Little’un

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "little’un" is a natural contraction of "little one." It’s often used for the youngest child, or anything small and dear.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Little’un' is opposite of that 'big'un'.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Little’un' is opposite of that 'big'un'.

Pronunciation

[LIT-uhl-uhn]

Meaning & Usage

- A small child or baby (noun)

Aunt May:

The little’un fell asleep in my lap.

Grandma:

Leave him be - he looks peaceful.

- Anything small (noun)

Bill:

I caught a rabbit, but it’s just a little’un.

Joe:

We’ll let it go and wait for a bigger one.

variations: little one, littleun, little ’un, young’un, small, child, baby

★ "Little’un" and "big’un" almost always show up together - easy ways to tell siblings or sizes apart. ★

Origin and Etymology

From the phrase "little one." In mountain and Southern speech, "one" often softened into "’un," creating everyday forms like "little’un," "big’un," and "young’un."

Usage Notes

Still common across Appalachia and the rural South. Most often used by parents and grandparents when talking about children, but it can apply to animals and objects too.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said quick and soft: "litt-luhn." The "one" shortens to "’un," just like in "big’un."

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "little’un" only used for children?

No - it can describe any small thing, though most often it’s about kids.

What’s the opposite of "little’un"?

"Big’un." The pair often go together in family talk.

Is it affectionate or insulting?

Almost always affectionate - it’s a folksy, homey way to talk about the young or small.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 18). Little’un. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/littleun
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Little’un." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/littleun.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Little’un." HillbillySlang.com. September 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/littleun.

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