Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Small" in Italian: piccolo/a
piccolo/a
Small in Italian is piccolo (PEEK-koh-loh) for masculine and piccola for feminine. Plural is piccoli/piccole. Use it for size, age (when I was little), and soft understatement: un po' piccolo.
Trying on a jacket
Questa taglia è troppo piccola.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce piccolo/a
Say it
PEEK-koh-loh
/ˈpik.ko.lo/
Piccolo stresses PEEK: PEEK-koh-loh. Double c is hard kk. Feminine piccola ends in -lah.
"Small" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| piccolo / piccola | small; little Adjective agreeing in gender and number. | Adjective agreeing in gender and number. |
| piccoli / piccole | small (plural) Plural forms. | Plural forms. |
| un po' piccolo | a bit small Polite size complaint. | Polite size complaint. |
| da piccolo/a | as a child; when little Talking about childhood. | Talking about childhood. |
How to use piccolo/a in real life
- 1Trying on a jacket
Questa taglia è troppo piccola.
This size is too small.
Piccola agrees with taglia.
- 2Apartment tour
Il bagno è piccolo ma carino.
The bathroom is small but nice.
Piccolo with masculine bagno.
- 3Childhood memory
Da piccolo abitavo qui vicino.
When I was little I lived near here.
Da piccolo for childhood.
Mistakes English speakers make with piccolo/a
Incorrect: Una casa piccolo.
Correct: Una casa piccola.
Feminine noun needs piccola.
Incorrect: Due stanze piccolo.
Correct: Due stanze piccole.
Plural feminine takes piccole.
Good to know
Piccolo can be affectionate (il mio piccolo) as well as literal. In food, un caffè piccolo is redundant for espresso size, but una birra piccola is a real order.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a rental car
ChatPal
Prendiamo la macchina piccola?
Shall we take the small car?
You
Sì. In centro meglio qualcosa di piccolo.
Yes. Downtown something small is better.
ChatPal
Ok. Il bagagliaio è un po' piccolo però.
Ok. The trunk is a bit small though.
You
Va bene. Abbiamo valigie piccole.
Fine. We have small suitcases.
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 Italian
How does piccolo change?
Piccolo, piccola, piccoli, piccole. Agree with the noun.
What does da piccolo mean?
As a child / when I was little.
How do I say too small?
Troppo piccolo/a.
Is piccino the same?
Piccino is a softer, often cuter little. Piccolo is the default small.
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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