hobbit

Hobbit is a fictional humanoid race in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. They are characterized by a small stature, typically about 2 to 4 feet tall, with a sturdy, agrarian build. Hobbits are known for their hairy feet and a preference for a quiet, comfortable lifestyle. They live longer than humans, commonly reaching about 100 years of age, with some living longer.

Most Hobbits inhabit the Shire, a rural region in the northwest of Middle-earth. The Shire is organized into districts called Farthings and features cultivated farms, villages, and hill-sized homes called smials. Hobbit society emphasizes family, community, and domestic pleasures such as good food and gardening. They speak Westron (the Common Speech) with distinct dialects and customs, including a fondness for celebration and social gatherings.

Hobbits are descended from several early groups known as Harfoots, Stoors, and Fallohides, with Harfoots becoming the most numerous in the Shire’s later eras. They generally avoid adventure and danger, preferring peaceful lives, though a few, such as Bilbo Baggins and his nephew Frodo Baggins, undertake extraordinary journeys that play central roles in Tolkien’s tales. Prominent Hobbit characters also include Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took (Merry and Pippin), who contribute to broader events across Middle-earth.

In literary use, the term Hobbit designates both the race and its members, who occupy a distinct cultural niche within Tolkien’s fictional world. The concept has become widely recognized in popular culture as a symbol of small-scale, home-centered life and unexpected courage.