What Is The Male Equivalent Of "Petite"?

[ShadowofRegret]

I always wondered about that, petite seems to only apply to women, so what is it called when a guy has that kind of build?

"Petite definition is - having a small trim figure —usually used of a woman."

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+1 y

What's with all the negative terms?

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+1 y

Going on most of the answers, I take no one really knows.

[hahahmm]

Slim. But for a guy it’s not about height. He could be average height or super tall and still be slim. In other words it’s got nothing to do with absolute weight and is only about proportions.

Otoh a woman being petite has almost nothing to do with proportions and is about her height & weight being low. So a tall woman can’t be “petite”

I suppose a woman shaped like a ball who is 4 feet tall wouldn’t be petite but this is so rare that it’s not an issue.

[hahahmm]

I disagree with those who say the male version is unhealthy/scrawny... because “petite” applied to women is about positives... the male version must also be. Slim + fit.

[JustSomeGuy11]

I've always gone with 'small framed' since it politely gives an idea of a small stature and a smaller build, yet doesn't out right called them tiny or anything that could be deemed emasculating.

[sapphireruby]

I would call a small guy petite, why do we need to make up an entire new word to describe small guys.

[zaharaa]

lol this is a good question

[zaharaa]

maybe a manlet

[wankiam]

spits out coffee over laptop lol... thanks for that ;)

[zaharaa]

lmao

[zaharaa]

it's a joke 🤣

[puliteutyua]

Manlet is so degrading him

[ShadowofRegret]

I have heard a whole lot worse than height jokes, so they personally don't bother me, I just wish people could answer the question though.

[zaharaa]

I didn't know what else to say 🤣 my bad

[ShadowofRegret]

Don't worry about it, you seemed to take it more seriously than most did, I was mostly talking about the others. (I gave you a like because of that.😊)

[ShadowofRegret]

Thankfully, it seems some other good answers have came in too, so I am pleased.

[zaharaa]

oh I thought it was directed at me because i hadn't checked the other replies sorry lol 🤦‍♀️

[ShadowofRegret]

No need to apologize, I know it is probably a weird question to ask.😊

[Jackieboi]

Its called unattractive/undevelopted, thats why there isn't a word. Though ofc there are gals that like that too, just not in general as opposed to guys.

[Jackieboi]

With the negative terms? You realize small men are unattractive to most of the female population right? Its like trying to find a positive/cute word for fat gals gl...

[ShadowofRegret]

There is no shortage of derogatory terms, however I was mostly trying to see if there was an actual term for that kind of build, of course, took a while for me to realize what was going on here, which is why I typed that.

I'm starting to think I didn't word my question well since it seems a lot of people do not understand what I am trying to ask...

[Jackieboi]

Well im not sure i understand either cause to me the question initially sounds stupid, but that may be cause i didn't understand it. I upvoted you for more exposure and gave you my two cents.

[ShadowofRegret]

Thanks!😉

[VeggiePizzaDude]

You know, short guys get enormous amounts of pussy. Actually, every pussy is enormous to them.

[ShadowofRegret]

I really don't care about that to be honest, I was just curious if there was a term for it.

[VeggiePizzaDude]

Diminutive if referring to physical size. Short if referring to height attractiveness.

[BCA6010]

Scrawny is probably the closest you can get, though it's almost never used as a positive or a compliment.

"Slim" really only applies to width.

[AllThatSweetJazz]

I don’t think there’s a problem calling them petite but whatever, if you need a different word; maybe “lithe”

[ninaneedshelp]

This is a really interesting question🤔🤔🤔 for which I have no answer

[Exorcist_Rampage]

Usually tiny is what they call men who are 5'3" like you. Not sure if you're 115 lbs or whatever but you are just 1 inch shorter than me. I'm 5'4" and you're 5'3" so nothing to fret about, rad sir!

[ShadowofRegret]

It doesn't bother me, I was just curious.

Also, I am around 146lb (I work out.)

[Exorcist_Rampage]

I'm 138 lbs so we aren't much apart.

[ShadowofRegret]

Cool!😄

[KillianK]

Short. We just call eachother short if we're short.

[Anonymous]

I don't know but the term husky needs to be used instead of plus size more often, I think.

[Boppy]

In my experience, husky is used when someone's plus sized because of muscles.

[Opinion Owner]

@Boppy I've never heard it used like that before, but maybe that's why I haven't heard it very often.

[Boppy]

Fair, it may have just been at my school. I asked my parents and they said it was a clothing size for... pudgier babies.

[Opinion Owner]

@Boppy oh..

[Flower7]

He would just be called "short".

[puliteutyua]

Why not call petite girls short as well? Why associate short with small males only

[Flower7]

@puliteutyua Girls are often called short too.

[wankiam]

tom thumb or tom cruize

[Screenwriter]

Tom Cruise is not petite. THough short, he's sturdily built.

