transcription: in lotr the word "man" is only used for human men so now im imagining like, someone: "are you a man or a woman?" pippin: "im a hobbit" someone: "but whats in your trousers?" pippin: "mostly snacks"
Still, Tolkien clearly states in "Concerning Hobbits" that hobbits are not technically a distinct race from Men, the way that Elves or Dwarves are, but branched off from other humans in the distant past of the Elder Days.