Cool MateA little vs Slight
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
A little
Top 2,000 (common)
Slight
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
| A little | Slight | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ə ˈlɪt(əl)//🇺🇸 //ə ˈlɪt(əl)// | 🇬🇧 /["/slaɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/slaɪt/"]/ |
| Meaning | A small amount or degree. | A little bit or small in amount. |
| Example | I have a little extra time to help you. | There was a slight delay in the train schedule due to maintenance work. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | a little bit, a little while, a little longer, a little help, a little more | appear, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very, the slightest of…, be, look, very, physically |
| Antonyms | - | significant, substantial, considerable |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'little' which suggests a negative quantity., Using 'a little' with uncountable nouns only, forgetting its use with time., Misplacing the phrase in a sentence causing awkward structure. | Confusing with 'slighted' which means to insult someone., Using 'slight' to describe something very large instead of small., Mixing up 'slight' with 'light' regarding weight. |
| Usage notes | Use 'a little' when referring to a small quantity that is positive, often in informal contexts. | Use 'slight' to describe something that is not much or only a little. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts but is less common in very casual speech. |
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Frequently asked questions: A little vs Slight
What's the difference between A little and Slight?
A little: A small amount or degree. Slight: A little bit or small in amount.
Can you show an example of each?
A little: I have a little extra time to help you. Slight: There was a slight delay in the train schedule due to maintenance work.
Can I use A little and Slight interchangeably?
Not always. A little and Slight are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.