totty: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Slang, Potentially Offensive
Quick answer
What does “totty” mean?
(British informal) An attractive young woman or collectively, attractive young women.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(British informal) An attractive young woman or collectively, attractive young women.
Used in a casual, often objectifying manner to refer to a woman's physical appearance. Historically, also a British dialect term for a toddler or young child (now obsolete or regional).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The slang sense meaning 'attractive woman' is exclusively British. The archaic/regional meaning of 'child' is also British. The word is not used in American English.
Connotations
In British English, it is casual, laddish, and objectifying. Connotations range from harmless cheekiness (to some) to outright sexism.
Frequency
Its use has declined significantly since its peak in the late 20th century and is now considered somewhat dated and non-U.
Grammar
How to Use “totty” in a Sentence
VERB + totty (look at, chat up, pull)ADJ + totty (nice, bit of, local)QUANTIFIER + totty (some, a bit of)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used. Potentially mentioned in sociolinguistic studies of slang or gender.
Everyday
Only in very informal, often male-dominated British social settings (pubs, clubs, sports talk). Use is heavily marked by register and potential offensiveness.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “totty”
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Using it in front of or to refer to women you don't know intimately.
- Assuming it is a compliment; many consider it demeaning.
- Using it in American English where it is unknown.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is informal slang that many people, especially women, find objectifying and sexist. It's best avoided.
No, the slang meaning is not used in American English. An American listener would likely not understand it or would recognize it as British slang from media.
The slang meaning likely derives from the older British dialect word 'totty' meaning a small child or toddler, possibly via the idea of something small or perhaps as a rhyming alteration of 'body'.
Extremely rarely. The term is overwhelmingly used to refer to women. The male equivalent in similar registers would be 'bloke', 'lad', or slang like 'hunk'.
(British informal) An attractive young woman or collectively, attractive young women.
Totty is usually informal, slang, potentially offensive in register.
Totty: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɒti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a bit of totty”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a toddler (the old meaning) but for a 'totty', the focus is on the 'body' (both start with 't-o-t'). (Note: This links the two distinct historical meanings, not the actual etymology.)
Conceptual Metaphor
WOMEN ARE OBJECTS OF VISUAL CONSUMPTION (e.g., a 'bit of totty').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'totty' be MOST likely historically found?