The spelling of the word "gown boy" is often mistaken for "gumboy" due to the similar pronunciation. The correct phonetic transcription for "gown boy" is /ɡaʊn bɔɪ/. The first syllable is pronounced as "gown" like the clothing item, and the second syllable is pronounced as "boy" with a long "o" sound. The word typically refers to a young male who wears a gown, such as a choir boy or student at a boarding school.