The Times Literary Supplement (London)
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Twee and Baby Talk
Most adults wouldn't be caught dead saying, "Oh, look at the twee little birdie!" but they probably wouldn't be averse to saying: "He went fishing with his dad," "She works as a nanny," or "Hey, buddy, how's it going?" Anyone who uses dad, nanny, or buddy owes a debt to "baby talk," a term used for both the childish speech adults adopt when addressing youngsters and for the speech of small children who are just learning to talk. Twee also originated in baby talk as an alteration of sweet. In the early 1900s, it was a term of affection, but nowadays British speakers and writers—and, increasingly, Americans as well—use twee for things that have passed beyond agreeable and into the realm of cloying.
Examples of twee in a Sentence
Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
Cheval Blanc Courchevel’s mustard exterior suggests a traditional, Savoyard scene of reindeer rugs and bannisters carved with twee hearts and cowbells inside.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
The site has a twee, old-internet feel.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Sure, its world can seem twee, reflecting Scandinavian values of community and modest domesticity.
—Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for twee
Cite this Entry
“Twee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twee. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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