美国的妈妈们常对孩子说的话

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发完喽，欢迎跟贴

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1. Diminutive words for objects

cuddly (any plush toy, stuffed animal, etc)

owie, booboo     A child’s injury (could be a cut, bruise, burn, etc...)

dolly (for a doll)

duckie or ducky (toy duck)

teddybear (toy stuffed/plush bear)

bally or ballie (for a toy ball)

PJ’s/nighties (for pajamas)

shoesies (for shoes) (only when being affectionate or playful)

footsies (for feet) (only when being affectionate or playful, e.g., “Whose footsies are these?”, said while pretending not to know.)

(Note: there’s a game called “footsie”, where each person tries to put his foot over the     other person’s.)

toesies (for toes)

tummy (for stomach)                    

choo-choo train (for a train)

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预留，中文翻译

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2. Diminutive/child-like words for animals

ducky or duckie (for a duck, regardless of age)

horsy or horsie (for any horse, regardless of age)

bunny-rabbit (for any rabbit, regardless of age)

doggy, puppy, puppy-dog (for any dog, whether young or old)

lambie or lamby (for a little lamb, or sometimes even any sheep)

froggy (for frog)

kitty-cat, pussy-cat (for any cat)

birdy, birdie for bird

When you want to suggest that the animal is very loveable, you can intensify any of these by saying “sweet little lambie”, etc.

Note: despite the above examples, it doesn’t work to add the “y” or “ie” ending to just any word to make it a diminutive. If you tried to say “cowie” for “cow” it would come off like a joke. My son came up with “wrenchie” for his favorite tool; that was hilarious.

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预留位 中文翻译

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3. Diminutive/ terms of endearment/familiar words for family members, people

children = kids, kiddies, the little ones, munchkins

Names of family members:

Father: Dada, Daddy, Dad, Pop (rare), Pa (rare, more rural/old-fashioned)

Mother: Mama, Mommy, Mom, Ma (rare, more rural/old-fashioned)

Note: supposedly when a baby first starts talking they will say Dada and Mama; in most families in the US it evolves to Mommy and Daddy, and later to Mom and Dad when the children get old enough and start wanting to not sound like little kids

Sister: Sis, Sissy (for sister; the sister in question won’t necessarily like this)

Grandad, Grandpa, Gramps (for grandfather)

Grandma, Gramma, Granny (for grandmother)

(The most common usage is Granddad and Grandma, with Gramps and Granny having more of an old-fashioned country sound to many people.)

Cuz (for a cousin, not very common)

Auntie (for Aunt)

People outside the family often use “Master” or “Miss” to address a child, as in “And how is Master John today?” or “How is Miss Jane?”. This is a sort of playful formality. Parents use it sometimes too.

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中文预留位

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4. Terms of endearment used for children:
(all these are used by some people, while others find some or all corny, sickly sweet, excessively sentimental,...it just depends on the person’s style)   

Honey (one of the most common. Also used between spouses)

Sweetheart

Sweetie (also common)

My Little One

Dear

My Dear One

Dearest

Precious (usually not for boy unless he’s a baby)

Sweet-pea

Sweety-pie (common)

Cutie-pie (not for boys unless they’re babies)

Honey-bunny or honey-bun

Honey-pie

Sugar

Sugar-pie

Darling

Sweet (You can say “Hello, Sweet.”  Or “Come here, Sweet”)

Cuddles

Hey, Beaut! Hi, Beautiful! (A father could say this when greeting his daughter)

Little Pumpkin (personally I dislike this one)

The Apple of my Eye (I also dislike this one; as a child I came up with retorts like

      “Cucumber of my Foot”. However, it’s widely used.)

Rascal (can be meant affectionately, for people who are sick of sentimentality)

Munchkin (as in, perhaps, “Come on, munchkins, we’re going to the show.”)

  

Expressing affection

You’re my absolute favorite boy/girl.

You’re my treasure.

You make me so happy.

Come sit on my lap.

Come snuggle up next to me.

I need some hugs.

I’m running very low on kisses.

World’s neatest little girl/boy.

You’re my precious one.

You light up my day.

You’re (my) number one boy/girl.

I wouldn’t trade you for all the gold in the world.

You’re my biggest joy.

You’re my sunshine.

They don’t make them any better than this one.

I’d do anything for you. [Personally, I’d be cautious about using this one!]

“How much does Mommy/Daddy love John?” “This much!” (the child answers this with the arms streteched out wide). Or, answers can be made more colorful, e.g., “From here to the moon and back.”, etc.

You get 3 guesses as to who my favorite boy/girl is. (the 3 guesses are a sort of joke; they can answer with the names of other children to be funny)

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预留中文用

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5. What to say about or to someone else’s baby or child

bundle of joy – classic term referring to a new baby

So this is your new arrival?

I think he has his mommy’s eyes.

What an armful.

How’s the little one? Keeping you busy?

Is he sleeping through the night?

Has he said his first word yet?

She’s beyond precious. (Flattering: Meaning that the word “precious” itself isn’t enough to say how amazing this child is.)

Isn’t he adorable?

What an angel-face!

Isn’t she a darling?

Isn’t she a dear!

He’s so cute! (After a certain age boys might not want this said about them, except by girls of the same age. And some fathers object to it ever being used for their sons.)

Look at that button nose. (To a baby only)

Look at that mop of hair! (this is meant as a compliment when said of a baby)

He’s getting to be such a big boy.

You’ve got your hands full with this one.

Daddy’s little girl. (Usually refers to a girl whose father seems to dote on her a lot.)

She’ll wind you around her little finger. (Meaning, your daughter can get you to do anything she wants.)