Little Cabbages
Little cabbages is a down-home name for Brussels sprouts, common in Southern kitchens and gardens. The nickname fits their look - tiny green heads that could pass for baby cabbages straight off the stalk.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
My Dad has always called them 'little cabbages' exclusively. So it's still common - at least to me. Hillbilly Dude Says...
My Dad has always called them 'little cabbages' exclusively. So it's still common - at least to me. Pronunciation
[LIT-ul CAB-ij-iz]
/ˈlɪtəl ˈkæbɪdʒɪz/
/ˈlɪtəl ˈkæbɪdʒɪz/
Meaning & Usage
- Brussels Sprouts (noun, folk name)
Mamaw:
Y’all eat them little cabbages - they’re good for ya.
Y’all eat them little cabbages - they’re good for ya.
Papaw:
Not unless they’re fried in bacon grease.
Not unless they’re fried in bacon grease.★ Southerners love givin’ plain food prettier names - and "little cabbages" stuck because it’s half tease, half truth. ★
Origin and Etymology
From the resemblance of Brussels sprouts to miniature cabbages. The name shows up in rural and Southern speech by the mid-1900s, especially among gardeners and home cooks who raised both in the same patch.
Usage Notes
Common in Southern and Appalachian kitchens and gardens, especially among older speakers. Occasionally heard elsewhere, but mostly as a borrowed bit of country talk.
Kin Topics
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 11). Little Cabbages. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/little-cabbages
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Little Cabbages." HillbillySlang.com, 11 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/little-cabbages.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Little Cabbages." HillbillySlang.com. October 11, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/little-cabbages.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...