せがれ

〈人ひと〉にせがれを紹しょう介かいするto introduce one's son to someone
取とり引ひき先さきの方かたにせがれを紹しょう介かいした。
I introduced my son to our business partner.
せがれのくせにfor a mere young punk (used to scold or belittle)
せがれのくせに生なま意い気きなことを言いうな。
Don't talk back to me, you cheeky brat.

Kanji

息子むすこN4sense 1
息子 is the neutral, everyday word for 'son' usable for anyone's child, while せがれ is a humble term used only for one's own son (or a derogatory one for someone else's).
坊ぼう主ずN1sense 2
坊主 is a broader, casual term for a young boy or kid, whereas せがれ specifically implies 'son' with a dismissive or humble edge depending on context.

娘むすめN4sense 1
娘 means 'daughter', the gender opposite of せがれ, which specifically refers to a son.

子し息そくhonorific 尊敬語N1sense 1
子息 (often with ご-) is the respectful term used for someone else's son, while せがれ is the humble term one uses for one's own son.

せがれUsage29%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 倅, 伜, 悴, 忰 are rare and mostly encountered in older texts.
倅せがれUsage31%
Rare kanji form; may appear in literary or historical contexts.
伜せがれUsage23%
Rare variant kanji form.
悴せがれUsage8%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
忰せがれUsage6%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
セガレUsage3%

The origin is uncertain. It may derive from 背 (se, 'back' or 'height') + が + れ, but the exact derivation is unclear. The kanji forms are ateji.

Meanings

usually written using kana alonehumble (kenjougo)

Humble term used to refer to one's own son when speaking to someone outside the family. Not used for other people's sons.

young punk; brat

usually written using kana alone

Derogatory or dismissive term for a young man, often implying inexperience or cheekiness. Can be used for someone else's son in a critical tone.

usually written using kana alonecolloquial

Vulgar slang; used colloquially to refer to the male organ. Not appropriate in polite conversation.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉にせがれを紹しょう介かいするto introduce one's son to someone

取とり引ひき先さきの方かたにせがれを紹しょう介かいした。

I introduced my son to our business partner.

せがれのくせにfor a mere young punk (used to scold or belittle)

せがれのくせに生なま意い気きなことを言いうな。

Don't talk back to me, you cheeky brat.

Related words

息子むすこN4sense 1
息子 is the neutral, everyday word for 'son' usable for anyone's child, while せがれ is a humble term used only for one's own son (or a derogatory one for someone else's).
坊ぼう主ずN1sense 2
坊主 is a broader, casual term for a young boy or kid, whereas せがれ specifically implies 'son' with a dismissive or humble edge depending on context.

Written forms

せがれUsage29%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 倅, 伜, 悴, 忰 are rare and mostly encountered in older texts.
倅せがれUsage31%
Rare kanji form; may appear in literary or historical contexts.
伜せがれUsage23%
Rare variant kanji form.
悴せがれUsage8%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
忰せがれUsage6%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
セガレUsage3%