Word
little
Phoneticslit·tle, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫɪtəɫ/
UK/lˈɪtəl/
Definitions
01small size
A1 · Beginner
adj. small in size or amount.
adj. of small size, dimensions, or quantity; not big.
日本語:小さい※
Español:pequeño
“The cat sat on a little wooden chair in the corner.”
“The architect included a little garden in the blueprints to provide a touch of greenery within the urban concrete structure.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun.
Pitfall
I have a small brother.
I have a little brother.
While 'small' and 'little' are often synonyms, we usually use 'little' to describe younger siblings.
02young
A2 · Elementary
adj. young, especially when talking about children or siblings.
adj. denoting a young age or a younger sibling.
日本語:幼い※
Español:pequeño
“My little sister is starting school for the first time this September.”
“When I was little, we used to spend every summer at my grandparents' farm in the countryside.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'little brother' or 'little sister'.
03short time
A2 · Elementary
adj. short in time or distance.
adj. brief in duration or short in distance.
“Let's wait a little while longer for the rain to stop.”
“After a little walk through the park, they found a quiet bench near the lake to discuss the proposal.”
Antonyms
04not much
B1 · Intermediate
adv. not much or not often.
adv. to a small extent or degree; infrequently.
“He slept very little last night because he was worried about the test.”
“Little did they know that the small startup they founded in a garage would one day become a global empire.”
Usage
Often used before verbs like 'know', 'think', or 'realize'.
05a small amount
A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun
n. a small amount or a short time.
n. a small quantity, amount, or degree; often used in the phrase 'a little'.
“Could I have a little of that cake, please?”
“The doctor advised that even a little of the medication could cause a reaction in sensitive patients.”
Usage
Usually appears as 'a little' or 'a little of'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “little” in context.
Confusables
Few modifies plural countable nouns, while little modifies uncountable nouns.
RememberFew for things you count; little for things you weigh or measure.
Related words
Idioms
02. a little bit of bread and no cheese
03. a little from column A, a little from column B
04. a little of something goes a long way
06. little emperor
07. little girl
08. little hand
09. little head
10. little mad
Show all 20
11. little old
12. little pitcher
13. little strokes fell great oaks
16. take one's sweet little time
17. think with one's little head
18. to little avail
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0