🦶 A foot or toe 😊 A sweet name

tootsy

1 9.9

A loving name someone uses for a partner or close friend

noun
/ˈtuːtsi/

Informal

: cariño

You're such a sweetheart, my dear tootsy.

Examples

When she smiles at me, I can't help but think of her as my little tootsy.
Every evening, he calls her tootsy when they share a laugh.
♪ You hold her hand and she holds yours ♪ ♪ And that's a very good sign ♪ ♪ That she's your tootsy-wootsy ♪ ♪

In the Good Old Summertime (1949)

Synonyms

patootie

vstootsy

Slang

7 9.9

A friendly word for a person's bottom or for someone very cute

is focused only on playful affectionate address for an attractive person

dearie

vstootsy

Informal

6 8.1

A word used to show love or kindness to someone

is similar but leans more toward playful or flirtatious address

lovey

vstootsy

Informal

5 7.5

A gentle name used for someone you love

is equally affectionate but feels slightly more playful and flirty

pookie

vstootsy

Informal

4 9.9

A friendly, playful name you use for someone you love

is nearly the same but usually stresses attractiveness more clearly

froggie

vstootsy

Informal

4 8.8

A friendly nickname used for someone you care about

is similar but usually sounds cuter and highlights attractiveness more

poochie

vstootsy

Informal

2 9.1

A loving nickname for a child or someone you love

is comparable but usually used to flatter attractiveness more playfully

tootsie

vstootsy

Informal

2 9.3

A friendly name for someone you love or like

is the same playful address but also highlights attraction more generally

deary

vstootsy

2 8.4

A person you love or care about, often called this name to show love

is more playful and often implies attraction rather than only affection

poopie

vstootsy

Informal

2 9.6

A loving nickname for a baby or someone you care for

is also playful but more often used for an attractive adult rather than infants

chicky

vstootsy

Slang

1 9.9

A friendly name for a young woman used to show that you like her

is broader, usable for any loved person and stresses playful attraction

woogie

vstootsy

Informal

1 9.9

Playful name for a child, partner or close friend

focuses more on attraction and flirtatious address than general playfulness

sookie

vstootsy

Informal

9.9

A name used to call someone in a loving way

is similarly affectionate but often adds a teasing, flirtatious tone

pooty

vstootsy

Informal

9.9

A loving nickname used for a person or pet

is similar but tends to target someone seen as attractive or loved

popsy

vstootsy

Informal

8.7

A friendly loving name for a child or someone you love

is more flirtatious and often aimed at someone considered attractive

smoochy-woochy

vstootsy

Informal

9.9

A playful, very affectionate nickname used between romantic partners or close friends

shares romantic use but is less syrupy and more broadly flirtatious

How Affectionate

darling

Informal

∞ 1.0

sweetie

Informal

558 2.8

tootsy

Informal

1 9.9

dear

Informal

29 1.0

friend

∞ 1.0

pal

Informal

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

tootsy singular

tootsies plural

Morphology

tootsy = toe (semi-transparent) = toe + sy

The form is clearly a pet/diminutive formation from 'toe', but the extended sense 'affectionate term for a person' is a figurative shift that learners will not reliably predict.

Etymology

Tootsy started as baby talk from toe ('toe') + -sie, and people often turn cute words into pet names, so calling someone tootsy means you think they are cute or loved.