Tummy Is a Child's Version of Stomach
Tummy is an informal word for the stomach. It belongs to a small class of words shaped by young children's speech.
Tummy is an informal and childish word for the stomach or abdomen. It formed the way many nursery words do: a child hears *stomach*, keeps the stressed middle syllable, drops the rest and adds the *-y* ending that English uses for affection. The same process gives *choccy*, *brolly*, *telly* and *cuppa*. Adults then adopt the child's version, which is how *tummy* became standard informal English rather than remaining nursery talk.
- The stomach (informal). *A sore tummy.*
- Stomach — the standard word. *Stomach.*
- Tummy ache — indigestion. *A tummy ache.*
- Belly — a blunter word. *The belly.*
- Child's alteration. *From stomach.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | tummy | A tummy. |
| Plural | tummies | Tummies. |
| Compound | tummy ache | Tummy ache. |
| Standard | stomach | Stomach. |
| Register | informal | Informal. |
- He has a tummy ache.Child.
- Stomach is the formal word.Register.
- The word comes from child speech.Formation.
Words shortened with -y
- Tummy — from stomach
- Telly — from television
- Brolly — from umbrella
- Choccy — from chocolate
- Cuppa — from cup of tea, a slightly different pattern
A childish alteration of *stomach*, recorded from the 1860s.
How was tummy formed?
From stomach, keeping the stressed middle syllable and adding the affectionate -y ending typical of nursery words.
Is tummy only for children?
No. It began as child speech but is now ordinary informal English for adults too.