Ask any Celtic fan around the world what they call themselves and their friends and chances are, the most common answer will be ‘The Bhoys’.
As heard in the chant, ‘Come on you Bhoys in green’, it’s a phrase well-known to all on the Celtic Park terraces throughout the years.
It’s a nickname that has been affiliated to Celtic ever since the first day of the club’s history, back when they were formed in 1887.
But why are they named that? 67 Hail Hail looks at the story behind the Bhoys nickname.
Why Celtic fans are known as ‘The Bhoys’
It all derives back to the club’s Irish background.
The phrase ‘Bhoys’ is pronounced exactly the same way you’d say the word ‘boys’ but the letter ‘h’ imitates the spelling system in the Gaelic language, in which an ‘h’ follows after a ‘b’.
Celtic fans first started the using the nickname over 100 years ago when supporters in the 20th century had postcards that featured the ‘Bold Bhoys’.
Ever since supporters starting adding the ‘h’ to give it an Irish spelling it’s a term that has stuck with them.
Do Celtic have any other nicknames?
Bhoys is the most commonly-used phrase but you can also hear supporters of Scotland’s most successful club go by other nicknames.
‘Celts’ and ‘The Hoops’ are the most likely, with the former a shortened-down version of the full club name and the latter due to the style of Celtic’s kits.
After wearing all-white in the early days, before switching to green and white stripes, the club then adopted what is now the infamous look of green and white hoops.
Meanwhile, some fans will called the home ground Parkhead or Paradise.
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