ca-ca
LowInformal, Childish, Colloquial, Slang
Definition
Meaning
A childish or informal word meaning feces, or the act of defecating.
Used euphemistically or humorously to refer to something of poor quality, nonsensical, or worthless.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an Americanism used by or with young children, though it can be employed among adults for humorous or euphemistic effect. It carries a strong taboo connotation due to its reference to excrement but is softened by its childish register.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is far more common and recognized in American English. In British English, the nursery term 'poo' or 'poo-poo' is more frequently used in equivalent contexts.
Connotations
In AmE, it is a standard childish euphemism. In BrE, if used, it is often perceived as an Americanism and may sound borrowed or deliberately transgressive.
Frequency
Used occasionally in BrE, primarily due to American media influence; a core vocabulary item in AmE for child-rearing contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + ca-ca (intransitive verb)[Subject] + do + ca-ca[It's] + ca-ca (noun)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “That's a load of ca-ca.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare and inappropriate. Would only be used jokingly in very informal settings to mean 'nonsense' or 'worthless'.
Academic
Not used, except perhaps in linguistic or anthropological discussions of child language or taboo.
Everyday
Used with or among young children. Among adults, used humorously or euphemistically.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The toddler announced he needed to ca-ca.
American English
- Honey, the dog just ca-ca'd on the new carpet!
adjective
British English
- He's got some ca-ca ideas about management.
American English
- This is a totally ca-ca movie; let's leave.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby made ca-ca in his nappy.
- Don't step in the dog ca-ca!
- My little brother is learning to say when he has to go ca-ca.
- The politician's speech was just a bunch of ca-ca.
- The entire project turned out to be ca-ca and had to be scrapped.
- She used childish words like 'ca-ca' to make the complaint sound less harsh.
- The critic dismissed the avant-garde exhibit as pretentious ca-ca, unworthy of serious discussion.
- His argument, though dressed in academic jargon, was fundamentally ca-ca.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a toddler saying 'car-car' but swapping the 'r' for a second 'c' to make the baby-talk word for excrement.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCREMENT IS NONSENSE / EXCREMENT IS OF LOW QUALITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the similar-sounding but unrelated Russian word 'кака' (kaka) which is an informal, often affectionate, word for a cat, or 'какао' (cocoa). The Russian childish word for excrement is 'кака' (kaka), making this a rare case of a direct cognate in both form and childish meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling it as 'kaka' (though sometimes accepted).
- Using it in formal writing.
- Overusing it in adult conversation, which can seem immature.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'ca-ca' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a childish euphemism for a taboo subject, so it is informal and can be considered crude or immature in adult conversation, but it is not a strong swear word like its synonyms.
Yes, primarily in American English. For example, 'The puppy ca-ca'd on the floor.' It functions as an intransitive verb.
While 'ca-ca' is the most common and standard spelling in dictionaries, 'kaka' is also seen, especially in informal writing. The hyphenated form emphasizes its reduplicative, childish nature.
It is understood but is perceived as an Americanism. British English more commonly uses 'poo' or 'poo-poo' in equivalent childish contexts.