Inklingo

How to Say "very small" in Spanish

English → Spanish

chiquito

/chee-KEE-toh//tʃiˈkito/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'chiquito' when referring to the physical dimensions or size of something, emphasizing its smallness in a tangible way.
A tiny ladybug perched on the tip of a large green blade of grass, emphasizing the bug's small size.

Examples

Tengo un perro chiquito en mi casa.

I have a tiny dog at my house.

El apartamento es chiquito pero muy bonito.

The apartment is very small but very pretty.

Corta el papel en pedazos chiquitos.

Cut the paper into tiny pieces.

The Power of '-ito'

This word comes from 'chico' (small). Adding '-ito' to the end makes it sound even smaller and much more affectionate or 'cute'.

Matching the Noun

Even though we are looking at 'chiquito', remember to change the ending to 'a' (chiquita) if you are describing something feminine, like 'una casa chiquita'.

Short vs. Small

Mistake: “Using 'chiquito' to formally describe a person's height.”

Correction: Use 'bajo' for height. While people say 'chiquito' for short people informally, 'bajo' is the standard way to say 'short'.

pequeñito

adjectiveA1general
Choose 'pequeñito' for a more general description of smallness, often used for living things or when the emphasis is less about exact physical measurement and more on a cute or endearing smallness.

Examples

Mi gato es muy pequeñito.

My cat is very tiny.

Chiquito vs. Pequeñito

Learners often confuse 'chiquito' and 'pequeñito' because both mean 'very small.' The key difference is that 'chiquito' is more strongly associated with concrete physical size, while 'pequeñito' can be used more broadly, even for abstract concepts or to convey endearment.

Related Translations

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