چھوٹا
choṭā/t͡ʃʰoː.ʈɑː/
The English word 'little' is translated into Urdu as چھوٹا (choṭā) when referring to physical size.
The term چھوٹا is used specifically to describe things that are small in physical size. If you want to express the idea of 'little' in terms of quantity (meaning 'not much'), you should use کم instead. To describe a small amount or quantity of something, you can use the determiner تھوڑا.
Meaning: small in size (adj)
Which one should you use?
Use چھوٹا to describe physical dimensions or size. In contrast, use کم when you mean 'little' in the sense of quantity or degree, such as 'little water' or 'little effort'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective چھوٹا must agree with the gender and number of the noun it describes. The masculine form is چھوٹا (choṭā). To describe a feminine noun, change the ending to چھوٹی (choṭī). For masculine plural nouns, or when using the word as a respectful form, use چھوٹے (choṭe). Additionally, you can add the particle سا after the word to create چھوٹا سا, which emphasizes smallness to mean 'a tiny bit' or 'a tiny/slight'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as choṭā (two syllables).
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, calling someone چھوٹا can imply they are 'insignificant' or 'lowly', mirroring the ancient Sanskrit root kṣudraka.
- In Urdu culture, چھوٹا is not just about size but also about age and social hierarchy. A younger sibling is called چھوٹا بھائی (little brother) regardless of their actual physical height.
- The term چھوٹا can be used to describe a 'minor' or 'small' mistake, whereas in English 'little' might be replaced by 'slight'.
Examples in context
- یہ ہمارا چھوٹا راز ہی رہنا چاہئے تھا۔That was supposed to be our little secret.This sentence shows how to use چھوٹا to describe a secret.Tatoeba #10814972 by Roomba_Unit, translation #7586856 by _undertoad
- قلعہ کے پاس ایک چھوٹا سا ہوٹل ہے، وہ وہاں رہ رہی ہے۔She is staying at a little hotel by the castle.This sentence shows how to use چھوٹا to describe a hotel.Tatoeba #1515448 by nabeel_tahir, translation #315067 by CK
- میرا بھائی بہت چھوٹا ہے۔Mera bhai bohat chota hai.My brother is very little.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Sarah are looking at a gift.
- احمد Ahmedسارہ، یہ تحفہ بہت چھوٹا ہے۔Sarah, yeh tohfa bohat chhota hai.Sarah, this gift is very little.
- سارہ Saraہاں، لیکن اس کے اندر ایک انگوٹھی ہے۔Haan, lekin is ke andar ek angoothi hai.Yes, but there is a ring inside it.
- احمد Ahmedاچھا، پھر تو یہ بالکل ٹھیک ہے۔Accha, phir toh yeh bilkul theek hai.Okay, then it is perfectly fine.
- سارہ Saraہاں، سائز سے فرق نہیں پڑتا۔Haan, size se farq nahi parta.Yes, the size doesn't matter.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “little” translations and entries چھوٹا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries چھوٹا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
