French · Emotions & Descriptions
"Small" in French: petit(e)
petit(e)
Small in French is petit before masculine nouns and petite before feminine ones. Un petit café can mean a small coffee or a quick coffee. Un peu means a little as an adverb of degree.
Ordering coffee
Je prends un petit café serré.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce petit(e)
Say it
puh-TEE / puh-TEET
/pə.ti/ /pə.tit/
Petit is puh-TEE, final t often silent before a consonant. Petite is puh-TEET, with a sounded t. Before a vowel, petit can liaison: petit ami ≈ puh-tee-tah-MEE.
"Small" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| petit / petite | small / little Size or affection. | Size or affection. |
| un peu | a little / a bit Degree, not size of a noun. | Degree, not size of a noun. |
| tout petit | tiny Extra small. | Extra small. |
| les petites lignes | the fine print Contracts and tickets. | Contracts and tickets. |
How to use petit(e) in real life
- 1Ordering coffee
Je prends un petit café serré.
I'll have a small strong coffee.
Petit before masculine café.
- 2Apartment
C'est une petite cuisine, mais pratique.
It's a small kitchen, but practical.
Petite agrees with feminine cuisine.
- 3Directions
Tourne après le petit parc.
Turn after the small park.
Petit as a simple size marker.
Mistakes English speakers make with petit(e)
Incorrect: Une petit voiture.
Correct: Une petite voiture.
Feminine nouns need petite.
Incorrect: Je veux un small thé.
Correct: Je veux un petit thé. / un thé, petite taille.
Use petit/petite, not English small.
Good to know
Petit is also affectionate: mon petit, ma petite. On menus, formule petite faim means a lighter option. Un peu is the "a bit" adverb — different from petit.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Buying a fridge for a studio
ChatPal
Il nous faut un petit frigo.
We need a small fridge.
You
Celui-là est trop petit, non ?
That one is too small, isn't it?
ChatPal
Prenons le modèle juste au-dessus. Encore petit, mais mieux.
Let's take the model just above. Still small, but better.
You
Ok, j'appelle le vendeur.
Okay, I'll call the salesperson.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Small" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Small" in French
When do I use petit vs petite?
Petit with masculine nouns, petite with feminine: un petit sac, une petite table.
What is the difference between petit and un peu?
Petit describes size. Un peu means a bit (degree): un peu fatigué.
How do I say smaller?
Plus petit / plus petite.
Does the t in petit sound?
Often silent at the end of a phrase; sounded in petite and in many liaisons.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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