# beau

> English word · Noun · IPA /bəʊ/ · frequency rank #13,285

## Definitions
1. A man with a reputation for fine dress and etiquette; a dandy or fop.
2. A male lover; a boyfriend.
3. A male escort.
4. A suitor of a lady.

## Etymology
From Middle English beau, beu, bew, bewe, from Old French beau, from Latin bellus (“beautiful”). Doublet of bello and boo.

## Easily confused with
- **bed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bed)
- **bet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bet)
- **ben** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-ben)
- **bee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bee)
- **beg** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-beg)
- **bra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bra)
- **bel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bel)
- **bey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bey)
- **boa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-boa)
- **BYU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-byu)
- **bla** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bla)
- **BSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bsa)
- **bev** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bev)
- **BPA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bpa)
- **bes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bes)
- **BFA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bfa)
- **ber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-ber)
- **BIA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bia)
- **bru** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-bru)
- **BTU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beau-vs-btu)

## Common misspellings (4)
`baeu`, `bbeau`, `beua`, `ebau`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/beau