[wankiam]

@Screenwriter well i was going to say m j fox but given his medical issues i thought t c made an easier target in what was an intended attempt at a HUMOUROUS comment but thanks for the fact check all the same ;)

[wankiam]

so another term could be 'slight of build'

[wankiam]

when i was younger the short guy in the gang was called 'lofty'

[Screenwriter]

I realize it was humorous... but still doesn't describe him... and you are quite correct... Fox is both short and small of build... he would be petit without the e as that is a "feminine" French ending... Cajuns call MEN Petit Tom... usually applied to the son of a man named Tom to refer to the junior Tom... It doesn't refer to one's actual physical size but to the fact they are the younger of the two. It's shortened to 'T Tom. But about age, not just size. Slight is the only term referring to men, but again, I don't think it refers to small in height.. but slight of build. I think it's about petite being appropriate for a woman, but never for a man.. that old prejudice... Lofty sounds like a mafia name!!!

[wankiam]

@Screenwriter here lofty means really tall... it was the fact he was short that makes it a common nickname for the upwardly challenged... anyway that aside it does highlight one thing. whilst the term petite for women is like cute and no way offensive we dont seem to have such a term for men and thats most likely due to derogatory stereotyping more than anything

[Screenwriter]

Oh, I realize Lofty is ironic... and as I agree, men are insulted by being called small or height or stature, whereas women are supposed to be tiny and helpless... I am small and so is my son... since his dad wasn't tall either. He has a big personality and looks good, so he has to build on that with women. And actually, I think small men have the best bet with tall women. Same with small women and tall men. THough some are attracted to "like" sizes, I think the biological imperative is to create offspring who are average in looks and height: neither too tall nor too short, neither too ugly, nor too pretty. A 6'2" man hooksup with a 5 foot woman and produces 5'5" daughters and 5'10" sons: average heights for both. And biologically two gorgeous people have as much chance as creating average looking children as two unattractive people have to creating pretty children: 50/50. Odd isn't it!

[wankiam]

@Screenwriter it is odd indeed. good to hear you haven't raised a little big man too. there's nothing wrong with shorter guys at all but some do overcompensate for their unfounded fears of inadequecy by being aggressive and violent too.

[Screenwriter]

Yeah, but he knows he's at a disadvantage... He hopes to make up for some of that with a good salary. I'm glad he's poor now, though, because only women who honestly like him will be with him... I feel sad at the thought of a woman choosing him because of his salary. sigh...

[wankiam]

@Screenwriter that would make perfect sense but for one thing... most relationships that last are between people with the same socioeconomic background and salary level or at least thats what the stats here in the uk show. so if he had a high salary it would be most likely he would still attract genuine women but from his own same saalry bracket. anyway its all hypothetical as long as he is happy as he is in life. just wanted to make the point not every woman is a gold digger in this world of more equality in the work place etc

[Screenwriter]

Ah, but you know the biological imperative seems to choose absolutely NOTHING for women except they look fertile and young and for men they have money... This saddens me. So dumb, pretty women, financially secure nothing else men. Both are essentially gold diggers, just different kinds of gold... I do think my son likes women with brains, however... So perhaps he'll find love and balance... You want your kids happy.

[wankiam]

@Screenwriter ofcourse you do

[Anpu23]

Skinny pr perhaps, wirey.

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

Girls are petite, guys are just short

[Anonymous]

Thin small body frame probably.

[esotericstory]

Twink, its popular in the gay scene.

[DizzyDesii]

Lmao is it bad this was my first thought 😂

[Phoenix98]

I don't know lol a midget?

[Mistermiracle57]

Petit without the e in French

[YvanKarma]

Issa trap

[DizzyDesii]

Im confused. Is trap the same as trans? Are you saying thats what you're into?

[YvanKarma]

@DizzyDesii They are not the same, and no that is not what i'm saying

[purplepoppy]

Midget

[puliteutyua]

Seriously dude? Wtf

[VeryCleverUsername]

twink

[YvanKarma]

Twink is only used for gays

[ShadowofRegret]

I was wondering what that meant...😅

[YvanKarma]

A twink is a gay guy, but not necessarily a feminine one or cute one, mostly white gay guys are refer to as twinks.

[ShadowofRegret]

Thank you for the explanation.

[YvanKarma]

Much like how a trap has it's own label, but traps are actually cute and whatnot lollll

[ShadowofRegret]

That is true!

[YvanKarma]

Hihi i love traps :)

[VeryCleverUsername]

@YvanKarma I think its usage expanded recently to include non-gays who look like twinks

[YvanKarma]

i suppose so

[VeryCleverUsername]

@YvanKarma Wikipedia says Twink is gay slang, but the twink himself does not have to be gay. These days, non-gays are starting to use it.

[Redstang88]

Scrawny

[Redstang88]

Re update - because no guy wants to be scrawny