it takes a village to raise a child

Questions

What does it takes a village to raise a child mean?

An entire community of people must provide for, and interact positively with, children in order for those children to grow up healthily and safely.

Where does it takes a village to raise a child come from?

Unknown. Possibly an adage, borrowed as a calque from a neighboring or contact language. Gained popularity around 1990.

How to pronounce it takes a village to raise a child

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “it takes a village to raise a child”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “it takes a village to raise a child”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “it takes a village to raise a child” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.