reduplication
Repeated sound formation
Reduplication is the repetition of a word or part of a word, often to create emphasis, indicate plurality, or form new expressions.
English examples include teeny-weeny, super-duper, and no-no.
In many languages, reduplication serves grammatical functions—marking tense, intensity, or repeated action.
The term also describes any process of doubling or copying.
Binding morphemes to stems
- infixAffix within a word
- prefixRoot-modifying front element
- suffixWord-ending addition
- ablautVowel gradation in morphology
inflection · morpheme · syllable · pluralization · agglutination · derivation · contraction · clipping
Stress given to something
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
- pluralityLargest share among several
- augmentationAct of adding more
- iterationRepeated procedural pass
doubling · strengthening · exaggeration · superlative · repetition · reinforcement · continuation · prolongation
Lacking firmness or decisiveness
- flip-flopSudden change of position
- mishmashDisorderly mixture of elements
- hodgepodgeConfused, disorderly mixture
- riffraffDisreputable or undesirable people
zigzag · singsong · chitchat · knickknack · dillydally · shilly-shally · helter-skelter · hurly-burly
In agreement with
- vowelUnobstructed speech sound
- syllableUnit of pronunciation
- onomatopoeiaSound-imitating word formation
- ablautVowel gradation in morphology
alternation · sound · echo · rhyme · assonance · alliteration · phoneme · stress
Informal word for mother
- papaInformal term for father
- dadaInfant's word for father
- babaRum-soaked yeast cake
- nanaInformal term for grandmother
booboo · choo-choo · pee-pee · night-night · bye-bye · no-no · wee-wee · poopoo
Southeast Asian people
- IndonesianSoutheast Asian islander's identity
- TagalogPhilippine national language
- JapaneseOf or from Nippon
- MandarinHigh-ranking government official
Swahili · Turkish · Hawaiian · Sanskrit · Tamil · Yoruba · Austronesian · Bantu
Largest share among several
- diminutiveVery small, or nickname form
- augmentativeDenotes largeness or emphasis
- aspectFeature or dimension
- tenseStrained or nervous
mood · collectivity · distributive · attenuation · contempt · affection · approximation · intensity
affixation
Binding morphemes to stems
ablaut · inflection · morpheme · syllable · pluralization · agglutination · derivation · contraction · clipping · conjugation
emphasis
Stress given to something
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
- pluralityLargest share among several
- augmentationAct of adding more
iteration · doubling · strengthening · exaggeration · superlative · repetition · reinforcement · continuation · prolongation · distribution
wishy-washy
Lacking firmness or decisiveness
- flip-flopSudden change of position
- mishmashDisorderly mixture of elements
- hodgepodgeConfused, disorderly mixture
riffraff · zigzag · singsong · chitchat · knickknack · dillydally · shilly-shally · helter-skelter · hurly-burly · nitty-gritty
consonant
In agreement with
- vowelUnobstructed speech sound
- syllableUnit of pronunciation
- onomatopoeiaSound-imitating word formation
ablaut · alternation · sound · echo · rhyme · assonance · alliteration · phoneme · stress · tone
mama
Informal word for mother
nana · booboo · choo-choo · pee-pee · night-night · bye-bye · no-no · wee-wee · poopoo · tutu
Malay
Southeast Asian people
- IndonesianSoutheast Asian islander's identity
- TagalogPhilippine national language
- JapaneseOf or from Nippon
Mandarin · Swahili · Turkish · Hawaiian · Sanskrit · Tamil · Yoruba · Austronesian · Bantu · mimetic
plurality
Largest share among several
- diminutiveVery small, or nickname form
- augmentativeDenotes largeness or emphasis
- aspectFeature or dimension
tense · mood · collectivity · distributive · attenuation · contempt · affection · approximation · intensity · continuity
- vocabularyword, words, new words, term, terms
- repetitionagain, repeat, repeated, recurring, recurrence
- etymologyword origins, word history, word origin, etymon, root words
- Cantonesetones, particles, classifiers, gam, romanization
- Sanskrit grammarPanini, nominative, accusative, sutra, dative
- Chinese grammarword order, sentence structure, classifiers, negation, syntax rules
reduplicationsingularity
Point where values explode
uniqueness · oneness · individuation · unity · singleness
reduplicationoriginal
First or inventive
prototype · archetype · source · first instance · origination
reduplicationtruncation
Cutting something shorter
clipping · deletion · elision · contraction · shortening