itsy-bitsy

See also: itsy bitsy

English

Alternative forms

• itsy bitsy, itty-bitty

Etymology

From itty (baby-talk form of little) and/or bitsy.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɪtsi ˈbɪtsi/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Adjective

itsy-bitsy (comparative itsy-bitsier, superlative itsy-bitsiest)

1. (colloquial, often childish or humorous) Very small; minuscule.

   Synonyms: incy wincy, itty-bitty, teeny-weeny

   The itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the water spout.

   She wore an itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny yellow polka-dot bikini.

Derived terms

• itsy

Translations

very small

• Czech: maličký (cs), mrňavý (cs), malinkatý, prťavý, pidi
• Dutch: ietsepietsie (nl), ietsjepietsje
• Esperanto: minuskla
• French: minuscule (fr)
• Hindi: इत्तु सी (ittu sī)
• Hungarian: icipici (hu)

Noun

itsy-bitsy (plural itsy-bitsies)

1. (chiefly in the plural) A very small thing; something tiny or insignificant.