pequeño
/peˈkeɲo/
In Spanish, "little one" is expressed as pequeño.
While pequeño can be used as an adjective meaning "small," when it is used as a noun to refer to a person, it translates to "little one" or "small child."
Meaning: young child (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes based on gender and number. Use pequeña if the little one is female. For a group of children, or a mixed group of boys and girls, use the masculine plural pequeños. If the group consists only of female children, use the feminine plural pequeñas.
How do you pronounce it?
/peˈkeɲo/
Did you know?
- The word pequeño may have roots in ancient Celtic or Frankish languages, such as the Welsh bach or Irish beag.
- In some contexts, el más pequeño is used to refer to the youngest sibling in a family, even if that person is already an adult.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the term el peque is used as a common, shortened slang version of pequeño when referring to children.
Examples in context
- El alba de la mañana descubrió allí a la pequeña, con las mejillas pálidas y la boca sonriente, apoyada contra la pared. Se había congelado hasta morir en la última noche del año, y el sol de Año Nuevo, se levantaba y brillaba sobre el pequeño cadáver!In the dawn of morning there lay the poor little one, with pale cheeks and smiling mouth, leaning against the wall. She had been frozen to death on the last evening of the year, and the New Year's sun rose and shone upon a little corpse!This sentence uses pequeño to refer to a small corpse.Tatoeba #5000955 by albrusgher, translation #2672581 by Hybrid
- Eres nuestro pedacito de cieloYou are our little piece of heaven
- Mi pequeño tesoroMy little treasure
- Ven aquí, chiquitínCome here, little one
- ¡Hola, mi cachorrito lindo!Hello, my cute little puppy!
- El pequeño corre por el parque.The little one runs through the park.
- Ese pequeño necesita dormir una siesta.That little one needs to take a nap.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are looking at a baby in a stroller.
- AlejandroHola, pequeño. ¿Cómo estás?Hello, little one. How are you?
- SofíaEstá muy feliz hoy, Alejandro.He is very happy today, Alejandro.
- AlejandroEl pequeño tiene tus ojos, Sofía.The little one has your eyes, Sofía.
- SofíaSí, se parece mucho a mí.Yes, he looks a lot like me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pequeño, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pequeño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
