Hindi · Emotions & Descriptions
"Small" in Hindi: छोटा
छोटाchhota
Small in Hindi is छोटा (chhota) with masculine nouns. With feminine nouns use छोटी (chhoti), and with plural use छोटे (chhote). The chh is aspirated, written as च्छ in Devanagari.
Describing a room
कमरा छोटा है, लेकिन साफ़ है।kamra chhota hai, lekin saaf hai.
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How to pronounce छोटा
Say it
CHHO-taa
/tʃʰoːʈɑː/
Chhota is CHHO-taa with a strong aspirated chh, like ch plus a puff of air. The o is short and aa is long. Chhoti ends with short i.
"Small" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| छोटाchhota | small (masculine) Chhota ghar, chhota beta. | Chhota ghar, chhota beta. |
| छोटीchhoti | small (feminine) Chhoti khidki, chhoti bahan. | Chhoti khidki, chhoti bahan. |
| छोटेchhote | small (plural) Chhote bachche, chhote phool. | Chhote bachche, chhote phool. |
| थोड़ाthoda | a little; small amount Quantity, not always size. | Quantity, not always size. |
| छोटा साchhota sa | smallish; a little Softens size: chhota sa ghar. | Softens size: chhota sa ghar. |
How to use छोटा in real life
- 1Describing a room
कमरा छोटा है, लेकिन साफ़ है।
kamra chhota hai, lekin saaf hai.
The room is small, but clean.
Kamra is masculine, so chhota.
- 2Shopping for shoes
यह जूती छोटी है, एक साइज़ बड़ी चाहिए।
yah jooti chhoti hai, ek size badi chahiye.
This shoe is small, I need one size bigger.
Jooti is feminine, so chhoti.
- 3Talking about family
मेरा छोटा भाई अभी स्कूल में है।
mera chhota bhaai abhi school mein hai.
My younger brother is still in school.
Chhota bhaai is the standard younger-brother phrase.
Mistakes English speakers make with छोटा
Incorrect: Chhota khidki
Correct: Chhoti khidki
Khidki is feminine, so chhoti.
Incorrect: Chota without aspirated chh
Correct: Chhota with clear chh sound
Plain chota can sound like a different word. Use aspirated chh.
Good to know
Chhota sa gift with affection is common. Calling a shop chhota dukaan is neutral, not rude. Younger siblings are often chhota beta or chhoti bahan regardless of actual size.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Looking for a compact bag in a market
ChatPal
बड़ा बैग चाहिए या छोटा?
bada bag chahiye ya chhota?
Do you want a big bag or a small one?
You
छोटा बैग चाहिए, सफ़र में आसान हो।
chhota bag chahiye, safar mein aasaan ho.
I want a small bag, easy for travel.
ChatPal
यह छोटी बैग देखिए, बहुत हल्की है।
yah chhoti bag dekhiye, bahut halki hai.
Look at this small bag, very light.
You
हाँ, छोटा पर काफ़ी जगह है अंदर।
haan, chhota par kaafi jagah hai andar.
Yes, small but plenty of space inside.
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 Hindi
When do I use chhoti?
With feminine nouns: chhoti mez, chhoti kursi, chhoti bahan.
What is chhota bhaai?
Younger brother, using chhota for age order, not only size.
How do I say very small?
Say bahut chhota, bahut chhoti, or chhota sa.
Is thoda the same as chhota?
Thoda means a little amount. Chhota describes size.
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
