Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[nawee]

Hello,

What's the difference, if any, between "tummy" and "belly"? I know that "tummy" is a kid's term for "stomach", but is therea difference in terms of size? Can you have a "small belly"?

Thank you,

Nawee

[Suzanne]

Hello!

You are correct about "tummy." It's a children's expression, coming from the word "stomach." It's usually used in reference to a baby or child.
Examples:
"The baby had a pain in his tummy."
"Mommy, I have a tummy ache."

"Belly" refers to the part of the human body which extends downward from the breast to the thighs, and contains the bowels, or intestines. It's also referred to as "the abdomen."

Belly is also used in more ways than tummy. It can mean anything that protrudes, the front of something, or the bottom of something:
Examples:
1. The belly of an airplane (the bottom)
2. A fat stomach, or the womb (the front of the body)
3. The belly of a ship (the inside/interior of anything)

There is also an idiom using "belly": "go or turn belly up"
It's an informal phrase, meaning to come to an end; die; fail.
Examples:
"After years of barely surviving on donations, the neighborhood social club finally went belly up. "
"In this economy, many small businesses will go belly up."

Is this helpful?