goonies: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Pop culture
Quick answer
What does “goonies” mean?
A nickname for the Goon Docks neighborhood children, originally from the 1985 film 'The Goonies', now also used for its characters and fans.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A nickname for the Goon Docks neighborhood children, originally from the 1985 film 'The Goonies', now also used for its characters and fans.
Refers to 1) the specific group of adventure-seeking kids in the film 'The Goonies', 2) the film characters themselves, 3) the dedicated, nostalgic fan community of the film, and 4) (rare slang) naive or eccentric young people.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term primarily as a film reference. There is no significant difference, as the term is a proper noun originating from an American film.
Connotations
Strongly nostalgic, associated with 1980s popular culture. The primary association remains the film, not any pre-existing slang.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects. Known primarily to film fans and those familiar with 1980s popular culture.
Grammar
How to Use “goonies” in a Sentence
[To be] a GoonieTo feel like a GoonieTo watch The GooniesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “goonies” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We're planning to **Goonie** our way through this problem (very rare, creative).
American English
- Let's just **goonie** our bikes down the old mine trail (slang, very rare).
adverb
British English
- We acted **Goonies-ly**, rushing into the cave without a torch (extremely rare, non-standard).
American English
- They ran **Goonies-style** through the old shipyard (informal).
adjective
British English
- That was a proper **Goonies**-style map we found.
- We had a very **Goonies** afternoon exploring.
American English
- This treasure hunt is so **Goonies**.
- It was a real **Goonies** adventure.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Might appear in entertainment, marketing, or nostalgia-based branding.
Academic
Only in film studies, cultural studies, or analyses of 1980s popular culture.
Everyday
Used in casual conversation among friends, especially those who grew up in the 1980s/90s. 'We're having a Goonies movie night.'
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “goonies”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “goonies”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “goonies”
- Using lowercase for the film title or characters.
- Treating it as a regular plural noun (e.g., 'a goonie'). It's usually plural-only when used generically.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a proper noun originating from a film title. It has entered informal usage to refer to the characters or fans, but it is not a standard English common noun.
Rarely. It is usually a collective plural noun ('the Goonies'). When referring to a single character, you would use their name (e.g., Mikey, Data).
It was coined for the 1985 Steven Spielberg/Chris Columbus film 'The Goonies'. In the film, it's the nickname for the kids from the 'Goon Docks' neighbourhood.
Yes, when referring directly to the film, its title, or its characters, it should be capitalised as it is a proper noun: 'The Goonies'. In rare, informal slang use, it may be lowercased.
A nickname for the Goon Docks neighborhood children, originally from the 1985 film 'The Goonies', now also used for its characters and fans.
Goonies is usually informal, pop culture in register.
Goonies: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡuːniːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡuːniːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hey, you guys! (catchphrase)”
- “Goonies never say die.”
- “The Goonie spirit of adventure.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: **GOOnies** are the kids from the **GOOn** Docks who go on a big adventure. It rhymes with 'loonies' (crazy people), which fits their wild quest.
Conceptual Metaphor
A Goonie is AN UNDERDOG HERO; A Goonie adventure is A TREASURE HUNT THROUGH LIFE'S OBSTACLES.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'Goonies'?