When you're learning French, you quickly pick up 'petit' as the go-to word for 'small'. But just like in English, where we have 'tiny', 'little', 'minute', and 'minuscule', French offers a rich variety of ways to describe things that aren't big. Expanding your vocabulary beyond 'petit' will make your French sound much more natural and expressive. Whether you're talking about a tiny detail, a brief moment, or a minor issue, there's a perfect word waiting for you. Let's dive into 9 different ways to say 'small' in French, helping you add nuance and precision to your conversations!

The standard 'small' – petit/petite

Petit(e) is the most common and versatile French word used to describe something as 'small' or 'little'.

As an adjective, petit(e) must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. You'll find it in these forms: * petit (masculine singular): un petit chien (a small dog) * petite (feminine singular): une petite maison (a small house) * petits (masculine plural): des petits garçons (small boys) * petites (feminine plural): des petites filles (small girls)

This adjective can be used in almost any context, from formal descriptions to informal conversations. It's your go-to word for expressing smallness.

While primarily meaning 'small' in terms of physical dimension, petit(e) carries several other important nuances, often translating to 'little' or 'young'.

Age/Youth: It frequently refers to youth, as in un petit enfant (a little child) or ma petite soeur (my little sister, implying younger). * Affection/Endearment: Used affectionately, especially with possessive adjectives, like mon petit or ma petite, meaning 'my dear' or 'my little one'. * Quantity/Degree: It can also mean 'a little bit' or 'a small amount' when used with certain nouns, e.g., un petit café (a small coffee, or just 'a coffee' with an affectionate/diminutive feel).

For example, Elle a une petite voix (She has a small/soft voice) uses petite to describe quality, not just size. Or J'ai un petit creux (I'm a little hungry) where petit indicates a slight degree.

Crucially, petit(e) is one of the common French adjectives that typically precedes the noun it modifies. This is an important distinction, as most descriptive adjectives follow the noun. Always remember: une petite robe noire (a small black dress), not une robe petite noire.

Fortunately, understanding the specific meaning of petit(e) is usually clear from the context. Whether it's describing literal size, age, or a term of endearment, the surrounding words and situation will guide you.

Beyond its literal meaning, petit(e) appears in many common French expressions. For instance, petit déjeuner (breakfast) literally means 'small lunch', and un petit boulot refers to a 'small job' or odd job. This highlights its pervasive presence in everyday French.

💡 * J'ai acheté une petite voiture. (I bought a small car.)* Elle a une petite soeur. (She has a little sister.)* C'est un petit problème, ne t'inquiète pas. (It's a small problem, don't worry.)* Viens ici, mon petit! (Come here, my little one! - affectionate)* Les petits oiseaux chantent le matin. (The little birds sing in the morning.)

The 'tiny' or 'minuscule' – minuscule

The “tiny” or “minuscule” – minuscule

In French, the adjective minuscule directly translates to “tiny” or “minuscule” in English. It's used to describe something extremely small in size or importance.

Most commonly, minuscule refers to physical dimensions. Imagine a tiny insect, a very small piece of writing, or a minuscule detail in a drawing. It emphasizes extreme smallness.

Beyond physical size, minuscule can also describe something of very little importance, impact, or quantity. For instance, a 'minuscule' effort, a 'minuscule' chance of success, or a 'minuscule' amount of something.

As an adjective, minuscule must agree in number with the noun it modifies. It is invariable in gender (meaning it stays the same for masculine and feminine nouns), but becomes minuscules in the plural.

While petit also means 'small', minuscule conveys an even greater degree of smallness, often emphasizing insignificance or extreme tininess. It's a stronger and more emphatic adjective than petit.

Using minuscule adds emphasis and precision to your descriptions, highlighting just how small or insignificant something truly is, allowing for a richer expression than simply petit.

💡 * J'ai vu une araignée minuscule dans la salle de bain. (I saw a tiny spider in the bathroom.)

