Standard Lemma guide

shonen

adj · noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈʃəʊ.nən/
  • General-American: /ˈʃoʊ.nən/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -əʊnən

1

adj

Meaning 1

Being in the style of shonen comics or animation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: anime, broadcasting, comics, film, literature, manga, media, publishing, television

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A style of Japanese animation and comics aimed at a younger male audience.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: anime, broadcasting, comics, film, literature, manga, media, publishing, television

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the Japanese 少年 (shōnen, “few years”).