cooty: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/Very LowInformal, Childish/Playful, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “cooty” mean?
(primarily child slang) An imaginary germ or louse, used to tease someone as being dirty or carrying contamination.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(primarily child slang) An imaginary germ or louse, used to tease someone as being dirty or carrying contamination.
A humorous or childish term for any minor pest, parasite, or perceived source of uncleanliness; occasionally extended metaphorically to an annoying person or a source of minor trouble.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily American in origin and common usage. In British English, it is understood but less frequently used, where terms like "lurgies" or simply "germs" might be more common in similar childish contexts.
Connotations
Both varieties carry strong connotations of childish play, teasing, and pretend disgust. It is non-serious by definition.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English, especially among children. In British English, it is a recognised import from American media but not deeply rooted.
Grammar
How to Use “cooty” in a Sentence
[Pronoun/Name] has cooties.Don't touch me, you'll give me cooties!I made a cootie catcher.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cooty” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He pretended to cooty me after I touched the slug.
- Stop cootying everything!
American English
- She cootied my backpack just by looking at it.
- You've been cootied!
adverb
British English
- He played cootily with the mud.
- (Extremely rare)
American English
- She acted cootily after playing in the attic.
- (Extremely rare)
adjective
British English
- That's a cooty old bench.
- He's got cooty hands.
American English
- Don't sit there, it's cooty!
- She gave me a cooty look.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in anthropological, sociological, or linguistic studies of child language and play.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in humorous, nostalgic, or child-interaction contexts among adults, or directly with children.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cooty”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cooty”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cooty”
- Misspelling as 'cootie' (the standard singular) or 'cooty' is common and generally accepted. Using it in a formal context. Over-applying it to real, serious infestations.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'cooties' are entirely imaginary. The term is a piece of child culture used in playful teasing and pretend scenarios.
A 'cootie catcher' (also called a fortune teller) is a folded paper game children make. Players manipulate it with their fingers and choose flaps to reveal hidden messages or 'fortunes'.
Yes, but only in a very informal, humorous, or ironic sense. An adult might jokingly say a public handrail is 'full of cooties' to mean it seems germy. Using it seriously would sound childish.
'Cootie' is the standard, more common singular form. 'Cooty' is a common variant spelling and pronunciation. There is no difference in meaning. The plural is almost always 'cooties'.
(primarily child slang) An imaginary germ or louse, used to tease someone as being dirty or carrying contamination.
Cooty is usually informal, childish/playful, colloquial in register.
Cooty: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkuːti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkuːṭi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cootie catcher (a folded paper fortune-teller)”
- “Cootie shot (a pretend vaccination against cooties)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"COOTies" are what you might get from a dirty old COOT (an eccentric, sometimes unkempt person) – an imaginary, icky infestation.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL AVERSION IS A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE (e.g., 'She has cooties' metaphorically means 'I am socially averse to her').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'cooty' MOST appropriately used?