارسی
پسر انار
pesar anar
FISuomi
fig-poika
fig-poika
FRFrançais
garçon figuier
gar-sohn fee-gwee-ay
GUGU
ફિગનું બાળક
fig-nuu baal-ak
HAHA
ya'u figi
ya-oo fee-gee
HEעברית
ילד תאנה
yald ta-anah
HIहिन्दी
अनार का लड़का
a-naar ka la-rka
HUMagyar
figfiú
fig-fee-oo
IDBahasa Indonesia
anak pemakan ara
a-nak pe-ma-kan a-ra
IGIG
nwata figi
nwa-ta fee-gee
ITItaliano
ragazzo fico
rah-hah-tzoh fee-koh
JA日本語
イチジクボーイ
ichijiku boii
KKKK
жибек бала
zhi-bek ba-la
KMKM
ប្រុសទាល
pruh-teah-l
KO한국어
무화과 소년
muhwa-gwa soneun
MRMR
फिग मुलगा
fig mul-ga
MSBahasa Melayu
budak ara
bu-dak a-ra
MYမြန်မာ
ပဲကောင်
pe-ka-ung
NLNederlands
figjongen
fig-yon-gen
NONorsk
fiken gutt
fee-en gut
PAPA
ਫਿਗ ਦਾ ਬੱਚਾ
fig da ba-ch-a
PLPolski
chłopiec z figami
khol-p-yets z fig-ah-mee
PTPortuguês
menino de figo
men-ee-noh deh fee-goh
RORomână
băiat de ficăi
ba-ee-at deh fee-kai
RUРусский
мальчик-фиговый
malchik-figovy
SVSvenska
fikonpojke
fee-kon-poy-keh
SWKiswahili
mvulana wa figi
mvu-la-na wa fee-gee
TAதமிழ்
பலாப்பழம் சிறுவன்
bala-pa-lam chi-ru-van
TEతెలుగు
తిమ్మిరి కుమారుడు
thimmi-ri ku-ma-ru-du
THไทย
เด็กกินฟิก
dek gin fik
TLTL
bataang bayabas
ba-taang ba-ya-bas
TRTürkçe
incir çocuğu
in-chir choh-goo
UKУкраїнська
хлопчик-фіговий
kholpchyk-figovy
URاردو
تیل کا لڑکا
teel ka la-rka
VITiếng Việt
trai ăn fig
trai an fig
YOYO
omo figo
oh-moh fee-goh
ZH中文
无花果男孩
wú huā guǒ nánhái
ZUZU
umfana we figi
oom-fa-na we fee-gee
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Gendered diminutive compound; '-boy' historically marked servile or lower-status roles assigned along race/class lines, later extended to occupational status. Usage reflects hierarchical social categorization.
Inclusive Usage
Use neutral occupational terms (e.g., 'fig vendor', 'fig handler') or simply avoid diminutives when referring to workers or roles.
Inclusive Alternatives
["fig handler","fig vendor","fig worker"]