Definition of babe

babenoun

em yêu

/beɪb//beɪb/

The origin of the word "babe" can be traced back to Old English, specifically the West Saxon dialect. In Old English, the word "babe" meant "child" or "infant" and was spelled "bāb". This word was derived from the Proto-Germanic *babi-, which meant "swelling" or "protuberance". The Proto-Germanic root can also be found in other Germanic languages, such as the Old Frisian bab, Old Norse bábi, and Old High German bābfōrt (meaning "child-fort" or "stronghold of children"), all of which had similar meanings. In Middle English, the spelling of the word "babe" became "bābe", which later evolved into "babe" in Early Modern English. Today, the word mostly refers to a young, attractive woman, particularly in North American English. This use of the word can be traced back to the 1920s, where it was associated with jazz music and flapper culture. Overall, the word "babe" has a rich linguistic history and has evolved over time to carry different meanings. It serves as a reminder of the close connections between Old English, Middle English, and Early Modern English, and the continuity of the Germanic language family.

namespace

a baby

em bé

a word used to address a young woman, or your wife, husband or partner, usually expressing love but sometimes considered offensive if used by a man to a woman he does not know

một từ dùng để xưng hô với một người phụ nữ trẻ, hoặc vợ, chồng hoặc bạn tình của bạn, thường thể hiện tình yêu nhưng đôi khi bị coi là xúc phạm nếu một người đàn ông sử dụng nó với một người phụ nữ mà anh ta không biết

Example:
  • What're you doing tonight, babe?

    Tối nay em làm gì thế, em yêu?

an attractive young person (most often used of a woman)

một người trẻ tuổi hấp dẫn (thường được sử dụng nhất với phụ nữ)

Idioms

a babe in arms
(old-fashioned)a very small baby that cannot yet walk
out of the mouths of babes (and sucklings)
(saying)used when a small child has just said something that seems very wise or clever