The phrase "little child" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ˈlɪtəl tʃaɪld/. The first syllable, "lit", is pronounced with a short "i" sound followed by a "t" sound. The second syllable, "tle", is pronounced with a silent "e" and a "l" sound. The third syllable, "child", is pronounced with a long "i" sound followed by a "d" sound. This phrase describes a young person who is small in size and age, often referring to a toddler or minor.
A little child refers to a young human being who is in the early stages of development and has not yet reached puberty. The term "little" conveys the concept of size, implying that a child is physically smaller in comparison to an adult. It suggests a sense of youthful innocence and vulnerability, emphasizing the tender and delicate nature of their age. Moreover, the word "child" reinforces the notion of immaturity and dependency, indicating that they require guidance, protection, and care from adults.
Little children typically exhibit characteristics such as curiosity, playfulness, and a disposition to learn and explore. At this stage, they rely heavily on their caregivers for basic needs, nurturing, and guidance to foster healthy emotional, intellectual, and physical development. Little children acquire new skills rapidly and undergo significant cognitive, emotional, and social progress, frequently experiencing crucial milestones in language acquisition, motor abilities, and social interactions.
Furthermore, the term "little child" commonly reflects a universal perception of a juvenile individual, transcending cultural, geographic, and societal boundaries. As a result, it encapsulates the core period of a human's life cycle before the onset of adolescence. While the exact age range that defines a little child may vary across cultures or for specific purposes, the term generally encompasses children from infancy to pre-adolescence, which typically encompasses the ages between one and twelve years old.
The word "little" comes from the Old English word "lytel", which means "small in size or quantity, not big". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "luttila".
The word "child" comes from the Old English word "cild" or "cildru", which referred to an infant or a young person. It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "kilthom", which means "womb" or "fetus".
Therefore, the etymology of the phrase "little child" is a combination of the Old English words "lytel" and "cild", meaning a small or young person.