How to Say "minor" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “minor” is “menor” — use 'menor' as an adjective when directly contrasting with 'major' or 'greater', often referring to size, quantity, or importance in a simple way.
Use 'menor' as an adjective when directly contrasting with 'major' or 'greater', often referring to size, quantity, or importance in a simple way.
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Choose 'leve' when referring to something not serious, important, or intense, like a mild symptom or a slight inconvenience.
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Use 'ligero' when describing something as not severe or significant, often related to physical conditions or effects, emphasizing a small degree.
Learn more →Employ 'pequeño' figuratively to mean 'younger' when referring to siblings or family members.
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Use 'menores' as an adjective when referring to smaller or less significant items, often in a practical or logistical context.
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Opt for 'secundario' when referring to something of lesser importance or priority, like a supporting role or a non-essential element.
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Use 'marginal' when describing something that is only slightly important or has a very small effect, often in economic or statistical contexts.
Learn more →meh-NORmeˈnoɾ
Examples
Necesito una porción menor de sopa.
I need a smaller portion of soup.
El costo fue mucho menor de lo que esperábamos.
The cost was much lesser than we expected.
Esta es la calle menor que lleva al parque.
This is the smaller street that leads to the park.
La entrada está prohibida a los menores de edad.
Entry is prohibited to minors.
It includes 'more' already
Unlike English, you never say 'más menor' (more smaller). 'Menor' already means 'smaller than' or 'lesser than,' so you just use it directly.
Gender Check
This word stays the same whether the noun is masculine or feminine (el riesgo menor, la casa menor). It only changes to 'menores' when plural.
Gender Agreement
When used as a noun, it changes gender like any other noun: 'el menor' (boy minor) and 'la menor' (girl minor).
Adding 'más'
Mistake: “La casa es más menor que el apartamento.”
Correction: La casa es menor que el apartamento. (The house is smaller than the apartment.)
meh-NORmeˈnoɾ
Examples
La entrada está prohibida a los menores de edad.
Entry is prohibited to minors.
Necesito una porción menor de sopa.
I need a smaller portion of soup.
El costo fue mucho menor de lo que esperábamos.
The cost was much lesser than we expected.
Esta es la calle menor que lleva al parque.
This is the smaller street that leads to the park.
It includes 'more' already
Unlike English, you never say 'más menor' (more smaller). 'Menor' already means 'smaller than' or 'lesser than,' so you just use it directly.
Gender Check
This word stays the same whether the noun is masculine or feminine (el riesgo menor, la casa menor). It only changes to 'menores' when plural.
Gender Agreement
When used as a noun, it changes gender like any other noun: 'el menor' (boy minor) and 'la menor' (girl minor).
Adding 'más'
Mistake: “La casa es más menor que el apartamento.”
Correction: La casa es menor que el apartamento. (The house is smaller than the apartment.)
leh-behˈleβe
Examples
Siento un leve dolor de cabeza.
I have a slight headache.
Hubo un leve retraso en el tren.
There was a minor delay with the train.
Se sintió una brisa leve junto al mar.
A light breeze was felt by the sea.
One Form Fits All
The word 'leve' ends in 'e,' so it doesn't change its ending for masculine or feminine things. You can say 'un problema leve' (masculine) or 'una herida leve' (feminine).
Leve vs. Ligero
Mistake: “Using 'leve' to describe the weight of a physical object like a suitcase.”
Correction: Use 'ligero' for weight. Use 'leve' for intensity, sounds, or importance. A box is 'ligera,' but a headache is 'leve.'
li-HEH-rohliˈxe.ɾo
Examples
El doctor dijo que la herida era muy ligera y sanaría pronto.
The doctor said the wound was very slight and would heal soon.
Tuve un sueño ligero, me desperté varias veces.
I had a light sleep (not deep sleep); I woke up several times.
Figurative Use
Think of this meaning as 'lacking weight' in terms of importance or depth. A 'golpe ligero' is a bump that doesn't carry much consequence.
pequeño
Examples
Mi hermano pequeño se llama Carlos.
My younger brother is named Carlos.
meh-NOH-rehsmeˈnoɾes
Examples
Para la mudanza necesitamos cajas menores.
For the move, we need smaller boxes.
Los daños menores no afectaron la estructura.
The minor damage didn't affect the structure.
Always Plural
Since this is the word 'menores', it always describes more than one thing. It's the plural of the adjective 'menor'.
seh-koon-DAH-ryohsekunˈdaɾjo
Examples
Él es un personaje secundario en la novela.
He is a supporting character in the novel.
Ese es un problema secundario; primero resolvemos esto.
That is a secondary problem; let's solve this first.
Tomamos una carretera secundaria para evitar el tráfico.
We took a secondary road to avoid the traffic.
Matching the Gender
Remember to change the ending to 'secundaria' if the word it describes is feminine, like 'una calle secundaria'.
Where to Put It
This word almost always comes after the thing it is describing, like 'un efecto secundario' (a side effect).
Don't confuse with 'segundo'
Mistake: “Vivo en el secundario piso.”
Correction: Vivo en el segundo piso. Use 'segundo' for the order (1st, 2nd) and 'secundario' for the level of importance.
mar-hee-NALmaɾxiˈnal
Examples
Hubo una mejora marginal en las ventas este mes.
There was a marginal improvement in sales this month.
El costo marginal de producción es muy bajo.
The marginal cost of production is very low.
Escribió una nota marginal en el libro.
He wrote a marginal note (a note in the margin) in the book.
Placement for emphasis
When 'marginal' means 'insignificant,' it almost always comes after the noun it describes.
False Friend Check
Mistake: “Thinking 'marginal' only means 'small'.”
Correction: While it can mean 'small', it literally means 'on the edge.' Use it when something is on the border of being important or not.
Confusing 'menor' with 'leve' or 'ligero'
Learners often confuse 'menor' (meaning smaller or not major) with 'leve' or 'ligero' (meaning slight or mild). Remember to use 'menor' for direct comparisons of size or rank, while 'leve' and 'ligero' describe the intensity or seriousness of something.
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