little'un
A little one: usually a small child, sometimes any small thing.
Also called little one, young'un, littleun.
Updated September 24, 2026
little'un pronunciation
/LIT-uhl-un/
Meaning
Affectionate mountain talk for the youngest kid, a baby, or anything pint-sized. Pairs with big'un when folks sort siblings or fish. Built on the same 'un ending you hear in young'un and that'un.
How folks use it
- “Keep an eye on the little'un while I finish these beans.”
- “That litter had three little'uns too small to wean yet.”
Origin and etymology
From little one, with one reduced to 'un in Southern and Appalachian speech. Joseph Hall recorded big'un and related forms in the Smokies. Blind Pig and The Acorn notes little'uns in everyday mountain grammar. Young'un is the close cousin for child in general.