li'l

See also: lil, Lil, li-l, lil', and li'l'

English

Alternative forms

• li'l', lil, lit'l
• lil' (misspelling)

Etymology

Contracted from little, especially as pronounced with flapping, when the /t/ is barely audible.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [lɪɫ], [lɪ.ɫ̩]

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

Adjective

li'l

1. Pronunciation spelling of little.
   • 1898, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Folks from Dixie, page 118:

     " Go s'eepy, baby; don' you be 'Paid; mammy ain' gwine let nuffin' hu't you, even ef pappy don' wan' look at huh li'l face. Bye, bye, go s'eepy, mammy's li'l gal."

   • 2006, Cris Burks, Neecey's lullaby:

     Jesse called her his li'l cutie pie. Because she was happy to be so cute and her daddy's little girl,

2. Generic intensifier.

   This li'l puppy is adorable!

Derived terms

• li'l ol'
• li'l old
• li'l ole

 

Anagrams

• ill, Ill., ILL, 'ill, I'll