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Jandi Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Little cup vs. small cup

Hello, teachers!

Would you please tell me the difference on meaning?
1. I'll have that little cup of coffee.
2. I'll have that small cup of coffee.

Thank you very much.
Peace!
  

Top answer

Jandi, I can't explain why, but "small cup of coffee" sounds better to me, though I think you could use either [1] or [2]. If you google "little cup of coffee" and "small cup of coffee", you will find that they have 400 hits and 1800 hits respectively. Small cup of coffee appears to be more popular.

— MountainHiker

  • Jandi, I can't explain why, but "small cup of coffee" sounds better to me, though I think you could use either [1] or [2].
  • If you google "little cup of coffee" and "small cup of coffee", you will find that they have 400 hits and 1800 hits respectively.
  • Small cup of coffee appears to be more popular.
  • I hope CalifJim provides a better explanation.
  • He might even disagree with my answer.
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4 Answers
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Jandi,

I can't explain why, but "small cup of coffee" sounds better to me, though I think you could use either [1] or [2]. If you google "little cup of coffee" and "small cup of coffee", you will find that they have 400 hits and 1800 hits respectively. Small cup of coffee appears to be more popular.

I hope CalifJim provides a better explanation. He might even disagree with
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Answering this question on another forum, I discovered in Swan that 'small' is used for simple physical size, while'little' often carries an emotive connotation as well:

'They bought a cute little house'-- not a 'cute small house'.

There could be some carryover into many people's usage, in cases where it doesn't really make any difference, that one would 'sound wrong'.
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If so, is it incorrect to say "They bought a cute small house?"

Thanks in advance.
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Nope, it just sounds a little strange.
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