piccolo
/ˈpik.ko.lo/
The Italian word for little is piccolo.
Piccolo is used to describe something small in terms of size or quantity. Note that while piccolo refers to size, the related word poco is used specifically to describe a small amount or quantity.
Meaning: small in size (adj)
Which one should you use?
Use piccolo to describe physical size, whereas poco is used to describe a small quantity or amount.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In central Italy, the informal form piccino is a regional variation of piccolino. In the southern regions of Italy, particularly in Naples and Sicily, people often use the word piccirillo to express the meaning of little.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The feminine singular form is piccola, the masculine plural form is piccoli and the feminine plural form is piccole.
How do you pronounce it?
3 syllables: /ˈpik.ko.lo/. The stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In a musical score, the term piccolo is used for the smaller flute, but it literally means 'small' in Italian.
- The term piccolo might be derived from the Vulgar Latin word pittitus, which meant 'small' or 'worthless'.
- In certain contexts, piccolo can be used to describe a person's height, but be careful, as using it to describe an adult's character might imply they are 'small-minded'.
Examples in context
- Il topo è piccolo.The mouse is little.This sentence demonstrates the use of piccolo to describe a mouse.Tatoeba #10462328 by Guybrush88, translation #10023204 by Cabo
- Non è così piccolo.It's not so little.This sentence shows how to use piccolo in a negative context.Tatoeba #3437290 by Guybrush88, translation #2891620 by CK
- Il gatto è piccolo?Is the cat little?This sentence shows how to use piccolo in a question about a cat.Tatoeba #11270692 by Guybrush88, translation #8246170 by shekitten
- Ho mangiato poco.I ate little.
- Il libro è un poco pesante.The book is a little heavy.
- Ho preso un piccolo spuntino.I had a little snack.
- Il cane è piccolo ma coraggioso.The dog is small but courageous.
- C'è solo una piccola differenza tra i due modelli.There is only a small difference between the two models.
- Ho dormito pochino stanotte.I slept very little last night.
- Vorrei solo un pochino di gelato.I would like just a little bit of ice cream.
- Il bebè è così piccolino!The baby is so tiny!
- Prendi un asciugamano piccino per la palestra.Take a small towel for the gym.
- 152 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara are looking at a small gift in a shop.
- AlessandroQuesto regalo è molto piccolo.This gift is very small.
- ChiaraSì, è un piccolo pacchetto.Yes, it is a small package.
- AlessandroNon è troppo piccolo per lei?Is it too small for her?
- ChiaraNo, è perfetto così.No, it is perfect like this.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “little” translations and entries piccolo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries piccolo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
