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Glite Dictionary
🔁 To repeat exactly 📝 To double in words
to reduplicate

to reduplicate

8.8
Say a sound or syllable twice to make a new word
  • verb
  • /ˌriːˈduːplɪkeɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : reduplicar
  • The word 'bye-bye' is created when you reduplicate the word 'bye'.

Examples

  • Linguists often study how certain prefixes or syllables reduplicate to convey new meanings.

  • In some languages, verbs reduplicate to indicate repeated actions.

  • The teacher asked us to reduplicate the sound in our exercises.

  • He reduplicated the word to emphasize its meaning.

  • In some languages, verbs reduplicate to show that an action is done repeatedly.

  • The teacher asked the students to reduplicate the syllable during the pronunciation exercise.

  • When you say 'no-no,' you reduplicate the word 'no' to emphasize disapproval.

Synonyms

to repeat
vsto reduplicate
∞ 1.0

To do or say something again

limits repetition to sounds or parts of words within linguistic forms
to echo
vsto reduplicate
56 2.5

To copy words or ideas from someone else

is narrower, referring specifically to repeating parts of words in language
to geminate
vsto reduplicate
  • Specialized
9.9

To hold a consonant sound longer or write a letter twice

is broader, covering any repeat of word parts not only spelling or pronunciation
to ingeminate
vsto reduplicate
  • Archaic
9.9

To say something again to show it is important

focuses on repeating word parts in linguistic forms rather than emphasis alone

How Repeated

to echo
35 1.4
to repeat
∞ 1.0
to reduplicate
  • Specialized
8.8
double
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

reduplicate infinitive
reduplicated past
reduplicated past participle
reduplicating present participle
reduplicates third person singular

Morphology

reduplicate = duplicate (semi-transparent) = re + duplicate

The prefix 're-' and base 'duplicate' suggest repetition, but the linguistic sense specifically means repeating part of a word or sound in a technical way.

Etymology

The word reduplicate comes from the parts re- 'again' and duplicate 'double'. In language it means to repeat a sound or part of a word, for example making 'bye-bye' by saying 'bye' twice.