How Do You Spell NAIVETE?

Pronunciation: [na͡ɪˈiːvətˌe͡ɪ] (IPA)

The word "naivete" is spelled with a combination of French and English language rules. In IPA phonetic transcription, it would be represented as /naɪˈiːvteɪ/. The "ai" in the first syllable represents the French pronunciation of "a," while the second "e" represents the English pronunciation. The "e" at the end of the word is also pronounced in English, even though it follows French spelling conventions. The spelling of "naivete" might trip up English speakers, as it looks quite different from the pronunciation.

NAIVETE Meaning and Definition

  1. Naivete is a noun that describes a lack of knowledge or experience, resulting in a tendency to be innocent, simple-minded, or naive in one's understanding of the world. It refers to a state of being artless, unsophisticated, and easily deceived, typically due to a lack of exposure to certain aspects of life.

    The term is often associated with a childlike innocence or a lack of worldly wisdom. It describes a person's inability to discern the true intentions or motives of others, often leading to gullibility or being taken advantage of. Naivete can also refer to an enthusiastic and open-minded approach to new ideas, without considering potential risks or drawbacks.

    Someone who exhibits naivete may have an optimistic view of the world, expecting the best in people and assuming good intentions in every situation. They might be easily swayed by persuasive individuals, be susceptible to scams, or trust others without question. This can stem from a lack of exposure to various life experiences, different cultures, or simply a sheltered upbringing.

    Overall, naivete is a characteristic that involves a lack of worldly knowledge, often resulting in a person being inappropriately guileless, inexperienced, or credulous in specific situations.

  2. Native simplicity; unaffected plainness.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for NAIVETE *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for NAIVETE

Etymology of NAIVETE

The word "naivete" comes from the French adjective "naïveté", which itself derives from the Old French noun "naiveté", meaning "ingenuousness" or "simplicity". This Old French term comes from the Latin adjective "nativus", which translates to "innate" or "natural". The Latin root "nativus" is derived from the noun "nasci", meaning "to be born". Through its evolution from Latin to Old French and then to modern French, "naivete" retained the sense of naturalness and innocence, referring to a lack of worldly experience or guile. The term made its way into the English language in the 17th century, still carrying similar connotations of innocence and simplicity.

Similar spelling word for NAIVETE

Plural form of NAIVETE is NAIVETES

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