Pronunciation: [ɡˈɪɡlɪŋ] (IPA) 
The word "giggling" is spelled with double "g" and double "l" to represent the sound of a short "i" followed by a voiced velar plosive consonant and a liquid consonant. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is represented as /ˈɡɪɡ.lɪŋ/. The repetition of these letters serves to emphasize the light, playful nature of the sound the word represents. Giggling can be used to describe a high-pitched noise made as a sign of amusement or delight.
Giggling is a verb that refers to the act of emitting a series of high-pitched, short, and repeated sounds of laughter. It is often characterized by a lighthearted and uncontrollable expression of amusement or joy. The sound produced during giggling is typically soft and musical, often described as a combination of chuckling and squealing.
Giggling is commonly associated with children, as it is a natural response to humor or excitement, indicating their happiness in a playful manner. It can also be observed in adults, as it serves as a response to something amusing, humorous, or even embarrassing. Giggling is contagious, as the sound of laughter tends to provoke similar reactions from others in proximity.
When someone is giggling, their body language often displays signs of delight, such as a relaxed facial expression, smiling, and sometimes even an inability to maintain composure or control of their body. Giggling can be triggered by a wide range of stimuli, including jokes, funny situations, tickling, surprise, or feelings of joy and amusement.
While commonly associated with positive emotions, giggling can also occur as a nervous or embarrassed response. In such cases, it is often an attempt to defuse tension or awkwardness. Giggling is a social behavior that facilitates connections and encourages camaraderie, as it is often shared and reciprocated in social settings where humor is present.
• Laughing in a suppressed way; tittering.
• Half-suppressed or simpering laughter; the act of tittering.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "giggling" can be traced back to the Middle English term "giglen", which was derived from the Old Norse word "gjōgull" meaning "to cackle or laugh in a playful manner". This Old Norse term was then influenced by Old English, ultimately giving rise to the Middle English term "giglen". Over time, "giglen" evolved into "gigglen" in Modern English, and eventually the gerund form "giggling" came into use, referring to the act of laughing or chuckling in a light-hearted or playful manner.
