English · Stage 6

Feeling of a Word

Vocabulary — a word's dictionary meaning (denotation) is one thing; the feeling it carries (connotation) is another, so 'thrifty' praises and 'stingy' insults even though both mean 'spends little'.

✦ English📘 Stage 6 · S6⏱ ~12 min🧒 Ages 10–12★ Free to start

I can tell the difference between connotation and denotation.

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Kavi Picks the Perfect Word

Two owls both saved every acorn and spent almost nothing. Kavi called the first one thrifty — and the owl beamed. Kavi called the second one stingy — and that owl frowned! "But they did the same thing," blinked Kavi. "Both words mean spends little — that is their denotation. But thrifty carries a warm, praising feeling, and stingy carries a cold, blaming one. That feeling is the word's connotation."

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What your child will learn

1Every word has a meaning AND a feelingThe denotation of a word is its plain dictionary meaning. The connotation is the feeling it carries. 'Thrifty', 'careful' and 'stingy' all denote 'spends little' — but 'thrifty' praises, 'careful' is neutral, and 'stingy' insults. Same meaning, different feeling.

2Thrifty or stingy?Both words describe a person who spends very little money — the same denotation. Tap each one to hear how differently it lands.

3Tap a word to hear it, then say if it praises or blamesEach card shows a word and the feeling (connotation) it carries.

4Sort each word by the feeling it carries

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A peek inside

Your aunt saves every coin and spends only what she needs. One neighbour calls her "thrifty"; another calls her "stingy". Did she behave two different ways?

same behaviour → "thrifty" (praises) vs "stingy" (insults)

Try this at home: What is a word's denotation?

Ready to play and learn?

Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.

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Part of English · Stage 6 · S6 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.