"girly" meaning in All languages combined

See girly on Wiktionary

Adjective [English]

IPA: /ˈɡɝli/ [General-American], /ˈɡɜːli/ [Received-Pronunciation] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-girly.wav Forms: girlier [comparative], girliest [superlative]
Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)li Etymology: From girl + -y (adjectival sufix). Etymology templates: {{suffix|en|girl|-y|id2=adjectival|pos2=adjectival sufix}} girl + -y (adjectival sufix) Head templates: {{en-adj|er}} girly (comparative girlier, superlative girliest)
  1. Characteristic of a stereotypical girl, very effeminate, gentle; unmasculine. Translations (characteristic of a stereotypical girl): ina (Esperanto), tyttömäinen (Finnish), féminin (French), κοριτσίστικος (koritsístikos) (Greek), 女の子っぽい (onnanokoppoi) (Japanese), meitenīgs (Latvian), babski (Polish), девча́чий (devčáčij) (Russian), dievčenský (Slovak), tjejig (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-girly-en-adj--xCYVBLw Disambiguation of 'characteristic of a stereotypical girl': 97 2 1
  2. (slang) Of, or pertaining to, a young, attractive woman; especially one who is scantily clad. Tags: slang
    Sense id: en-girly-en-adj-wcXRQtNq Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms suffixed with -ly (adverbial), English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival), Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Esperanto translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Japanese translations, Terms with Latvian translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Slovak translations, Terms with Swedish translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 23 50 2 26 0 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -ly (adverbial): 23 39 4 30 3 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival): 37 57 7 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 29 70 2 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 21 51 1 27 0 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 20 52 1 26 0 Disambiguation of Terms with Esperanto translations: 30 67 3 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 35 57 9 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 34 63 3 Disambiguation of Terms with Greek translations: 35 60 4 Disambiguation of Terms with Japanese translations: 30 67 3 Disambiguation of Terms with Latvian translations: 28 60 13 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 34 58 8 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 30 67 3 Disambiguation of Terms with Slovak translations: 28 60 13 Disambiguation of Terms with Swedish translations: 26 67 7
  3. (slang) Weak; wussy. Tags: slang
    Sense id: en-girly-en-adj-oSvdpD2L
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms (applied to a boy or man): effeminate, unmanly Synonyms (applied to a girl or woman): feminine, girlish, puellile, puelline, womanly Derived forms: girlily, girliness, girly bits, girly girl, girly mag, girly magazine, girly man, girlyman, girly push-up, ungirly
Etymology number: 1 Disambiguation of 'applied to a boy or man': 41 43 16 Disambiguation of 'applied to a girl or woman': 45 51 4

Adverb [English]

IPA: /ˈɡɝli/ [General-American], /ˈɡɜːli/ [Received-Pronunciation] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-girly.wav
Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)li Etymology: From girl + -ly (adverbial suffix), after the adjective. Etymology templates: {{suffix|en|girl|ly|id2=adverbial|pos2=adverbial suffix}} girl + -ly (adverbial suffix) Head templates: {{en-adv|?}} girly
  1. (rare) In the manner of a girl. Tags: rare Synonyms: girlily, girlishly
    Sense id: en-girly-en-adv-ywca~A-5
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 3

Noun [English]

IPA: /ˈɡɝli/ [General-American], /ˈɡɜːli/ [Received-Pronunciation] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-girly.wav Forms: girlies [plural]
Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)li Etymology: From girl + -y (diminutive suffix). Etymology templates: {{suffix|en|girl|y|id2=diminutive|pos2=diminutive suffix}} girl + -y (diminutive suffix) Head templates: {{en-noun}} girly (plural girlies)
  1. (childish or colloquial) A girl. Tags: childish, colloquial
    Sense id: en-girly-en-noun-LXP1y18R Categories (other): English terms suffixed with -y (diminutive)
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "butch"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "hoyden"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "hoydenish"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "mannish"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "masculine"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "tomboyish"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "unwomanly"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a boy or man”",
      "word": "butch"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a boy or man”",
      "word": "manly"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a boy or man”",
      "word": "masculine"
    }
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "girlily"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "girliness"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "girly bits"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "girly girl"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "girly mag"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "girly magazine"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "girly man"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "girlyman"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "girly push-up"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "ungirly"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "girl",
        "3": "-y",
        "id2": "adjectival",
        "pos2": "adjectival sufix"
      },
      "expansion": "girl + -y (adjectival sufix)",
      "name": "suffix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From girl + -y (adjectival sufix).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "girlier",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "girliest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "er"
      },
      "expansion": "girly (comparative girlier, superlative girliest)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              248,
              253
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2014 January 31, Kelly Wallace, “Pink, princess-y and sexy too soon”, in CNN:",
          "text": "As a mom of two girls – including one who hopes Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos calls her to play on his team in this week’s Super Bowl – I can totally relate. I, along with so many other parents, am frustrated about the definitions of what’s girly and what’s not, and the separate products and clothing offered to girls and boys.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              65,
              73
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2017 July 12, Frances Cha, “Complete Korean cosmetics shopping guide”, in CNN:",
          "text": "The Forever21 of Korean makeup, Etude House is geared toward the girliest of girls – and Japanese tourists.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              21,
              28
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2025 July 25, Lindsey Ellefson, “I Knew the Viral 'Tea' App Was Trouble, but I Didn't Expect a Data Breach”, in Lifehacker:",
          "text": "Where Lulu was a bit girlier and took more delight in gossip, Tea claims to be more focused on safety, but they general gist is similar.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Characteristic of a stereotypical girl, very effeminate, gentle; unmasculine."
