bohemian
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bohemian¹
- /boʊˈhimi.ən/ US
Where it comes from
Borrowed from French bohémien (“person from Bohemia”), from Bohême (“Bohemia”), equivalent to Bohemia + -an.
In 19th century France, Romani people were believed to come from Bohemia (part of present-day Czechia). The term bohémien was then adopted to describe members of the scene of artists and intellectuals who lived unconventional and impoverished lifestyles in Paris, perceived as living like gypsies. Popularized by the 1851 Henri Murger novel Scenes of Bohemian Life (Scènes de la vie de bohème).
noun bohemians · Bohemian
- A person, especially an artist or writer, who lives an unconventional or nonconformist lifestyle. Burlington, where Mr. Twitchell grew up and where he now spends summers, was singled out by David Brooks in his wickedly funny “Bobos in Paradise” as a model Latte Town, a city that has perfectly reconciled the mercenary instincts of the bourgeoisie with the artistic spirit of the bohemians to creat
adjective more bohemian · most bohemian · Bohemian
- Unconventional, especially in habit or dress. 2001, Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce (scriptwriters), Moulin Rouge!, Please tell me you're not one of Toulouse's oh-so-talented, charmingly bohemian, tragically impoverished protégés!
Bohemian²
- /bəʊ̯ˈhiː.mi.(ə̯)n̩/
- /bəʊ̯ˈhiː.miː.ən/ UK
- /boʊ̯ˈhi.mi.ən/ Canada, US
- /bəʉ̯ˈhiː.miː.ən/ Australia
- /bɐʉ̯ˈhiː.miː.ən/ New Zealand
- /boˈhi.mi.ən/ Scotland
- /boˈhi.mi.ʌn/ Scotland
Rhymes with -iːmiən
Where it comes from
In sense of Romani and by association, marginalized artists, from bohémien (“person from Bohemia, Romani”). Regarding the sense evolution, compare gypsy.
noun Bohemians
- A native or resident of Bohemia.
- A Gypsy, a Romani.
- Alternative letter-case form of bohemian; someone known for flouting social conventions, especially someone involved in the arts. Despite such setbacks - and Rowie had many of them during her career - she remains a true Bohemian in the classic tradition.
adjective
proper noun
- The Czech language.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: unconventional, arty, bohemia, waxwing, free-spirited, avant-gardist, nonconformist, hippie, beatnik, countercultural, maverick, offbeat, alternative, artsy, artistic, hipster
Translations
Every language
noun person whose lifestyle is unconventional
| Español | bohemio, bohemia |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 보헤미안 bohemian |
| 中文 | 波西米亞人 /波西米亚人 |
| Ελληνικά | μποέμ boém, μποέμισσα boémissa |
| Română | boem |
| Русский | боге́мный bogémnyj |
adj unconventional
| Español | bohemio |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 非主流的 fēizhǔliú de |
| Deutsch | unkonventionell |
| Ελληνικά | μποέμικος boémikos |
| Română | boem |
| Русский | боге́мный bogémnyj |
noun native or resident of Bohemia
| Español | bohemio, bohemia |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Böhme, Böhmin |
| Italiano | boemo |
| Ελληνικά | Βοημός Voïmós, Βοημή Voïmí, Βοημίδα Voïmída |
| Română | boem, boemă |
| Русский | боге́мец bogémec, боге́мка bogémka |
adj of, or relating to Bohemia or its language
| Español | bohemio |
|---|---|
| Italiano | boemo |
| Ελληνικά | βοημικός voïmikós |
| Română | boem |
| Русский | боге́мский bogémskij |
name Czech language
| Português | boêmio, boémio |
|---|---|
| Italiano | boemo |
| Русский | боге́мский bogémskij |
Talk about this word "bohemian." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/bohemian. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. bohemian. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/bohemian "bohemian." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/bohemian.Cite this
@misc{bohemian_2026,
title = {bohemian},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/bohemian},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
