boonies
/ˈbuː.niz/ IELTSAcademic
noun
The boonies are a very remote or rural place, far from cities and busy areas. It is informal and often sounds humorous or slightly dismissive.
- They moved out to the boonies.
- Our hotel was deep in the boonies.
- There is no good phone signal in the boonies.
Adinary Nuance
Boonies is more casual than countryside or rural area. It often suggests a place that feels isolated, inconvenient, or hard to reach. Use it in spoken English or informal writing, not in formal reports.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vùng hẻo lánh
- Spanish
- zona remota
- Chinese
- 偏远地区
- Japanese
- へき地
- Korean
- 오지
Etymology
Boonies is informal American English from the early 1900s. It comes from boondocks, which likely came from Tagalog bundok, meaning 'mountain'.
Common phrases
out in the booniesway out in the booniesdeep in the boonies
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is boonies a formal word?
- No. It is informal and often playful. Use it in conversation, not formal writing.
- What is the difference between boonies and countryside?
- Countryside is neutral. Boonies sounds more casual and suggests a place far away or hard to reach.
- Can I use boonies in IELTS writing?
- Usually no. IELTS writing needs clear, neutral language, so use rural area or remote area instead.