      ],
      "id": "en-girly-en-adj--xCYVBLw",
      "links": [
        [
          "stereotypical",
          "stereotypical"
        ],
        [
          "girl",
          "girl"
        ],
        [
          "effeminate",
          "effeminate"
        ],
        [
          "gentle",
          "gentle"
        ],
        [
          "unmasculine",
          "unmasculine"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "97 2 1",
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "lang_code": "eo",
          "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
          "word": "ina"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 2 1",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "lang_code": "fi",
          "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
          "word": "tyttömäinen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 2 1",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "lang_code": "fr",
          "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
          "word": "féminin"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 2 1",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "lang_code": "el",
          "roman": "koritsístikos",
          "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
          "word": "κοριτσίστικος"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 2 1",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "lang_code": "ja",
          "roman": "onnanokoppoi",
          "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
          "word": "女の子っぽい"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 2 1",
          "code": "lv",
          "lang": "Latvian",
          "lang_code": "lv",
          "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
          "word": "meitenīgs"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 2 1",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
          "word": "babski"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 2 1",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "lang_code": "ru",
          "roman": "devčáčij",
          "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
          "word": "девча́чий"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 2 1",
          "code": "sk",
          "lang": "Slovak",
          "lang_code": "sk",
          "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
          "word": "dievčenský"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "97 2 1",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "lang_code": "sv",
          "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
          "word": "tjejig"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "23 50 2 26 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 39 4 30 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -ly (adverbial)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "37 57 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "29 70 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "21 51 1 27 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "20 52 1 26 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "30 67 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Esperanto translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "35 57 9",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "34 63 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "35 60 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Greek translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "30 67 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Japanese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 60 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Latvian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "34 58 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "30 67 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 60 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Slovak translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "26 67 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Swedish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              2,
              7
            ]
          ],
          "text": "a girly calendar",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of, or pertaining to, a young, attractive woman; especially one who is scantily clad."
      ],
      "id": "en-girly-en-adj-wcXRQtNq",
      "links": [
        [
          "scantily clad",
          "scantily clad"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(slang) Of, or pertaining to, a young, attractive woman; especially one who is scantily clad."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "slang"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              96,
              101
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2013, L. A. Campbell, Cartboy and the Time Capsule, page 112:",
          "text": "There was enough food for a soccer team and we were going to grill it. Our meatfest included no girly utensils, no wussy plates. Just our hands, mouths, and incisors.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Weak; wussy."
      ],
      "id": "en-girly-en-adj-oSvdpD2L",
      "links": [
        [
          "Weak",
          "weak"
        ],
        [
          "wussy",
          "wussy"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(slang) Weak; wussy."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "slang"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɝli/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɜːli/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-girly.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɜː(ɹ)li"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "45 51 4",
      "sense": "applied to a girl or woman",
      "word": "feminine"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "45 51 4",
      "sense": "applied to a girl or woman",
      "word": "girlish"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "45 51 4",
      "sense": "applied to a girl or woman",
      "word": "puellile"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "45 51 4",
      "sense": "applied to a girl or woman",
      "word": "puelline"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "45 51 4",
      "sense": "applied to a girl or woman",
      "word": "womanly"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "41 43 16",
      "sense": "applied to a boy or man",
      "word": "effeminate"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "41 43 16",
      "sense": "applied to a boy or man",
      "word": "unmanly"
    }
  ],
  "word": "girly"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "girl",
        "3": "y",
        "id2": "diminutive",
        "pos2": "diminutive suffix"
      },
      "expansion": "girl + -y (diminutive suffix)",
      "name": "suffix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From girl + -y (diminutive suffix).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "girlies",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "girly (plural girlies)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -y (diminutive)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              5,
              10
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2025 April 18, Elise Devlin, “Jordan Chiles, Aly Raisman and the benefits of ‘mutual mentorship’”, in The Athletic, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Apr 2025:",
          "text": "“Hey girly!” Chiles said. “What’s up!” / “Oh my gosh,” Raisman said. “How did you get in our hotel room?”",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A girl."
      ],
      "id": "en-girly-en-noun-LXP1y18R",
      "links": [
        [
          "childish",
          "childish"
        ],
        [
          "girl",
          "girl"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(childish or colloquial) A girl."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "childish",
        "colloquial"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɝli/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɜːli/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-girly.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɜː(ɹ)li"
    }
  ],
  "word": "girly"
}

{
  "etymology_number": 3,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "girl",
        "3": "ly",
        "id2": "adverbial",
        "pos2": "adverbial suffix"
      },
      "expansion": "girl + -ly (adverbial suffix)",
      "name": "suffix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From girl + -ly (adverbial suffix), after the adjective.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "?"
      },
      "expansion": "girly",
      "name": "en-adv"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adv",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              266,
              271
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1996 November 17, Chrissy Iley, “Danny DeVito”, in Men, Women, Love, Sex, God & Death: The Collected Sunday Times Writings, London: André Deutsch, published 1997, →ISBN, chapter 10 (Sweet), page 340:",
          "text": "And its^([sic]) not just the blue nail polish. It’s the way his mind is attuned. He is incredibly in touch and in tune with females. Females surround him in his company. His partner in Jersey Films is Stacey Scherr.^([sic]) He can talk about boyfriends. He can talk girly.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              133,
              138
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2001, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, “Not Buried But In Turd”, in Gone Tomorrow, London: Little, Brown and Company, →ISBN, page 203:",
          "text": "‘He really cares about you,’ Slider said awkwardly. Doing the old bosom-baring on your own behalf was bad enough, but having to talk girly about a male friend was as easy as eating a sand sandwich.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              45,
              50
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2005 January 11, Tamayo Akiyama, translated by Alexis Kirsch, Hyper Rune, volume 2, Los Angeles, Calif.: Tokyopop, →ISBN:",
          "text": "Your boobs are too small. AND YOU DON’T TALK GIRLY ENOUGH!",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              117,
              122
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2013 April 2, Nicole Knepper, “The Vagina Dialogues”, in Moms Who Drink and Swear: True Tales of Loving My Kids While Losing My Mind, New York, N.Y.: New American Library, →ISBN, “Sisterhood of the Status Updates: Girlfriends, Genitals and Growing Up” section, page 20:",
          "text": "Just a half hour earlier, I had checked in by text with Eric. “Hey, Sugarbuns. Remember, I’m at Dag’s. Going to talk girly and drown my sorrow in mojitos.”",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              27,
              32
            ],
            [
              107,
              112
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2013 June 19, Michael J. Bowler, “We’re Brothers Now, Aren’t We?”, in Children of the Knight (The Lance Chronicles; 1), Tallahassee, Fla.: Harmony Ink Press, →ISBN, pages 93–94:",
          "text": "“[…] To me, he looks kinda girly to be in charge.” […] “Grab any sword you like, and we’ll see if I fight ‘girly’.”",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              17,
              22
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2013 October 25, George Henry Shaft, “CCC3003”, in On Cross Channel, 10ᵗʰ anniversary edition, ASIN B0DTW4T573:",
          "text": "Taichi can speak girly; how he would sound in falsetto is anybody's guess, but he's far from the manliest of men while Youko is far from the girliest of girls, and it's not unbelievable that his practice of girl's speech went as far as that (though at six-seven years old he wouldn't have had issues).",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              119,
              124
            ],
            [
              130,
              135
            ],
            [
              155,
              160
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2015 August 5, Barry F. Schnell, chapter 4, in Coccyx Cousins, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN:",
          "text": "Women who try too hard to be one of the boys ain’t my thing, I realized on the cusp of mid-life. I like women who talk girly, act girly, and engage in the girly sisterhood: dress nice, but not pretentiously, giggle often, and know that a gentle stroke of the fingertips along the back of a fellow’s neck is sexier than anything this side of newly worn silk nighties.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              30,
              35
            ],
            [
              106,
              111
            ],
            [
              166,
              171
            ],
            [
              226,
              231
            ],
            [
              273,
              278
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2017 August 28, Huston Piner, “Dedicated to the One I Love”, in My Life as a Myth (Chadham High; 1), Albuquerque, N.M.: NineStar Press, →ISBN, page 196:",
          "text": "“[…] Like if he talks kind of girly, or sort of walks like a girl, it might mean he’s gay.” “I don’t talk girly, do I?” I squeak in alarm. “No, sugar, you don’t talk girly,” she says and preemptively adds, “and you don’t walk girly either.” […] (He’s always talked kind of girly himself.)",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              62,
              67
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2020, Rolland “Moose” Amos, “Poetry Potpourri”, in Junk Poetry III, Pittsburgh, Pa.: Dorrance Publishing Co, published 12 May 2021, →ISBN, page 25:",
          "text": "Is your wife now grumpy, surly, / Will not cuddle, won’t talk girly? / Hints she’s craving soft, sweet chat? / Then rush right out, buy her a cat!",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "In the manner of a girl."
      ],
      "id": "en-girly-en-adv-ywca~A-5",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) In the manner of a girl."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "girlily"
        },
        {
          "word": "girlishly"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɝli/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɜːli/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-girly.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɜː(ɹ)li"
    }
  ],
  "word": "girly"
}
{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "butch"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "hoyden"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "hoydenish"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "mannish"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "masculine"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "tomboyish"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”",
      "word": "unwomanly"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a boy or man”",
      "word": "butch"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a boy or man”",
      "word": "manly"
    },
    {
      "sense": "antonym(s) of “applied to a boy or man”",
      "word": "masculine"
    }
  ],
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English adverbs",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms suffixed with -ly (adverbial)",
    "English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival)",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)li",
    "Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)li/2 syllables",
    "Terms with Esperanto translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with Greek translations",
    "Terms with Japanese translations",
    "Terms with Latvian translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Slovak translations",
    "Terms with Swedish translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "girlily"
    },
    {
      "word": "girliness"
    },
    {
      "word": "girly bits"
    },
    {
      "word": "girly girl"
    },
    {
      "word": "girly mag"
    },
    {
      "word": "girly magazine"
    },
    {
      "word": "girly man"
    },
    {
      "word": "girlyman"
    },
    {
      "word": "girly push-up"
    },
    {
      "word": "ungirly"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "girl",
        "3": "-y",
        "id2": "adjectival",
        "pos2": "adjectival sufix"
      },
      "expansion": "girl + -y (adjectival sufix)",
      "name": "suffix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From girl + -y (adjectival sufix).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "girlier",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "girliest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "er"
      },
      "expansion": "girly (comparative girlier, superlative girliest)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              248,
              253
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2014 January 31, Kelly Wallace, “Pink, princess-y and sexy too soon”, in CNN:",
          "text": "As a mom of two girls – including one who hopes Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos calls her to play on his team in this week’s Super Bowl – I can totally relate. I, along with so many other parents, am frustrated about the definitions of what’s girly and what’s not, and the separate products and clothing offered to girls and boys.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              65,
              73
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2017 July 12, Frances Cha, “Complete Korean cosmetics shopping guide”, in CNN:",
          "text": "The Forever21 of Korean makeup, Etude House is geared toward the girliest of girls – and Japanese tourists.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              21,
              28
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2025 July 25, Lindsey Ellefson, “I Knew the Viral 'Tea' App Was Trouble, but I Didn't Expect a Data Breach”, in Lifehacker:",
          "text": "Where Lulu was a bit girlier and took more delight in gossip, Tea claims to be more focused on safety, but they general gist is similar.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Characteristic of a stereotypical girl, very effeminate, gentle; unmasculine."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "stereotypical",
          "stereotypical"
        ],
        [
          "girl",
          "girl"
        ],
        [
          "effeminate",
          "effeminate"
        ],
        [
          "gentle",
          "gentle"
        ],
        [
          "unmasculine",
          "unmasculine"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English slang",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              2,
              7
            ]
          ],
          "text": "a girly calendar",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of, or pertaining to, a young, attractive woman; especially one who is scantily clad."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "scantily clad",
          "scantily clad"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(slang) Of, or pertaining to, a young, attractive woman; especially one who is scantily clad."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "slang"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English slang",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              96,
              101
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2013, L. A. Campbell, Cartboy and the Time Capsule, page 112:",
          "text": "There was enough food for a soccer team and we were going to grill it. Our meatfest included no girly utensils, no wussy plates. Just our hands, mouths, and incisors.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Weak; wussy."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Weak",
          "weak"
        ],
        [
          "wussy",
          "wussy"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(slang) Weak; wussy."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "slang"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɝli/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɜːli/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-girly.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɜː(ɹ)li"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "sense": "applied to a girl or woman",
      "word": "feminine"
    },
    {
      "sense": "applied to a girl or woman",
      "word": "girlish"
    },
    {
      "sense": "applied to a girl or woman",
      "word": "puellile"
    },
    {
      "sense": "applied to a girl or woman",
      "word": "puelline"
    },
    {
      "sense": "applied to a girl or woman",
      "word": "womanly"
    },
    {
      "sense": "applied to a boy or man",
      "word": "effeminate"
    },
    {
      "sense": "applied to a boy or man",
      "word": "unmanly"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "lang_code": "eo",
      "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
      "word": "ina"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "lang_code": "fi",
      "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
      "word": "tyttömäinen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "lang_code": "fr",
      "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
      "word": "féminin"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "lang_code": "el",
      "roman": "koritsístikos",
      "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
      "word": "κοριτσίστικος"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "lang_code": "ja",
      "roman": "onnanokoppoi",
      "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
      "word": "女の子っぽい"
    },
    {
      "code": "lv",
      "lang": "Latvian",
      "lang_code": "lv",
      "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
      "word": "meitenīgs"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
      "word": "babski"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "lang_code": "ru",
      "roman": "devčáčij",
      "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
      "word": "девча́чий"
    },
    {
      "code": "sk",
      "lang": "Slovak",
      "lang_code": "sk",
      "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
      "word": "dievčenský"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "lang_code": "sv",
      "sense": "characteristic of a stereotypical girl",
      "word": "tjejig"
    }
  ],
  "word": "girly"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English adverbs",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms suffixed with -ly (adverbial)",
    "English terms suffixed with -y (diminutive)",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)li",
    "Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)li/2 syllables"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "girl",
        "3": "y",
        "id2": "diminutive",
        "pos2": "diminutive suffix"
      },
      "expansion": "girl + -y (diminutive suffix)",
      "name": "suffix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From girl + -y (diminutive suffix).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "girlies",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "girly (plural girlies)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English childish terms",
        "English colloquialisms",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              5,
              10
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2025 April 18, Elise Devlin, “Jordan Chiles, Aly Raisman and the benefits of ‘mutual mentorship’”, in The Athletic, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Apr 2025:",
          "text": "“Hey girly!” Chiles said. “What’s up!” / “Oh my gosh,” Raisman said. “How did you get in our hotel room?”",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A girl."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "childish",
          "childish"
        ],
        [
          "girl",
          "girl"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(childish or colloquial) A girl."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "childish",
        "colloquial"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɝli/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɜːli/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-girly.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɜː(ɹ)li"
    }
  ],
  "word": "girly"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English adverbs",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms suffixed with -ly (adverbial)",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)li",
    "Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)li/2 syllables"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 3,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "girl",
        "3": "ly",
        "id2": "adverbial",
        "pos2": "adverbial suffix"
      },
      "expansion": "girl + -ly (adverbial suffix)",
      "name": "suffix"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From girl + -ly (adverbial suffix), after the adjective.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "?"
      },
      "expansion": "girly",
      "name": "en-adv"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adv",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              266,
              271
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1996 November 17, Chrissy Iley, “Danny DeVito”, in Men, Women, Love, Sex, God & Death: The Collected Sunday Times Writings, London: André Deutsch, published 1997, →ISBN, chapter 10 (Sweet), page 340:",
          "text": "And its^([sic]) not just the blue nail polish. It’s the way his mind is attuned. He is incredibly in touch and in tune with females. Females surround him in his company. His partner in Jersey Films is Stacey Scherr.^([sic]) He can talk about boyfriends. He can talk girly.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              133,
              138
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2001, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, “Not Buried But In Turd”, in Gone Tomorrow, London: Little, Brown and Company, →ISBN, page 203:",
          "text": "‘He really cares about you,’ Slider said awkwardly. Doing the old bosom-baring on your own behalf was bad enough, but having to talk girly about a male friend was as easy as eating a sand sandwich.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              45,
              50
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2005 January 11, Tamayo Akiyama, translated by Alexis Kirsch, Hyper Rune, volume 2, Los Angeles, Calif.: Tokyopop, →ISBN:",
          "text": "Your boobs are too small. AND YOU DON’T TALK GIRLY ENOUGH!",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              117,
              122
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2013 April 2, Nicole Knepper, “The Vagina Dialogues”, in Moms Who Drink and Swear: True Tales of Loving My Kids While Losing My Mind, New York, N.Y.: New American Library, →ISBN, “Sisterhood of the Status Updates: Girlfriends, Genitals and Growing Up” section, page 20:",
          "text": "Just a half hour earlier, I had checked in by text with Eric. “Hey, Sugarbuns. Remember, I’m at Dag’s. Going to talk girly and drown my sorrow in mojitos.”",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              27,
              32
            ],
            [
              107,
              112
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2013 June 19, Michael J. Bowler, “We’re Brothers Now, Aren’t We?”, in Children of the Knight (The Lance Chronicles; 1), Tallahassee, Fla.: Harmony Ink Press, →ISBN, pages 93–94:",
          "text": "“[…] To me, he looks kinda girly to be in charge.” […] “Grab any sword you like, and we’ll see if I fight ‘girly’.”",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              17,
              22
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2013 October 25, George Henry Shaft, “CCC3003”, in On Cross Channel, 10ᵗʰ anniversary edition, ASIN B0DTW4T573:",
          "text": "Taichi can speak girly; how he would sound in falsetto is anybody's guess, but he's far from the manliest of men while Youko is far from the girliest of girls, and it's not unbelievable that his practice of girl's speech went as far as that (though at six-seven years old he wouldn't have had issues).",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              119,
              124
            ],
            [
              130,
              135
            ],
            [
              155,
              160
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2015 August 5, Barry F. Schnell, chapter 4, in Coccyx Cousins, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN:",
          "text": "Women who try too hard to be one of the boys ain’t my thing, I realized on the cusp of mid-life. I like women who talk girly, act girly, and engage in the girly sisterhood: dress nice, but not pretentiously, giggle often, and know that a gentle stroke of the fingertips along the back of a fellow’s neck is sexier than anything this side of newly worn silk nighties.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              30,
              35
            ],
            [
              106,
              111
            ],
            [
              166,
              171
            ],
            [
              226,
              231
            ],
            [
              273,
              278
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2017 August 28, Huston Piner, “Dedicated to the One I Love”, in My Life as a Myth (Chadham High; 1), Albuquerque, N.M.: NineStar Press, →ISBN, page 196:",
          "text": "“[…] Like if he talks kind of girly, or sort of walks like a girl, it might mean he’s gay.” “I don’t talk girly, do I?” I squeak in alarm. “No, sugar, you don’t talk girly,” she says and preemptively adds, “and you don’t walk girly either.” […] (He’s always talked kind of girly himself.)",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              62,
              67
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2020, Rolland “Moose” Amos, “Poetry Potpourri”, in Junk Poetry III, Pittsburgh, Pa.: Dorrance Publishing Co, published 12 May 2021, →ISBN, page 25:",
          "text": "Is your wife now grumpy, surly, / Will not cuddle, won’t talk girly? / Hints she’s craving soft, sweet chat? / Then rush right out, buy her a cat!",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "In the manner of a girl."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) In the manner of a girl."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "girlily"
        },
        {
          "word": "girlishly"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɝli/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɡɜːli/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-girly.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/23/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-girly.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɜː(ɹ)li"
    }
  ],
  "word": "girly"
}

Download raw JSONL data for girly meaning in All languages combined (14.5kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-12-23 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-12-02 using wiktextract (6fdc867 and 9905b1f). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.