minuscule
/mi.nys.kyl/
The French way to say tiny is minuscule.
The adjective minuscule is used to describe something that is very small, emphasizing an extreme lack of size.
Meaning: very small (adj)
Which one should you use?
While the word petit means small, you should use minuscule when you want to emphasize that something is extremely small, similar to the English words 'tiny' or 'microscopic'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective minuscule is epicene, which means its form does not change whether the noun it describes is masculine or feminine. To make the word plural, simply add an 's' to get minuscules.
How do you pronounce it?
/mi.nys.kyl/
Did you know?
- The word minuscule is the root of the English term 'minuscule', but in French, it also refers specifically to 'lowercase' letters.
- While 'minuscule' describes something extremely small, using it to describe a person can be perceived as a subtle insult to their importance rather than just their physical stature.
- Unlike the word 'petit', which can be used affectionately, 'minuscule' can sound almost clinical or mathematical due to its precision.
Examples in context
- Ma maison est minuscule.My house is tiny.This sentence shows how to describe the size of a house using minuscule.Tatoeba #7104244 by Micsmithel, translation #5672580 by zumley
- Mon bureau est minuscule.My office is tiny.This sentence shows how to describe the size of an office using minuscule.Tatoeba #11145680 by lbdx, translation #4500055 by CK
- C'est tellement minuscule !It's so teeny tiny!This sentence shows how to express emphasis with minuscule.Tatoeba #3600201 by sacredceltic, translation #3599501 by Theocracy
- Cette maison est minusculeThis house is tiny
- Les détails sont microscopiquesThe details are tiny
- Une chance infimeA tiny chance
- un petit boutonA tiny button
- Elle est toute petite !She is so tiny!
- C'est un mignon petit cadeauIt's a cute little gift
- La maison de poupée est minuscule .The dollhouse is tiny.
- Le grain de sable est microscopique .The grain of sand is microscopic.
- Cette araignée est riquiqui !This spider is tiny!
- Les bonbons sont si mignons et tout petits .The candies are so cute and tiny.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are looking at a small insect on the table.
- LéaRegarde cet insecte, il est minuscule !Look at this insect, it is tiny!
- GabrielC'est vrai, je le vois à peine.It's true, I can barely see it.
- LéaIl a des pattes minuscules aussi.It has tiny legs too.
- GabrielC'est vraiment fascinant, Léa.It's truly fascinating, Léa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tiny” translations and entries minuscule, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries minuscule, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
