pequeña
/peh-KEH-nyah/
small
The berry is muy pequeña (very small) compared to the apple, illustrating the meaning of 'small' or 'little' (physical size).
pequeña(Adjective)
small
?referring to physical size
little
?often used interchangeably with 'small'
📝 In Action
La casa es muy pequeña.
A1The house is very small.
Necesito una caja más pequeña para guardar esto.
A1I need a smaller box to store this.
Es una ciudad pequeña pero con mucho encanto.
A2It's a small city but with a lot of charm.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
In Spanish, describing words must match the thing they describe. 'Pequeña' ends in '-a' because it's for feminine things, like 'la casa'. For masculine things, like 'el coche' (the car), you use its partner word, 'pequeño'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Word Order
Mistake: "Tengo una pequeña casa."
Correction: Tengo una casa pequeña. Words describing basic qualities like size, color, and shape usually go *after* the thing you're describing. This is the opposite of English!
⭐ Usage Tips
Making it 'Very Small'
To emphasize the size, just add 'muy' before it. 'La araña es muy pequeña' means 'The spider is very small'.
The younger child is the hermana pequeña (little/younger sister), demonstrating 'pequeña' when referring to age.
📝 In Action
Mi hermana pequeña tiene seis años.
A2My little (younger) sister is six years old.
Cuando era pequeña, me encantaba jugar afuera.
B1When I was little, I loved to play outside.
La hija más pequeña de la familia ya va a la universidad.
B1The youngest daughter of the family is already going to university.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key: Age vs. Size
When used with family members, 'pequeña' almost always means 'younger'. 'Mi hermana pequeña' is my younger sister, even if she's taller than me! The context of family tells you it's about age, not size.
The tiny crack represents a pequeña diferencia (a slight difference or minor flaw), illustrating the figurative meaning of 'minor' or 'slight'.
pequeña(Adjective)
minor
?referring to importance
slight
?e.g., a slight difference
,modest
?e.g., a modest contribution
📝 In Action
Es solo una pequeña duda, pero quiero estar segura.
B1It's just a small doubt, but I want to be sure.
Hay una pequeña diferencia entre las dos opciones.
B1There is a slight difference between the two options.
Hizo una pequeña fortuna vendiendo sus creaciones.
B2She made a small fortune selling her creations.
💡 Grammar Points
A Subtle Shift in Meaning
Sometimes, placing 'pequeña' before the noun can give it this more figurative, 'minor' meaning, while placing it after usually refers to physical size. It's a subtle difference you'll get a feel for over time.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pequeña
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'pequeña'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'pequeña' and 'chica'?
They are very similar and often you can use either one! Both mean 'small'. 'Pequeña' is universally understood and very common. 'Chica' is also extremely common, especially in Latin America. For describing a small car, you could say 'un coche pequeño' or 'un coche chico' and be perfectly understood.
How do I make 'pequeña' plural?
To talk about more than one feminine thing, you just add an 's' to the end: 'pequeñas'. For example, 'Las casas son pequeñas' (The houses are small).