petit à petit
The English phrase "little by little" is translated into French as petit à petit.
petit à petit is used to describe something that happens gradually or in small stages over time. A synonym for this is the adverb graduellement, which also means "gradually".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective petit (small), the preposition à (to/at) and the adjective petit (small).
Which one should you use?
peu à peu is a synonymous alternative to petit à petit, both meaning "little by little".
Did you know?
- The phrase petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid is a famous French proverb meaning 'little by little, the bird builds its nest'.
- In French, the word petit is frequently used as a term of endearment, such as in mon petit, which functions more like 'my dear' than 'my small'.
- The word petit shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'pittance', which refers to a very small amount of money.
Examples in context
- Il s'est remis petit à petit.He recovered little by little.This sentence is useful for describing a gradual recovery using petit à petit.Tatoeba #8430474 by lbdx, translation #299573 by CM
- Petit à petit, le ciel se dégage.Little by little, the sky is clearing up.This sentence is useful for describing the sky clearing up using petit à petit.Tatoeba #7811499 by Aiji, translation #6028745 by AlanF_US
- Sa santé s'améliore petit à petit.His health is improving little by little.This sentence is useful for describing health improving using petit à petit.Tatoeba #130251 by Archibald, translation #285987 by CK
- Le projet avance petit à petit.The project is progressing little by little.
- Leur relation grandit pas à pas.Their relationship grows step by step.
- J'apprends le français peu à peu.I'm learning French little by little.
- Il grandit, grandit petit à petit.He's growing, growing little by little.
- Leur entreprise se développe, grandit peu à peu, jusqu'à devenir leader du marché.Their company is growing, growing slowly until becoming the market leader.
- Il avance dans ses études pas à pas.He is progressing in his studies step by step.
- Le nombre d'étudiants a augmenté graduellement cette année.The number of students has increased gradually this year.
- Petit à petit, il a réussi à surmonter ses peurs.Little by little, he managed to overcome his fears.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are discussing Gabriel's new hobby of painting.
- LéaTu progresses en peinture, Gabriel !You are making progress in painting, Gabriel!
- GabrielMerci, j'apprends petit à petit.Thanks, I am learning little by little.
- LéaC'est vrai, tes tableaux sont beaux.It's true, your paintings are beautiful.
- GabrielC'est gentil de ta part, Léa.That is kind of you, Léa.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries petit, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
