A child falls off a bike. Scraped knee. Tears. A parent says, "Let me see your boo-boo." The word means a minor injury. It is baby talk, but it is also used by adults in a joking way. "I got a boo-boo at the gym." The tone is light. It reduces pain to something small and manageable. It is comfort language.

Boo-boo has another meaning. It can be a term of endearment, like "sweetie" or "honey." A grandmother might call a grandchild "my little boo-boo." It can also mean a mistake. "I made a boo-boo on the report." That use is slightly childish, but common in offices. It softens an error. It says, "I messed up, but it is not serious."

Contexts

• Medical: a small cut, bruise, or scrape.
• Romantic: a pet name, often for a child or partner.
• Professional: a minor mistake, used with humor.
• Cartoon: Yogi Bear's sidekick is Boo-Boo Bear.

The word is reduplicated, like "bye-bye" or "night-night." Reduplication is common in baby talk across languages. It is easy to say and sounds gentle. That is why it works. It takes the sting out of a scrape or a slip-up. It is not for serious injuries. A broken leg is not a boo-boo.