Little Bitty
Little bitty is a playful English expression meaning very small or tiny. Though common in the South, it developed in general American English and is not a traditional Southern or Appalachian term.
synonyms: tiny, itty-bitty, teeny-tiny, small, miniature
Hillbilly Dude Says...
It’s rarely just little, it’s gotta be 'a little bitty ol' thang.' Hillbilly Dude Says...
It’s rarely just little, it’s gotta be 'a little bitty ol' thang.' Pronunciation
[LIT-ul BIT-ee]
/ˈlɪtl ˈbɪti/
Meaning & Usage
- Very small; tiny
Carla:
Hand me that little bitty mason jar.
Hand me that little bitty mason jar.
Bo:
The baby one that holds two sips?
The baby one that holds two sips?variations: l’il bitty, little-bitty, bitty, little-bit
Origin
"Little bitty" developed as a playful diminutive in American English, likely from phrases like "little bit," then exaggerated with reduplication. Forms of "bitty" appear in American writing from the late 1800s onward.
Although Southerners use the phrase freely-and it fits the folksy rhythm of regional speech-it does not appear in older Southern or Appalachian dialect sources as a uniquely Southern expression.
Verdict: Southernish. Widely heard in the South, but national in origin and use.
Notes
- Common in everyday American English, especially with kids or pets.
- Feels natural in Southern speech because of the region’s fondness for diminutives.
- Used in food, animals, tools, and portion sizes.
- Often paired with gestures showing size ("just this little bitty much").
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 16). Little Bitty. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/little-bitty
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Little Bitty." HillbillySlang.com, 16 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/little-bitty.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Little Bitty." HillbillySlang.com. November 16, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/little-bitty.
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Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site 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...