Meanings
nounmotherese (uncountable)
- uncountableBaby talk.
With its slow and exaggerated intonations, motherese speeds language learning by providing input that is easier for infants to process.
2016, Joseph Henrich, chapter 13, in The Secret of Our Success […] , Princeton: Princeton University Press, →ISBN
Synonyms & antonyms
nounan adult's imitation of the speech of a young child
Broader
non-standard speech
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*méh₂tēr
- Proto-Germanic*mōdēr
- Proto-West Germanic*mōder
- Old Englishmōdor
- Middle Englishmoder
- Englishmother
- Englishmotherese
Translations
French mamanais
- mamanaismotherese — see also baby talk
German Mutterisch
- Mutterischmotherese — see also baby talk
Polish mowa matczyna
- mowa matczynamotherese — see also baby talk
Spanish maternés
- maternésmotherese — see also baby talk
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
motherese. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motherese
MLA
“motherese.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motherese. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “motherese,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motherese.
Source: motherese on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.