What's the Difference Between 'Girlie' and 'Girly'?

In this blog post we look at when to use girlie and when to use girly.

'Girlie' or 'Girly'?

"Girlie" and "girly" are both variant spellings of the same adjective, which is used to describe things that have traditionally been associated with girls or young women.

They have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably.

It's important to note that the use of "girlie" in a negative way could be considered as sexist or derogatory.

The only difference between the two spellings is in their orthography and there is no difference in the meaning, usage, or context of the words.

For example, one can say "that dress is so girly" or "that dress is so girlie" both sentences have the same meaning, which is that the dress is traditionally associated with girls or young women.

They can also be used to describe a behavior, an activity, a person, an object, or anything else that is traditionally associated with girls or young women.

It's worth noting that "girlie" is less commonly used than "girly" and it might be perceived as an older spelling, but both spellings are widely accepted and used in modern English language.

In summary, "girlie" and "girly" are both variant spellings of the same adjective, which is used to describe things that are traditionally associated with girls or young women, they have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably although the spelling “girly” is used more commonly.

Here are a few more examples of "girly" and "girlie" in sentences:

"Girly"

  • "She always wore girly dresses and had a matching bow in her hair."

  • "The baby's room was decorated in a soft pink and white, with a girly theme."

  • "She had a girly charm that made everyone feel at ease around her."

"Girlie"

  • "He thought the movie was too girlie and preferred action films."

  • "She was tired of being called girlie for her love of cooking and baking."

  • "He was teased by his friends for having girlie tastes in music."


Girlie or Girly
Girlie or Girly