Spanish · Emotions & Descriptions
"Small" in Spanish: pequeño/a
pequeño/a
Small is pequeño for masculine and pequeña for feminine. Match the noun: un cuarto pequeño, una mesa pequeña. Chico/chica can mean small like pequeño on menus too.
How to pronounce pequeño: audio and sound guideAt a café
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How to pronounce pequeño/a
Say it
peh-KEH-nyoh / peh-KEH-nyah
/peˈkeɲo/
peh-KEH-nyoh / peh-KEH-nyah. Stress KEH. The ñ in pequeño sounds like ny in canyon.
"Small" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| pequeño / pequeña | small; little Default size adjective; agree with gender. | Default size adjective; agree with gender. |
| chico / chica | small; little (also boy/girl) Casual size word; also means kid. | Casual size word; also means kid. |
| diminuto / diminuta | tiny Emphatic for something very small. | Emphatic for something very small. |
| un poco | a little (amount) Amount, not size: un poco de sal, not pequeño. | Amount, not size: un poco de sal, not pequeño. |
How to use pequeño/a in real life
- 1At a café
¿Tienen un vaso pequeño?
Do you have a small glass?
Pequeño agrees with vaso.
- 2Apartment hunt
Busco un departamento pequeño.
I'm looking for a small apartment.
Pequeño matches departamento.
- 3About a dog
Su perrita es muy pequeña.
Her little dog is very small.
Pequeña agrees with perrita.
Mistakes English speakers make with pequeño/a
Incorrect: Una mesa pequeño.
Correct: Una mesa pequeña.
Mesa is feminine. Use pequeña, not pequeño.
Incorrect: Quiero un pequeño de agua.
Correct: Quiero un poco de agua. / Quiero un vaso pequeño.
Pequeño is size. For amount say un poco; for a small glass say vaso pequeño.
Good to know
Good to knowOn Latin American menus, pequeño or chico often marks the small size next to mediano and grande. Calling an adult pequeño can sound odd; use it for objects, spaces, and kids more freely.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Picking a table at a busy café
ChatPal
Solo queda una mesa pequeña.
Only a small table is left.
You
Está bien. Un espacio pequeño nos alcanza.
That's fine. A small space is enough for us.
ChatPal
Perfecto. Traigo la carta en un momento.
Perfect. I'll bring the menu in a moment.
You
Gracias. Pedimos algo chico primero.
Thanks. We'll order something small first.
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 Spanish
Pequeño or pequeña?
Pequeño with masculine nouns, pequeña with feminine. Match the noun.
How do you pronounce the ñ in pequeño?
Like ny in canyon: peh-KEH-nyoh. Do not say a plain n.
Is chico the same as pequeño?
Often for size on menus. Chico also means boy, so context matters beside pequeño.
Does pequeño change in the plural?
Yes: pequeños and pequeñas.
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