pequeños
/peh-KEH-nyos/
small
Pequeños means 'small' when describing size or quantity.
pequeños(Adjective)
small
?in size or quantity
,little
?often implying young age or endearment
young
?referring to children or junior staff
,minor
?referring to importance or severity
📝 In Action
Mis hermanos tienen dos gatos pequeños y muy juguetones.
A1My siblings have two small and very playful cats.
Tuvimos que lidiar con problemas técnicos pequeños al principio de la presentación.
B1We had to deal with small technical problems at the beginning of the presentation.
Encontramos unos zapatos pequeños que olvidaste en el garaje.
A2We found some little shoes that you forgot in the garage.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'pequeños' must match the number and gender of the thing it describes. Since it ends in '-os,' it describes multiple masculine items (or a mixed group).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Plural Ending
Mistake: "Los perros son pequeño."
Correction: Los perros son pequeños. (Both the noun and the adjective must show they are plural.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Positioning
Typically, adjectives of size like 'pequeños' go after the noun (los coches pequeños). Placing it before the noun (los pequeños coches) often adds a poetic or subjective touch, meaning 'the dear little cars.'
When used as a noun, pequeños translates to 'little ones,' often referring to children.
📝 In Action
Los pequeños tienen permiso para quedarse despiertos hasta las nueve.
A2The little ones have permission to stay awake until nine.
Tenemos que organizar un juego divertido para los pequeños de la casa.
B1We have to organize a fun game for the children of the house.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective as Noun
The adjective 'pequeños' becomes a noun when you place a definite article (like 'los') directly in front of it. This pattern is often used to refer to groups of people based on a quality (e.g., 'los pobres' means 'the poor people').
⭐ Usage Tips
Affectionate Tone
Using 'los pequeños' is usually a very common and affectionate way to talk about children, especially in a family context, and can often feel warmer than just 'los niños'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pequeños
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'pequeños' as a descriptive adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'pequeños' and 'chicos'?
Both mean 'small,' but 'chicos' is generally more informal and is frequently used in Latin America, while 'pequeños' is standard across all Spanish-speaking regions. 'Pequeños' also feels slightly more objective when talking about size.
When do I use the feminine plural form, 'pequeñas'?
You use 'pequeñas' when describing multiple feminine things. For example: 'las flores pequeñas' (the small flowers) or 'las niñas pequeñas' (the little girls).