mažas
[ˈmaːʒɐs]
The English phrase "small" is mažas in Lithuanian.
The word is an adjective meaning not large. For an affectionate way to describe small living beings like children or animals, you can use the informal term mažulis.
Meaning: not large (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes its form depending on what it describes. Use maža when describing a feminine noun, and use maži for the plural form of multiple masculine or feminine nouns. The genitive plural form is mažų, which is used when the adjective modifies a noun in the genitive plural case. To describe how an action is performed, use the adverbial form mažai.
Did you know?
- The Lithuanian word mažas comes from a prehistoric root that originally meant 'big' or 'great'. Over time the meaning flipped entirely to describe something 'small'.
- In Lithuanian the word mažai is often used as an idiom meaning 'almost'. For example saying mažai ne implies that something nearly happened.
- Lithuanian uses the word mažas to describe both physical size and age. A mažas person is often understood to be a child rather than a short adult.
Examples in context
- Jis mažas ir silpnas.He is small and weak.This sentence is useful for describing someone who is mažas and weak.Tatoeba #3323813 by asveja, translation #675707 by Bilberry
- Šitas namas mums bus pernelyg mažas.This house will be too small for us.This sentence is useful for describing a house that will be too mažas for us.Tatoeba #11603177 by glavsaltulo, translation #13330373 by frpzzd
- Buvau per mažas.I was too small.This sentence is useful for describing a state of being mažas in the past.Tatoeba #4648803 by RL8A, translation #4554552 by CK
- Pridėk truputį cukrausAdd a little bit of sugar
- Man reikia trupučio pagalbosI need a little help
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andrius and Rūta are looking at a dog in a pet store.
- AndriusŽiūrėk, šuo yra labai mažas.Look, the dog is very small.
- RūtaTaip, jis atrodo labai mielas.Yes, he looks very cute.
- AndriusAr tau reikia mažas šuns?Do you need a small dog?
- RūtaNe, man reikia didesnio šuns.No, I need a larger dog.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “small” translations and entries mažas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mažas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
