A Closer Look: Definition of Babe

Depending on who you are addressing the word babe can take on a different meaning and connotation. It is one of those words that can be sweet, endearing, or downright sexist and condescending.

The etymology of the word babe can be traced back to the 14th Century and was most likely an abbreviation of the Welsh word baban, which is thought to be imitative of the first sounds that babies make.

There are a variety of ways to define "babe." Some of the different meanings of the word babe are:

• Someone who is innocent and has very little life experience. The new waiter is just a babe. It will take him a couple of weeks to learn the job.
• A term of endearment; similar to the word "sweetheart." In this case, the word babe can be used to address either a man or a woman. Can you pick me up after work, babe?
• Slang word for a woman (particularly used for an attractive woman). The new girl in class is such a babe. All the guys can't stop looking at her.
• A baby or an infant (under one years old). Oh, what a sweet little babe. He's so small!

Idioms with Babe

There are also several idioms that use the word babe.

• "Babe in the woods" - A very inexperienced person who is easily taken advantaged of. This expression can be quite condescending, as it suggests that a person is so naive that they do not know much or have much experience. He was like a babe in the woods when he first invested in the stock market. Eventually, he got help.
• "Out of the mouths of babes" - A saying from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible (Psalms 8:2 & Mathew 21:16). This expression has been interpreted to mean that even the very young can speak with extraordinary wisdom and say the most surprising of things. Out of the mouth of babes, my five year-old niece warned me about working so long at the computer. She said I would ruin my eyesight!