Son écriture est minuscule, j'ai du mal à lire. (His/Her writing is minuscule, I have trouble reading it.)

Nous n'avons qu'une chance minuscule de réussir. (We only have a minuscule chance of succeeding.)

Il a fait un effort minuscule pour l'aider. (He made a tiny effort to help her.)

Les détails sur cette carte sont minuscules. (The details on this map are minuscule.)

The 'infinitesimal' or 'extremely small' – infime

Let's explore the French adjective infime, which translates to 'infinitesimal' or 'extremely small'.

Infime is used to describe something that is exceedingly small in quantity, size, degree, or importance.

While petit means 'small', infime conveys a much stronger sense of minuteness, often implying something barely perceptible or negligible.

As an adjective, infime agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (e.g., une quantité infime, des détails infimes).

It's frequently used to talk about an 'infinitesimal amount' or 'tiny quantity', such as une quantité infime de sel (an infinitesimal amount of salt).

You'll also hear infime when discussing something with a very low probability or a negligible difference, like une chance infime (a tiny chance) or une différence infime (an extremely small difference).

Remember, infime isn't just 'small'; it emphasizes an extreme degree of smallness, often to the point of being insignificant or barely noticeable.

💡 * Il y a une chance infime de gagner à la loterie. (There's an infinitesimal chance of winning the lottery.)

J'ai ajouté une quantité infime de sucre. (I added an extremely small amount of sugar.)

La différence entre les deux résultats est infime. (The difference between the two results is extremely small.)

Ses efforts ont eu un impact infime sur la situation. (His efforts had an infinitesimal impact on the situation.)

The 'short' (for length) – court/courte

The French adjective for 'short' when referring to length, height, or duration is court (masculine) or courte (feminine). It's essential for describing physical attributes or time periods.

As with many French adjectives, court/courte must agree in both gender and number with the noun it modifies. This means its ending will change depending on whether the noun is masculine or feminine, singular or plural.

For a masculine singular noun, you will use court. For example, un pantalon court (short pants). If the noun is feminine singular, the form becomes courte, as in une robe courte (a short dress).

To describe multiple items or people, the plural forms are courts for masculine plural nouns (e.g., des cheveux courts - short hair) and courtes for feminine plural nouns (e.g., des histoires courtes - short stories). The final 's' in the plural forms is typically silent.

💡 * Il a les cheveux courts. (He has short hair.)

Elle porte une jupe courte. (She is wearing a short skirt.)

Les journées sont courtes en hiver. (Days are short in winter.)

J'ai pris un court repos. (I took a short rest.)

Ce sont des chemins courts. (These are short paths.)

The 'cramped' or 'tight' (for space) – exigu/exiguë

The 'cramped' or 'tight' (for space) – exigu/exiguë

Exigu (masculine) and exiguë (feminine) are French adjectives meaning 'cramped,' 'small,' or 'tight,' specifically when referring to a lack of physical space.

As an adjective, exigu/exiguë must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, un espace exigu (a cramped space) or une pièce exiguë (a cramped room).

You'll most often hear this word used to describe living spaces like apartments, rooms, offices, or even budgets that are too small or limited for comfort or purpose. It conveys a sense of being squeezed.

While simply meaning 'small,' exigu/exiguë carries a stronger connotation of inadequacy or discomfort due to the lack of space. It suggests something is too small, rather than just small.

Remember to use exigu/exiguë specifically for spatial constraints, not for general smallness where 'petit' would be more appropriate.

💡 * Mon premier appartement était vraiment exigu, avec une seule petite pièce. (My first apartment was really cramped, with only one small room.)

Nous avons dû travailler dans un bureau exigu pendant des mois. (We had to work in a cramped office for months.)

La cuisine est si exiguë qu'il est difficile de cuisiner à deux. (The kitchen is so tight that it's difficult for two people to cook.)

