pequeño
Lemma Details
Translation: small; little; tiny; young
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: From Old Spanish 'pequeño', derived from Latin 'pitinnus' meaning 'small'. The word evolved through Vulgar Latin and has connections to similar words in other Romance languages like Portuguese 'pequeno' and Catalan 'petit'. Unlike English 'small' (from Germanic origins), 'pequeño' showcases the Latin influence in Spanish vocabulary.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mi hermano pequeño tiene cinco años.
My little brother is five years old.
Vivo en un apartamento pequeño en el centro.
I live in a small apartment downtown.
Es un detalle pequeño pero importante.
It's a small but important detail.
Los pequeños de la casa están durmiendo.
The little ones of the house are sleeping.
Mnemonics
- Think of a 'peek' at something small - you need to look closely at pequeño things.
- The 'que' in pequeño sounds like 'K' - imagine a tiny letter K to remember it means 'small'.
- Associate with 'petite' in English, which has a similar meaning and somewhat similar sound.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'pequeño' can be used affectionately, especially when referring to children or loved ones. The diminutive forms (pequeñito, pequeñín) are commonly used to express endearment.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'pequeño' refers to physical size or age, 'poco' refers to quantity or amount (meaning 'little' or 'few').
This word:
Tengo un coche pequeño.
I have a small car.
Confused word:
Tengo poco dinero.
I have little money.
Notes: 'Pequeño' describes physical dimensions while 'poco' quantifies amount. 'Un pequeño problema' means 'a small problem' (in size/importance) while 'un poco de problema' means 'a bit of a problem' (in quantity/degree).
Mnemonic: Pequeño is about size (like a small PEA), poco is about quantity (like a POCKet with few items).
Explanation: 'Pequeño' generally refers to physical size, while 'menor' often refers to age or importance, meaning 'younger' or 'lesser'.
This word:
Es una casa pequeña.
It's a small house.
Confused word:
Es mi hermano menor.
He's my younger brother.
Notes: 'Menor' is often used in comparative contexts or legal terminology (menor de edad = minor), while 'pequeño' is more general for describing size.
Mnemonic: Think of 'menor' as 'minor' in English - referring to someone younger or something of lesser importance.