What does birdie mean?
A birdie is most familiarly a golf term denoting a score of one stroke under par on any given hole — a mark of skill that golfers pursue eagerly, since it means completing a hole in fewer strokes than expected. The word also survives as an informal, affectionate diminutive of 'bird', common in speech directed at children, as in 'look at the little birdie', and it appears in the idiom 'a little birdie told me', a coy way of attributing information to an unnamed source. In badminton circles, 'birdie' serves as an informal nickname for the shuttlecock. The word originated in late nineteenth-century America, reportedly from the slang expression 'a bird of a shot' describing an excellent play. Today it is universally understood among golfers, while its diminutive use carries a warm, playful connotation. Its verb forms, such as 'she birdied the last hole', are standard in sports reporting.
In golf, a score of one stroke under par on a hole.
"Her birdie at the seventeenth gave her a two-shot lead going into the final round."
An informal or childish term for a bird.
"The children watched a tiny birdie splash about in the birdbath."
(Badminton) Informal term for the shuttlecock.
"She smashed the birdie straight down the line to win the rally."
Regular plural formation; commonly used when discussing multiple sub-par scores in golf, e.g. in match reports.
"He finished his round with five birdies and no bogeys."
Golfers borrowed the American slang phrase 'a bird of a shot' — meaning something excellent — to coin 'birdie', which is why a one-under hole shares its name with a cheerful little bird.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of birdie
The word began as a simple English diminutive of 'bird', formed with the '-ie' suffix that signals smallness or endearment, and has been used informally for centuries. Its celebrated golf sense emerged in the United States in the 1890s: Atlantic City golfer Ab Smith described a fine shot as 'a bird of a shot', and the term 'birdie' was adopted for one under par shortly thereafter. The related badminton sense derives from the feathered construction of early shuttlecocks. Cognate forms include the plain root 'bird' and other diminutives built from it, such as 'birdling'.
Related word forms
How birdie is actually used
The golf sense is standard and neutral across registers worldwide. The diminutive sense ('little birdie') is informal and often associated with child-directed speech or playful register; the phrase 'a little birdie told me' is a common idiomatic way of citing an unnamed informant. In badminton, 'birdie' is informal, with 'shuttlecock' or 'shuttle' preferred in technical contexts.
Easily confused with birdie
'Birdy' is simply an alternative (chiefly US) spelling of 'birdie'; both are used interchangeably as the diminutive and the golf term.
An eagle in golf means two strokes under par on a hole, while a birdie means one stroke under par.