An adjective to describe a pregnant woman's swollen belly?

Question

I can't find any good English adjective for the stomach of a pregnant woman. For example, how does one say this naturally:

"Her belly looks bigger than a month ago. I guess she is expecting soon."

Answer 1

"She's showing more than a month ago. I guess she's expecting soon."

In this sense, "showing" means "obviously appears pregnant". It is a verb, not an adjective. To a person who knows what to look for, most pregnant women start "showing" when their pregnancy is "about four months along".

This sense of "showing" does not combine with adverbs to form "phrasal verbs". For example, "showing up" and "showing off" use different meaning(s) of "showing".

Answer 2

The way you've phrased the statement in your question is just fine.

If you're talking directly to the woman, and she's rather sensitive, then it's just possible that she may be slightly offended by the idea of a 'bigger belly'.

Answer 3

First, you should know that 'belly' is not a word to use thoughtlessly. It is in a register that is appropriate to refer to animals or young children. With adults, it is dubious unless you are talking in an intimate circle. Yes, the tabloid press loves 'baby belly', but that doesn't mean you can use it anywhere.

You don't tell us your relationship to the subject of your remark or the person you are speaking to. If you are talking to your wife about your sister, it's very different than if you are talking to your manager about your co-worker.

In the US, at least, it's considered quite rude to speculate about pregnancy or comment on a swelling abdomen until the owner of that abdomen announces her status.

A more neutral remark might be, 'She looks to me as if she is expecting.' That can still get you into hot water, but not as hot as some of the alternatives.

A short answer; there is no English word that neutrally serves the purpose you want in a common conversational register.

Answer 4

Expecting is the same as pregnant. She wouldn't be expecting soon, she is expecting now. You should say due if you mean giving birth. She looks larger than a month ago. I guess she is due soon.

Answer 5

You are blooming, aren't you!?

I'm American, a native English speaker and have lived on the East coast, West coast, Midwest U.S.A., in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Communication always runs the risk of offending so any comments about pregnancy would need to fit the occasion. In the M.E. you wouldn't look at another man's wife, much less comment on pregnancy. To someone with whom you have a professional interest, I would skip mentioning the 'belly' and ask, "When are you due?". Even this may be risky if they're a stranger as they may simply be overweight. My use of 'blooming' would be for a friend with a creative mind and a sense of humor that understands that women may be associated with flowers. For all the rest, best to smile and comment on the weather.