tootsie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Familiar
Quick answer
What does “tootsie” mean?
A familiar or affectionate term for a small foot.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A familiar or affectionate term for a small foot; sometimes used to refer to a young woman.
An informal, often playful or slightly old-fashioned term of endearment for a girlfriend, wife, or baby; also used as a nickname.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common historically in American English. The term of endearment usage feels more distinctly American.
Connotations
In both, informal and affectionate. In American use, the term-of-endearment connotation is stronger. In British English, it may sound quaint or imported.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary formal usage in both varieties. The 'foot' meaning is slightly more persistent in British English, though still very informal.
Grammar
How to Use “tootsie” in a Sentence
Possessive + tootsie(s) (e.g., my tootsies)Adjective + tootsie(s) (e.g., cold tootsies)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used playfully or affectionately with close friends, family, or children.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tootsie”
- Using it in formal writing or with strangers.
- Confusing it with 'toots' (a more general, dated slang term for a woman).
- Overusing it, making speech sound cloying.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and affectionate, not impolite, but its appropriateness depends entirely on the relationship and context. It is not for formal or professional use.
Rarely. Its primary meaning (little foot) could technically apply to anyone, but its use as a term of endearment is historically and typically directed at women or children.
'Tootsie' often refers specifically to a foot or is a more specific nickname. 'Toots' (or 'tootsie' in some uses) is a broader, more general and dated slang term of address for a woman, sometimes considered slightly condescending.
No, it is quite low-frequency. It survives in playful or nostalgic contexts, in fixed phrases like 'cold tootsies', or as a conscious stylistic choice to sound quaint or affectionate.
A familiar or affectionate term for a small foot.
Tootsie is usually informal, familiar in register.
Tootsie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʊtsi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʊtsi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “warm your tootsies (by the fire)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a train saying 'TOOT TOOT' – a playful 'toot' for a playful little 'tootsie' (foot).
Conceptual Metaphor
FEET ARE SMALL, CUTE OBJECTS (using diminutive suffix '-sie').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'tootsie' be LEAST appropriate?