How do you use "Old man" in a sentence?

My old man is grilling burgers in the backyard — come on over. Her old man has been working at the factory for thirty years. I learned how to fish from my old man when I was six years old.

Old man

Q: What does "Old man" mean?

One's husband, boyfriend, or father. In American slang, 'my old man' can mean either 'my husband/boyfriend' or 'my father,' depending on context. When a woman says it, she usually means her partner. When a younger person says it, they usually mean their dad. It's the counterpart to 'old lady' and carries a similar casual, slightly rough vibe.

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: One's husband, boyfriend, or father.

指自己的丈夫、男朋友或父亲。

El marido, novio o padre de alguien.

自分の夫、彼氏、または父親のこと。

자기 남편, 남자친구, 또는 아버지를 가리키는 말.

In American slang, 'my old man' can mean either 'my husband/boyfriend' or 'my father,' depending on context. When a woman says it, she usually means her partner. When a younger person says it, they usually mean their dad. It's the counterpart to 'old lady' and carries a similar casual, slightly rough vibe.

在美式俚语中，'my old man'可以指'我丈夫/男朋友'或'我爸'，取决于语境。女性说这个词时通常指的是伴侣，年轻人说时通常指父亲。这个词是'old lady'的对应词，带有类似的随意、略显粗犷的感觉。

En el argot americano, 'my old man' puede significar 'mi marido/novio' o 'mi padre', dependiendo del contexto. Cuando lo dice una mujer, normalmente se refiere a su pareja. Cuando lo dice alguien joven, suele referirse a su padre. Es el equivalente masculino de 'old lady' y tiene un tono igualmente informal y algo brusco.

アメリカのスラングで「my old man」は文脈によって「夫・彼氏」または「父親」を意味する。女性が使う場合は通常パートナーを指し、若い人が使う場合は父親を指すことが多い。「old lady」の対になる表現で、同じようなカジュアルでやや粗野な雰囲気がある。

미국 속어에서 'my old man'은 문맥에 따라 '남편/남자친구' 또는 '아버지'를 의미할 수 있다. 여성이 쓰면 대개 파트너를 뜻하고, 젊은 사람이 쓰면 보통 아버지를 뜻한다. 'old lady'의 대응 표현으로, 비슷하게 캐주얼하고 약간 거친 느낌을 준다.

Examples

My old man is grilling burgers in the backyard — come on over.
我家老头子在后院烤汉堡呢——快过来吧。
Mi viejo está haciendo hamburguesas a la barbacoa en el jardín — ven a casa.
うちのオヤジが裏庭でバーガー焼いてるから、おいでよ。
우리 영감이 뒷마당에서 버거 굽고 있으니까 놀러 와.
Her old man has been working at the factory for thirty years.
她家那口子在工厂干了三十年了。
Su marido lleva treinta años trabajando en la fábrica.
彼女のダンナは工場で30年働いてるよ。
그녀의 남편은 공장에서 30년째 일하고 있어.
I learned how to fish from my old man when I was six years old.
我六岁的时候跟我老爸学的钓鱼。
Aprendí a pescar con mi viejo cuando tenía seis años.
6歳の時にオヤジから釣りを教わったんだ。
6살 때 우리 아버지한테 낚시를 배웠어.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: casual conversation, family stories

Tone: casual, affectionate

✓ Do Say

My old man taught me everything I know.
我这一身本事都是我家老头子教的。
Mi viejo me enseñó todo lo que sé.
オヤジに全部教わったんだ。
우리 아버지가 나한테 모든 걸 가르쳐 주셨어.
Her old man is a great guy.
她家那口子人挺好的。
Su marido es un tío genial.
彼女のダンナはいい人だよ。
그녀의 남편은 정말 좋은 사람이야.

✗ Don't Say

Context matters — make sure it's clear whether you mean your partner or your father
语境很重要——确保别人能听明白你说的是伴侣还是父亲
El contexto importa — asegúrate de que queda claro si te refieres a tu pareja o a tu padre
文脈が重要——パートナーを指しているのか父親を指しているのか明確にすること
문맥이 중요하다 — 파트너를 말하는 건지 아버지를 말하는 건지 확실히 해야 한다

Origin & History

An American colloquialism dating to at least the early 20th century. Common in working-class and rural American English. Like 'old lady,' the 'old' doesn't refer to age but to an established, familiar relationship.

Cultural Context

Era: Early 20th century onward

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal