reduplicated

Reduplicated describes something formed by repeating a word, syllable, or sound, either exactly or with slight variation.

Linguistics uses the term for words like *mama*, *bye-bye*, or *wishy-washy*, where repetition creates emphasis, suggests childishness, or conveys back-and-forth motion.

Outside technical contexts, reduplicated simply means doubled or repeated: The pattern featured reduplicated motifs along the border.