Term: naïve

naïve (adjective): lacking experience, wisdom, or judgment; often used to describe someone who is too willing to believe that people are good or that life is simple. 

synonyms: innocent, unsophisticated, gullible, idealistic, green. 

pronunciation: /naɪˈiːv/ 

translation: naivs, vientiesīgs, lētticīgs 

example: It was a bit naïve of him to think that he could start a business without any previous experience or capital. 

other words from this root: naïvety (noun), naïvely (adverb).

Nuance Note

While “naïve” can be used as a mild insult (meaning someone is foolish), it can also be used to describe a charming kind of innocence or a “fresh” perspective that hasn’t been corrupted by cynicism.

Spelling Note

The word is often written with a diaeresis (the two dots over the ‘i’): naïve. This indicates that the ‘a’ and ‘i’ are pronounced as two separate vowels (na−ive) rather than a single sound (nayve).