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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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. 2022

How to use baby talk in a sentence

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
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
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
What celebrity has started to talk about his or her eating disorder?
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Hopefully not overly close, but we talk about it in the episode how similar it is.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
How about baby drama with little Abijean and the Wee Baby Seamus?
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He has wild swings between trying not to care about Lana and the baby, and being completely obsessed by it.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Earlier this week, Huckabee ended his Fox News talk show so he could spend time mulling another bid for the Republican nomination.
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Aristide replaced the baby, and with a complicated arrangement of string fastened it securely to the seat.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
And is this a mere fantastic talk, or is this a thing that could be done and that ought to be done?
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Our talk ranged from the Panhandle to the Canada line, while our horses jogged steadily southward.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Above all, he was amazed to hear me talk of a mercenary standing army in the midst of peace and among a free people.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
She had carried the baby over to Juana's and left her there, that she might be free to serve the Father's supper.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson

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