elfish

1 6.8

Playful and slightly naughty in a cheerful, harmless way

adjective
/ˈɛlfɪʃ/

: travieso

With her elfish grin, she quickly charmed everyone at the party.

So I thought elfish was cute because it sounds like selfish, but it's elfish.

Examples

Otherwise, I would join the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare.

Blog text (19)
So I'm just doing a little touch up here and again, more blending and taking elfish again, that dark brown color and just blending out that blue.
Her round, elfish face was hard as she said, "I looked in the books to see how.

Fiction book (1990)
So I thought elfish was cute because it sounds like selfish, but it's elfish.

KathleenLights
The elfish child played pranks on his friends, making everyone laugh.
His elfish sense of humor always brought a smile to those around him.

Synonyms

impish

vselfish

6 6.1

Playfully naughty in a way that teases others

is more good natured and less likely to annoy people

elfin

vselfish

Literature

5 7.7

Being small and delicate in a charming, fairy-like way

focuses more on playful mischievous behavior than physical charm

roguish

vselfish

3 6.7

Showing playful, friendly mischief

is more sprite oriented and less about human cheekiness

elvish

vselfish

3 8.1

Playful and slightly naughty in a quick, happy way

is usually kinder and more clearly good natured

pixieish

vselfish

1 8.2

Being playful and slightly naughty like a small friendly fairy

leans more on elf imagery and gentle good nature

pixyish

vselfish

1 8.2

Playful and a little naughty like a small fairy

stresses elf like playfulness and usually kinder intent

Antonyms

serious

∞ 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

stern

64 4.3

Serious and strict, not willing to change

How Mischievous

devilish

16 4.4

mischievous

27 3.5

impish

6 6.1

elfish

1 6.8

playful

72 1.6

Surface Forms

elfish positive

Morphology

elfish = elf (transparent) = elf + ish

The suffix '-ish' is commonly used to form adjectives meaning 'having the quality of', making the meaning clear.

Etymology

Elfish comes from elf, a small, magical creature, plus -ish, an ending that means 'like' or 'having the quality of'. Think of someone who acts like a playful little elf, full of harmless tricks — that's why elfish means 'mischievous' or 'playful'.