A critter is a creature, especially an animal. The word is informal and sounds American and a bit folksy — farm talk, story talk, or someone being playful.

A critter is a creature critter 是指生物, especially an animal尤其是動物。The word is informal這個字很口語, and sounds American and a bit folksy聽起來很美式，也帶點鄉土味 — farm talk, story talk, or someone being playful像是農場裡的用語、講故事的用語，或是有人在開玩笑。

You might say little critters for insects, mice, or any small animal you are not naming carefully. It can sound warm, or a little fed up, depending on the voice.

You might say little critters你可能會說 little critters, for insects, mice, or any small animal you are not naming carefully用來指昆蟲、老鼠，或任何你懶得仔細指名的小動物。It can sound warm它聽起來可能很溫暖親切, or a little fed up或帶點厭煩, depending on the voice要看說話的語氣而定。

It is not the word for a science class or a formal report; there you say animal or creature.

It is not the word for a science class or a formal report這不是科學課或正式報告會用的字; there you say animal or creature在那些場合你會說 animal 或 creature。

It started as a dialect way of saying creature, with the middle of the word worn away in speech, and it is first found in the early 1800s.

It started as a dialect way of saying creature它最初是方言裡說 creature 的一種唸法, with the middle of the word worn away in speech口語中把這個字中間的部分磨掉了, and it is first found in the early 1800s最早的紀錄出現在 1800 年代初期。

Some speakers also use it loosely for a person, usually with humour, but the home meaning is an animal.

Some speakers also use it loosely for a person有些人也會鬆散地用它來指一個人, usually with humour通常帶點幽默, but the home meaning is an animal不過它原本的意思還是動物。