pequeño
/peh-KEH-nyoh/
small
Pequeño means 'small' when referring to physical size (e.g., 'un coche pequeño').
pequeño(Adjective)
small
?referring to physical size
little
?often used interchangeably with 'small'
,short
?referring to a person's height
📝 In Action
Mi coche es muy pequeño.
A1My car is very small.
Vivimos en una casa pequeña con un jardín grande.
A1We live in a small house with a big garden.
Prefiero un café pequeño, por favor.
A2I prefer a small coffee, please.
💡 Grammar Points
Making Adjectives Agree
In Spanish, words that describe things (adjectives) must match the thing they are describing. 'Pequeño' changes its ending for masculine, feminine, singular, and plural things: 'el coche pequeño' (the small car), 'la casa pequeña' (the small house), 'los coches pequeños' (the small cars), 'las casas pequeñas' (the small houses).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Size vs. Amount: 'Pequeño' vs. 'Poco'
Mistake: "Quiero pequeño café."
Correction: To talk about a small *amount* of something, use 'poco': 'Quiero un poco de café' (I want a little bit of coffee). To talk about a small *size*, use 'pequeño': 'Quiero un café pequeño' (I want a small-sized coffee).
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Size
This is the most straightforward use of 'pequeño'. You can use it to describe the size of almost any object, person, or place. It's the direct opposite of 'grande' (big).
Pequeño can mean 'young' or 'younger', especially when describing siblings or age (e.g., 'mi hermano pequeño').
pequeño(Adjective)
young
?referring to age
younger
?comparing siblings
,minor
?figurative, referring to importance
,slight
?referring to a small degree or amount
📝 In Action
Mi hermano pequeño se llama Carlos.
A2My younger brother is named Carlos.
Es solo un pequeño problema, no te preocupes.
B1It's just a minor problem, don't worry.
De pequeño, yo quería ser astronauta.
B1When I was little/young, I wanted to be an astronaut.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Family
When you use 'pequeño' to describe a sibling, it almost always means 'younger'. 'Mi hermana pequeña' is 'my younger sister'. The opposite is 'mayor' ('mi hermano mayor' is 'my older brother').
Used as a noun, 'el pequeño' or 'la pequeña' is an affectionate way to refer to 'the little one' or 'the child'.
📝 In Action
El pequeño está durmiendo la siesta.
B1The little one is taking a nap.
Es hora de recoger a los pequeños del colegio.
B1It's time to pick up the little ones from school.
¿Cómo está la pequeña?
B1How is the little one (girl)?
💡 Grammar Points
Turning Adjectives into Nouns
You can turn many describing words (adjectives) into words for people or things (nouns) just by putting 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las' in front. Here, 'el pequeño' literally means 'the small one,' but everyone understands it means 'the child'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pequeño
Question 1 of 1
In the sentence 'Mi hermano pequeño tiene un perro pequeño', what does the FIRST 'pequeño' describe?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'pequeño' and 'poco'?
This is a great question because it confuses many learners! Use 'pequeño' to talk about SIZE (a small car, a small house). Use 'poco' to talk about AMOUNT or QUANTITY (a little bit of sugar, very little time). Think: 'pequeño' is the opposite of 'grande' (big), and 'poco' is the opposite of 'mucho' (a lot).
Can I say 'Mi amigo es pequeño'?
Yes, you can, but be careful! It means 'My friend is short (in height)'. If you want to say your friend is young, it's better to use 'joven'. So, 'Mi amigo es pequeño' = he is short. 'Mi amigo es joven' = he is young.