- "Littel" is an incorrect spelling of the word "little."
- "Little" means small in amount, size, or degree, age, or height.
❌ He had a littel notebook for jotting down his creative ideas and inspirations.
✅ He had a little notebook for jotting down his creative ideas and inspirations.
What does "little" mean?
"Little" describes a small amount, size, or degree of something. It can be used as an adjective, pronoun, and adverb.
Little (adjective)
- Small Size: Describing something of diminutive proportions or limited physical extent.
- Small Amount: Referring to a minimal quantity or degree of something.
- Youth or Short Stature: Describing individuals who are young or of below-average height.
Little (pronoun)
- Indicating a Small Quantity: Meaning not much or almost nothing, as in "Little has changed."
Little (adverb)
- Small Extent or Degree: Serving as an adverb to express actions or qualities to a minor or limited degree.
The use of "little" and "littel" over time
The Ngram graph below shows how often "little" and "littel" have been used from the 1800s to the 2000s. "Little" experienced a dip in usage in the 1980s, but has since been increasing in use, while its misspelling "littel" has always seen nearly zero use.
How to pronounce "little"
In American and British English, "little" is pronounced like "li·tul."
These are just the standard pronunciations, and there may be slight variations depending on regional accents and individual speech patterns.
Why would we misspell "little" as "littel"?
Simple Typos: It's easy to mix up the keys, especially when typing quickly or without proofreading. In this case, some people may mix up the order of the "l" and "e," leading to the misspelling "littel."
Phonetic Confusion: People who are unfamiliar with the spelling may rely on what they hear and incorrectly write it as "littel," similar to other words like "camel" and "pixel."
Other common misspellings of "little"
- Litle
- Litte
- Litel
- Litl
- Lttle
Example sentences of the misspelling of "little" as "littel"
- It's important to correct the misspelling "littel" to the proper term "little" to maintain clarity in written communication.
- In formal writing, it's crucial to avoid errors such as using "littel" instead of the correct spelling, which is "little."
- When proofreading your work, pay attention to common mistakes, like the misspelled "littel," to ensure accurate and professional writing.
- The correct term is "little," not the misspelling "littel," which may lead to confusion in the intended meaning.
- Teachers often remind students to be meticulous in their spelling, rectifying errors such as the misspelled "littel" to "little" to demonstrate attention to detail.
Example sentences of "little"
- The toddler took little steps as they explored the unfamiliar surroundings.
- In the quaint village, there was a charming café with a little garden in the back.
- The old library had a collection of little-known books that held hidden treasures of knowledge.
- Despite the storm, the bird found refuge in a little nook under the eaves of the roof.
- She spoke in a soft and little voice, barely audible in the crowded room.
- The cat curled up on the windowsill, basking in the warmth of the little sunshine that peeked through the clouds.
- The shopkeeper offered a little discount to the regular customers as a token of appreciation.
- The village had a little bakery that was famous for its delicious pastries.
- Even a little kindness can go a long way in brightening someone's day.
- The musician played a sweet melody on a little ukulele during the intimate gathering.
Synonyms for "little"
- Small
- Tiny
- Miniature
- Petite
- Diminutive
- Minute
- Short
- Limited
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