pequeño
/peˈkeɲo/
The English phrase "small one" is translated into Spanish as pequeño.
pequeño is used to describe a person or thing that is small in size. It is the opposite of grande, which means "big" or "large".
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term chiquito is especially popular in Latin American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use pequeño for masculine singular nouns and pequeña for feminine singular nouns. For plural nouns, use pequeños for masculine nouns and pequeñas for feminine nouns. To say "a small one", add the indefinite article un for masculine or una for feminine before the adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
/peˈkeɲo/
Did you know?
- The word pequeño shares an ancient root with the Welsh word bach and the Irish word beag, suggesting it may have origins in Celtic or Frankish languages.
- Calling a romantic partner pequeño or pequeña is a common gesture of affection in many Spanish-speaking cultures and is not intended as a comment on their height.
- In many Spanish speaking cultures, referring to a child as el pequeño or la pequeña is a common way to designate the youngest sibling in a family.
Examples in context
- El pueblo que visité el verano pasado era uno pequeño de la prefectura de Nagano.The village which I visited last summer was a small one in Nagano Prefecture.This sentence describes a small village in Nagano Prefecture using pequeño.Tatoeba #2700400 by emanuel81, translation #19440 by CK
- "Tom, me diste el trozo pequeño. Eso no es muy cortés. Si yo tuviera dos trozos de tarta, te ofrecería el trozo grande y me cogería el pequeño". "Bueno, ya tienes el trozo pequeño, John"."Tom, you gave me the small piece. That's not very polite. If I had two pieces of cake, I'd offer you the big piece and take the small one for myself." "Well, you already have the small piece, John."This dialogue uses pequeño to discuss the size of cake pieces.Tatoeba #10097418 by manufrutos, translation #10097097 by soliloquist
- Ese pequeño también es mío.That small one is also mine.This sentence uses pequeño to indicate that a small one belongs to someone.Tatoeba #765664 by darinmex, translation #68230 by CK
- Tu perro es muy pequeño.Your dog is very small.
- Me compré una casa diminuta.I bought a tiny house.
- El gato es diminuto.The cat is tiny.
- Tienes unos pies chiquitos.You have tiny feet.
- ¡Mira ese perro tan chiquito!Look at that small dog!
- ¡Hola, pequeñita! ¿Qué haces?Hi, little one! What are you doing?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are at a fruit market.
- María¿Quieres el melón grande o el pequeño?Do you want the large melon or the small one?
- DanielMe llevaré el pequeño, por favor.I will take the small one, please.
- MaríaMuy bien, Daniel, te lo preparo.Very well, Daniel, I will prepare it for you.
- DanielGracias, María, es perfecto.Thank you, María, it is perfect.
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.
