goo-goo

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈɡuːˌɡuː/ UK /ˈɡuːɡuː/ See IPA manual

Freq #46955

Meanings

1

adj
informal: lovingly sentimental or amorous, especially in the phrase goo-goo eyes

The newlyweds kept making goo-goo eyes at each other.
2

intj
an imitation of a baby's early babbling

The baby answered with a cheerful goo-goo.
3

noun
US political slang, disparaging: an advocate of good-government reform

The newspaper mocked every municipal reformer as a goo-goo.
4

noun
historical and offensive: a colonial-era slur for a Filipino person

The archive identifies goo-goo as an offensive term used by American soldiers during the colonial period.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · informal: lovingly... loving amorous sentimental

2 intj · an imitation of a baby's... babble

3 noun · us political slang,... good-government reformer

Word family

Related forms goo-goo eyesgood governmentbaby talk

Etymology

The affectionate adjective is probably imitative baby talk or an alteration of goggle and survives chiefly in goo-goo eyes. The political noun abbreviates good government. A separate offensive colonial-era use arose in US military slang in the Philippines and must be treated as a historical slur.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# goo-goo

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj, intj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɡuːˌɡuː/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɡuːɡuː/
**Frequency rank:** 46955

## Meanings
1. informal: lovingly sentimental or amorous, especially in the phrase goo-goo eyes
2. an imitation of a baby's early babbling
3. US political slang, disparaging: an advocate of good-government reform
4. historical and offensive: a colonial-era slur for a Filipino person

## Examples
- The newlyweds kept making goo-goo eyes at each other.
- The baby answered with a cheerful goo-goo.
- The newspaper mocked every municipal reformer as a goo-goo.
- The archive identifies goo-goo as an offensive term used by American soldiers during the colonial period.

## Synonyms
- loving
- amorous
- sentimental
- babble

## Related Forms
- goo-goo eyes
- good government
- baby talk

## Etymology
The affectionate adjective is probably imitative baby talk or an alteration of goggle and survives chiefly in goo-goo eyes. The political noun abbreviates good government. A separate offensive colonial-era use arose in US military slang in the Philippines and must be treated as a historical slur.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

markdown