Phrase guide

little person

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australian: /ˈlɪtəlˌpɜːsən/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A person with dwarfism, or short stature resulting from a medical condition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A small magical humanoid creature, such as an elf, leprechaun, or fairy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: arts, fantasy, folklore, history, human-sciences, literature, media, publishing, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: small person

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see little, person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 袖珍人 (xiùzhēnrén) — euphemistic term for a person with dwarfism — see also dwarf
  • French: petite personne — euphemistic term for a person with dwarfism — see also dwarf
  • French: personne de petite taille — euphemistic term for a person with dwarfism — see also dwarf
  • German: Kleinwüchsiger — euphemistic term for a person with dwarfism — see also dwarf
  • German: Kleinwüchsige — euphemistic term for a person with dwarfism — see also dwarf
  • Polish: osoba niskorosła — euphemistic term for a person with dwarfism — see also dwarf
  • Swedish: kortväxt — euphemistic term for a person with dwarfism — see also dwarf
  • Cherokee: ᏴᏫ ᏧᎾᏍᏗᎢ (yvwi tsunasdii) — small magical humanoid
  • Finnish: kääpiö — small magical humanoid
  • German: Gnom — small magical humanoid
  • German: Männchen — small magical humanoid
  • German: Wicht — small magical humanoid
  • Swedish: småfolk — small magical humanoid