twee

adjective

ˈtwē 

chiefly British

: affectedly or excessively dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint

Such a theme might sound twee or corny …

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

Did you know?

Twee and Baby Talk

Most adults wouldn't be caught dead saying, "Oh, look at the twee little birdie!" but they probably wouldn't be averse to saying: "He went fishing with his dad," "She works as a nanny," or "Hey, buddy, how's it going?" Anyone who uses dad, nanny, or buddy owes a debt to "baby talk," a term used for both the childish speech adults adopt when addressing youngsters and for the speech of small children who are just learning to talk. Twee also originated in baby talk as an alteration of sweet. In the early 1900s, it was a term of affection, but nowadays British speakers and writers—and, increasingly, Americans as well—use twee for things that have passed beyond agreeable and into the realm of cloying.

Examples of twee in a Sentence

The movie was a bit twee for my taste.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ninety-second hits of twee pop and bony post-punk make up the middle section of the record, all built around three to four power chords and delivered with overdriven vocals and feral enthusiasm. —Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 8 June 2026

Cheval Blanc Courchevel’s mustard exterior suggests a traditional, Savoyard scene of reindeer rugs and bannisters carved with twee hearts and cowbells inside. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026

The site has a twee, old-internet feel. —Max Tani, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Sure, its world can seem twee, reflecting Scandinavian values of community and modest domesticity. —Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

baby-talk alteration of sweet

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

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