Translation guide
The simplified, affectionate speech used by adults when talking to babies or young children. In Japanese, this often involves special vocabulary, onomatopoeia, reduplication, and the use of the polite prefix お/ご.
The overall style of speech adults use with babies, characterized by simplified grammar, high pitch, and affectionate tone.
Literally 'baby language'. This is the most common term for the speech style adults use when talking to babies.
赤ちゃん言葉で話しかけると、赤ちゃんが喜ぶ。
Babies are happy when you talk to them in baby talk.
Refers specifically to the words and expressions used by or to young children. More technical than 赤ちゃん言葉.
「わんわん」は犬を指す幼児語です。
"Wanwan" is baby talk for dog.
Literally 'child-rearing language'. Used in academic or parenting contexts to describe the simplified language caregivers use.
育児語の研究によると、母親は自然に高い声で話す。
According to research on baby talk, mothers naturally speak in a high-pitched voice.
Individual words or expressions that are part of baby talk, often onomatopoeic or reduplicated.
Japanese baby talk heavily uses sound-symbolic words and reduplication. Common examples: わんわん (dog), ぶーぶー (car), ねんね (sleep/go to bed).
Adding the polite prefix お or ご to everyday words makes them sound softer and more affectionate in baby talk. E.g., おてて (hands), おめめ (eyes), おねんね (sleep).
おててを洗おうね。
Let's wash your hands, okay?
おめめ、ぱちぱちしてるね。
Your eyes are blinking, aren't they?
Some verbs have special baby talk forms, often ending in んこ or ん. E.g., たっちする (stand up), あんよする (walk), かみかみする (chew).
あんよが上手になったね。
You've gotten so good at walking!
たっちできる？
Can you stand up?
When adults use baby talk with each other or with pets, often to be cute or affectionate.
Adults sometimes use baby talk words with romantic partners or close friends to sound cute. This is similar to English pet names or playful speech.
Using baby talk with someone you're not close to can be seen as condescending or inappropriate.
おなかすいたの？よしよし、ごはんにしようね。
Are you hungry? There, there, let's have some food.
Japanese people often use baby talk when speaking to pets. The same vocabulary and patterns apply.
いい子だね、おてておくれ。
Good boy, give me your paw.
While adding お/ご is common in baby talk, using it on words that don't normally take it can sound unnatural if you're not a native speaker. Stick to common baby talk words like おてて, おめめ, おねんね.
おくつしたをはこうね。
Let's put on your socks.
The prefix お/ご in baby talk is not the same as honorific お/ご. In baby talk, it's used to soften words and make them sound cute, not to show respect. For example, おてて is baby talk for 'hands', while お手 (おて) is a polite way to say 'hand' in formal contexts.