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nighty-night

hadijoon

Senior Member
Persian
Hello;
In the following dialogue, what does Barney mean? (from The Simpsons)

BARNEY: Homer, you're overwrought. Why don't you unwind a bit? Party down the hall.
HOMER: No, Barn. I just want to crawl into bed.
BARNEY: Suit yourself, Homer. Nighty-night.
We like repetition of sounds, shortening words and using the diminutive ending -y-, especially in 'baby talk', which is what adults talk to babies or lovers.
Some examples are : calling a biscuit a biccy-wikky; a dog a doggie-woggie; a sweetheart lovey-dovey and so on.
It's often used as baby talk with children, but here it's just casual and friendly

To a child: Go beddy-byes now. Nighty night.

(crossposted)
Is it possible for a child to say "Nighty night." to their parent?
Is it possible for a child to say "Nighty night." to their parent?
Certainly. In BrE, "goodnight" and "night night" are both widely used in the home when someone is going to bed. "Nighty night" is a reasonably common variation.
Certainly. In BrE, "goodnight" and "night night" are both widely used in the home when someone is going to bed. "Nighty night" is a reasonably common variation.
Okay. Thank you, Uncle Jack. I know another expression "Sleep tight." Is it possible for a child to say it to their parent? I don't think so, but I'm not sure 100 per cent.
No, I think it would sound odd/inappropriate for a child to say it to a parent.

There's an old children's rhyme:

Night, night, sleep tight,
Don't let the bugs bite,
If they bite squeeze them tight,
They won't come back another night.

(I only knew the 1st and 2nd lines before I looked it up just now.)


I can imagine a child chanting this to a parent, (or they might say it together) but it would be for fun rather than a genuine 'goodnight.'
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