little
Small in size, amount, or degree.
Etymology
From Old English lȳtel (small, not large), from Proto-Germanic *lūtilaz, possibly from a PIE base *lewd- (small) or related to *lew- (to cut off, to separate), suggesting something diminished. The word has been a basic vocabulary item throughout English history, though small (from a different root) has partially replaced it in some contexts.
The Journey: *lewd- → little
*lewd- (uncertain)
*lūtilaz
lȳtel
little
Cognates Across Languages
These words in other languages descend from the same PIE root *lewd-. They are not borrowings but independent inheritances from a common ancestor.
| Language | Word |
|---|---|
| Dutch | luttel — little (archaic) |
| German | lützel — little (archaic) |
| Gothic | leitils — little |
| Old Norse | lítill — little |
Did You Know?
Little has been gradually retreating before small in many contexts. We say 'a small house' more often than 'a little house,' but little holds on in phrases like 'a little while' and 'little by little' where small cannot substitute.
This word descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *lewd-. See the full root page for descendant trees, sound law references, and scholarly discussion.