student asking question

Are there any differences in nuance between "teeny" and "tiny"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Teeny" and "tiny" both mean "very small," but teeny" is more of an informal child's word. With children, we often say "teeny" to emphasize that something is really, really small. So saying "teeny" adds emphasis to the smallness of something. We'd be much more likely to use a phrase like this with children than with adults, hence why it appears in a cartoon. Ex: People look teeny from up here. Ex: Look at your teeny feet. So cute.

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