What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
girlish
Example
She had a girlish giggle that made everyone smile. [girlish: adjective]
Example
The actress wore a girlish dress to the premiere. [girlish: adjective]
girly
Example
She loves to wear girly clothes like dresses and skirts. [girly: adjective]
Example
The room was decorated with girly colors like pink and purple. [girly: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Girly is more commonly used than girlish in everyday language. Girly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while girlish is less common and has a narrower usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between girlish and girly?
Both girlish and girly are informal and casual words that are not typically used in formal contexts.
