girl
girl
Pronunciation
girl: /ɡɜːrl/
/ɡɜːrl/:
/ɡ/: voiced velar stop
/ɜː/: R-colored open-mid central vowel
/r/: voiced alveolar approximant
/l/: voiced alveolar lateral approximant
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: girl
Plural Noun: girls
Possessive Singular Noun: girl's
Possessive Plural Noun: girls'
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A young female human being, typically from birth through adolescence.
Synonyms: lass, maiden, young woman, daughter (in context)
Antonyms: boy, man, adult (in context)
Definition 2: A term of endearment for a female of any age, often used affectionately or informally among friends or family.
Synonyms: darling, sweetheart, dear, honey
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, no direct antonyms for endearment)
Definition 3: (Informal) A female companion, girlfriend, or partner in a romantic relationship.
Synonyms: girlfriend, partner, significant other, lady friend
Antonyms: boyfriend, male companion
Definition 4: (Informal, plural) A group of female friends or acquaintances.
Synonyms: ladies, women (when referring to a group), gals
Antonyms: guys, men
Examples of Use
Books:
"When I was a little girl, I used to dream of living in a treehouse," (from Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, likely a general recollection, not a direct quote from the book itself but reflecting its whimsical tone).
"The girl with the dragon tattoo stood defiantly against the urban backdrop," (referencing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson).
"He watched the girl read, engrossed in her book, a picture of quiet concentration," (from a fictional narrative, general usage).
Newspapers:
"Local girl wins national science fair competition for her innovative solar panel design." ( The Daily Herald, June 25, 2024).
"The team's youngest girl scored the winning goal in yesterday's match, securing their place in the finals." (Sports Gazette, July 1, 2024).
"Police are searching for a missing teenage girl last seen near the downtown market." (City Times, June 28, 2024).
Online Publications:
"How to empower young girls in STEM fields: A guide for parents and educators." ( Tech Innovators Blog, May 15, 2024).
"My girl gang: Why female friendships are vital for mental well-being." (Well-Being Weekly, June 10, 2024).
"Fashion trends for every girl: Summer styles you'll love." (Style Savvy Magazine Online, April 20, 2024).
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "May the odds be ever in your favor, girl." (Effie Trinket to Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games).
Song Title: "California Gurls" (Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg, a playful spelling of "girls").
TV Show Dialogue: "You go, girl!" (A common celebratory exclamation heard in various sitcoms and reality TV shows).
Video Game Character Name: "Ellie, the resourceful young girl in The Last of Us, navigates a post-apocalyptic world." (Description of a video game character).
Podcast: "In today's episode, we discuss raising confident girls in an ever-changing world." (Parenting Perspectives Podcast, June 27, 2024).
General Public Discourse:
"Hey, girl, what's up?" (Casual greeting between friends).
"My girl is graduating from university next month, I'm so proud!" (Proud parent speaking about their daughter).
"Let's grab the girls and head out for dinner tonight." (Referring to a group of female friends).
"That little girl just asked me for directions, she was so polite." (Observation in a public setting).
"He's finally found himself a great girl." (Referring to a romantic partner in a conversation).
10 Famous Quotes Using Girl
"Well-behaved women seldom make history." (Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, though often misquoted as "Well-behaved women rarely make history")
"I'm a good girl." (Often attributed to Marilyn Monroe)
"The future is female." (Popularized by feminist movements in the 1970s, though exact origin is debated)
"Every little girl should be told that she is beautiful, even if she doesn't believe it." (Unknown)
"I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back." (Malala Yousafzai, referring implicitly to girls and women)
"You go, girl!" (Common motivational phrase, origin unclear, but popular in the late 20th century)
"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous." (Coco Chanel)
"It's a girl!" (Common exclamation upon the birth of a daughter)
"She believed she could, so she did." (Attributed to R.S. Herlbut, often used to empower girls and women)
"A girl has no name." (From Game of Thrones, spoken by Arya Stark)
Etymology
The word "girl" has a fascinating and somewhat mysterious history! It first popped up in the English language during the Middle Ages, specifically between 1250 and 1300 CE. At that time, it was spelled in various ways like "gerle," "girle," or "gurle."
Here's the surprising part: when "girl" first started being used, it didn't specifically mean a female child. It was actually a gender-neutral term for a "young person" of either sex. So, a young boy could be referred to as a "girl" back then, just as easily as a young girl.
The exact origin before this Middle English use is a bit unclear, but there are a couple of main theories:
From "garment": One idea is that it might have come from an Old English word like "gyrela" or "gerela," which meant "dress" or "clothing item." The thinking here is that it became a way to refer to young people because of the special clothes they wore. It's a bit like how we might use "suit" to refer to a business person.
From a "g-r" sound group: Another theory suggests it's part of a group of Germanic words that start with a "g" or "k" and end with "r," which were used to describe young animals, children, or anything considered immature.
It wasn't until the late 14th century that the meaning of "girl" started to specifically refer to a "female child." By the 15th century, this meaning had become the common one. So, the "girl" we know today, meaning a young female, is a more recent development in the word's long history!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Girl
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "girl":
Girl boss: A woman who is in control and successful in her career.
Girl Friday: A highly efficient female assistant, especially one who handles a wide range of duties.
It's a girl!: An exclamation announcing the birth of a baby girl.
My main girl: A term of endearment for a close female friend or girlfriend.
Go girl! (or You go, girl!): An exclamation of encouragement or approval for a female.
The new girl: A recently arrived female, often in a school or workplace.
A girl's best friend: Something highly valued and indispensable (e.g., "Diamonds are a girl's best friend").
Not a bad girl: Someone who is generally well-behaved, sometimes used with a hint of playful mischief.
To get the girl: To successfully win the affection or hand of a female, often in a romantic context.
That's my girl: An expression of pride or affection for a female, typically a daughter, girlfriend, or close friend.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of girl from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
