childlike
/ˈt͡ʃaɪldlaɪk/adjective
childlike is spelled C-H-I-L-D-L-I-K-E: 9 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 31,168th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, childlike means “Innocent and trustful; credulous; artless” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in childlike?
| Letters | 9: C-H-I-L-D-L-I-K-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 31,168th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is childlike?
Childlike appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 31,168th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce childlike?
- /ˈt͡ʃaɪldlaɪk/
Childlike has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-childlike.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with childlike
Also written: child-like (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of childlike
- more childlike comparative
- most childlike superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does childlike mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Innocent and trustful; credulous; artless.
- 2
Of, like, or suitable for a child.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Childlike in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does childlike come from?
From child + -like.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).