little
A1 (Extremely High Frequency)Neutral; used across formal and informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Small in size, amount, or degree.
Also meaning young, of short duration, unimportant, or to a small extent.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries emotional or evaluative connotations (e.g., endearment, dismissiveness). As a quantifier, 'little' (without 'a') has a negative meaning ('not much'), while 'a little' is positive ('some').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major grammatical differences. Some idiomatic preferences exist (e.g., 'a little while' is common in both, but 'a little bit' is more frequent in AmE).
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties: can express affection ('little one'), triviality ('a little problem'), or derogatory intent ('little liar').
Frequency
Extremely common in both varieties with near-identical frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
little + uncountable noun (negative: not much)a little + uncountable noun (positive: some)a little + singular countable noun (small in size)little + comparative adjective/adverb (e.g., little better)verb + little (e.g., matter little)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “little by little”
- “a little bird told me”
- “little did I know”
- “the little woman”
- “in little”
- “make little of”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often denotes insufficient quantity or scale (e.g., 'little profit', 'little market growth').
Academic
Used to indicate scarcity or limited extent in formal writing (e.g., 'little research exists', 'a little-studied phenomenon').
Everyday
Ubiquitous in daily conversation for size, amount, and affection (e.g., 'a little help', 'my little sister').
Technical
Rare in specific technical senses; can appear in terms like 'little endian' (computing).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- This theory is little understood outside academic circles.
- She slept little last night.
American English
- He is little known in this part of the country.
- They differed little in their opinions.
adjective
British English
- She lives in a little cottage in the Cotswolds.
- There's little point in discussing it further.
American English
- He made a little mistake on the form.
- We have little time to finish the project.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a little brother.
- Can I have a little water, please?
- She is a little tired.
- There is little hope of finding the lost keys now.
- The project requires a little more time.
- He felt a little better after the medicine.
- Little did she know that her life was about to change.
- The agreement made little difference to the overall outcome.
- It's a little-known fact that he speaks three languages.
- The government paid little heed to the committee's recommendations.
- His contribution, while little, was nevertheless crucial.
- The two philosophies differ little in their core tenets.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'little' as having two 't's like the rungs of a tiny ladder leading to something small.
Conceptual Metaphor
LITTLE IS UNIMPORTANT / LITTLE IS YOUNG / LITTLE IS A SMALL AMOUNT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'little' (мало, негативная оценка) with 'a little' (немного, положительная оценка).
- Overusing 'little' for countable nouns where 'few' is correct.
- Mistaking 'little' as an adverb in structures like 'I little know' (archaic) instead of 'I know little'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'little' with plural countable nouns (e.g., 'little people' meaning 'not many people' is non-standard; use 'few').
- Placing 'little' after the noun it modifies (e.g., 'a boy little' is incorrect).
- Confusing 'little' and 'a little' in negative contexts (e.g., 'He has a little money, so he can't afford it' is illogical).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'little' have a positive meaning?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Little' (without 'a') has a negative meaning, implying 'not enough' or 'hardly any'. 'A little' has a positive meaning, implying 'some' or 'a small but sufficient amount'.
No, as a quantifier meaning 'not much', 'little' is only used with uncountable nouns. For plural countable nouns, use 'few'.
Yes, but they are less common and somewhat informal. 'Smaller' and 'smallest' are often preferred in formal writing, though 'littler/littlest' are used, especially with children or in affectionate contexts.
As an adverb, 'little' means 'not much' or 'to only a small extent'. It often modifies verbs, past participles, or comparative forms (e.g., 'He little cares', 'a little-known author', 'little better'). This use can be formal or literary.