baby talk

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noun

the speech of children learning to talk, marked by syntactic differences from adult speech and by phonetic modifications like lisping, lalling, and the omission and substitution of sounds.

Also called par·ent·ese

[pair-uhn-teez, -tees, par-] /ˌpɛər ənˈtiz, -ˈtis, ˌpær-/ . a style of speech used by adults in addressing children, pets, or sweethearts, and formed in imitation of the voice and pronunciation of children learning to talk: it is generally characterized in English by the addition of diminutive endings to words, the use of special words and pet names, and the systematic distortion of certain words, as dolly for doll,teensy-weensy for tiny,oo for you, and twain for train.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of baby talk

First recorded in 1830–40

usage note for baby talk

Baby Talk is used as a label in this dictionary for well-known terms traditionally thought to exemplify the type of baby talk used by adults.

Words nearby baby talk

baby snatcher, baby split, baby spot, baby's-tears, baby step, baby talk, baby tee, baby tooth, baby-walker, baby wipe, BAC

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use baby talk in a sentence

Some doctors even advised parents to avoid using baby talk, thinking it too silly or patronizing.
Baby talk isn’t just cute—it’s critical for kids’ vocabularies|Sarah Witman|October 28, 2021|Popular-Science
Better insight into the role of baby talk in a child’s growth could help psychologists and others identify infants at high risk of developing a language disorder.
Baby talk isn’t just cute—it’s critical for kids’ vocabularies|Sarah Witman|October 28, 2021|Popular-Science
The high-pitched, singsong tone we switch to when interacting with young children can go by many names—baby talk, parentese, or, according to development specialists, infant-directed speech.
Baby talk isn’t just cute—it’s critical for kids’ vocabularies|Sarah Witman|October 28, 2021|Popular-Science
That’s part of the dog-directed speech—baby talk, but for puppies—that Emily Bray, who studies dog psychology and development at the University of Arizona, recited to 375 puppies to see whether or not they would pay attention to human faces.
Puppies are born ready to communicate with people|Nikita Amir|June 16, 2021|Popular-Science

In some parts of the world, moms do not regularly play with their kids or speak in baby talk, and concepts like “toddler” and “teenager” may not exist.
What makes one mom different from another|Abigail Tucker|June 4, 2021|Washington Post
Nina, delighted to see the animal once more, was caressing his long ears and mumbling baby-talk to him.
The Tigress|Anne Warner
She did not wear pretty dresses nor laugh nor address baby talk to "Boo'ful."
Bunker Bean|Harry Leon Wilson
It is all idle to talk baby-talk, and give shallow accounts of deep things, thinking thereby to interest the child.
Woman in the Nineteenth Century|Margaret Fuller Ossoli
The men89 chattered, the women laughed, and there was an affectation of baby-talk at nearly every table.
The Eternal City|Hall Caine
At twenty she had been addicted to baby talk when endeavouring to coax something out of someone.
Half Portions|Edna Ferber

British Dictionary definitions for baby talk

baby talk

noun

the speech of very young children learning to talk

an adult's imitation of this

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012