How to pronounce little
Say it like LIT-ul. Little has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce little. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIT
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Little pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of little
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: LIT-ul.
What does little mean?
- limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent“a little dining room”“a little house”
- (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with a) at least some“little rain fell in May”“gave it little thought”
- (of children and animals) young, immature“what a big little boy you are”“small children”
- not much“he talked little about his family”
- a small amount or duration“he accepted the little they gave him”
Where does little come from?
Cognate with Yola lethel, litha, lithel, lythea (“little”), North Frisian letj (“little, small”), Saterland Frisian litje (“little, small”), West Frisian lyts (“little, small”), Dutch luttel (“few, little, mere”), German lütt, lützel (“litt
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with little
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of little.
Questions about saying little
How do you pronounce little?
Say LIT-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪtəl/. In British English it is /ˈlɪtəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in little?
Little has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIT). Broken into parts: LIT · ul.
Is little pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈlɪtəl/ (LIT-ul).