Malgré son budget exigu, elle a réussi à voyager. (Despite her tight budget, she managed to travel.)

L'espace de rangement est très exigu dans cette voiture. (The storage space is very cramped in this car.)

The 'slight' or 'small' (often for build or items) – menu/menue

In French, the adjectives menu (masculine) and menue (feminine) primarily describe something as 'slight,' 'small,' or 'fine.' While other words exist for 'small' (petit), menu carries a nuance of delicate, slender, or finely detailed, often referring to a person's build or the size/quality of objects.

When describing a person, menu or menue refers to a slender, slight, or delicate build. It implies a certain grace or lack of bulk, rather than simply being short or young. For example, a dancer might be described as menue.

For objects, menu can mean 'small' or 'fine.' This is particularly true for items that are intricately detailed, finely chopped, or small in scale. Think of 'menu fretin' (small fry) or 'des menus détails' (small details).

The word menu is also found in specific expressions. For instance, 'le menu' (the noun) refers to a 'menu' in a restaurant, often implying a detailed list of dishes, or a 'small set of options.' The adjective menu emphasizes a refined smallness or delicacy, distinguishing it from the more general petit.

In essence, while petit is a general term for 'small,' menu/menue specifically conveys a sense of slenderness (for people), or fineness/delicacy/intricacy (for objects and details). It's a more precise and often more elegant way to describe something of a slight or fine nature.

💡 * Elle a une silhouette très menue. (She has a very slender figure.)

Il a de menues mains. (He has small, delicate hands.)

Le chef a préparé des légumes coupés en menus morceaux. (The chef prepared vegetables cut into small pieces.)

Ce sont de menus détails, mais importants. (These are small details, but important.)

Un oiseau menu s'est posé sur la branche. (A small, delicate bird landed on the branch.)

The 'thin' or 'slender' – mince

The French word to describe someone or something as 'thin' or 'slender' is mince.

Mince is a unique adjective in French because it is invariable. This means its form remains the same regardless of the gender (masculine/feminine) or number (singular/plural) of the noun it modifies.

Generally, mince carries a neutral to positive connotation, referring to a slender or trim physique, or a narrow object. It's often preferred over maigre when describing a healthy thinness or a delicate build.

💡 * Elle est mince et sportive. (She is thin and athletic.)

J'ai acheté une tranche de jambon très mince. (I bought a very thin slice of ham.)

Ces livres sont minces, ils sont faciles à transporter. (These books are thin, they are easy to carry.)

Il a une silhouette mince et élégante. (He has a slender and elegant figure.)

The 'narrow' – étroit/étroite

The 'narrow' – étroit/étroite

Étroit (masculine) and étroite (feminine) are adjectives meaning 'narrow' or 'tight'. Like all French adjectives, they must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.

This adjective is commonly used to describe physical spaces or objects that lack width, such as a rue étroite (narrow street) or des chaussures trop étroites (shoes that are too tight).

Étroit can also describe figurative concepts, like an esprit étroit (narrow-minded person) or liens étroits (close/tight bonds), implying a lack of breadth or closeness.

💡 * La rue est très étroite ici. (The street is very narrow here.)

Elle portait une jupe étroite. (She was wearing a tight skirt.)

Ils ont des liens familiaux très étroits. (They have very close family ties.)

Il a des idées un peu étroites. (He has somewhat narrow-minded ideas.)

1. The 'small piece' or 'small end' – un petit bout

The phrase un petit bout literally translates to "a small end" or "a small piece." It's a versatile expression in French, used to refer to a fragment, a section, or a small portion of something, whether tangible or abstract.

The noun bout (masculine) is key here. It signifies an 'end,' 'tip,' 'extremity,' or 'piece.' For instance, le bout du doigt means 'the fingertip,' and au bout de la rue means 'at the end of the street.' It often implies a distinct, sometimes detached, part.

Coupled with bout, the adjective petit (small, little) emphasizes the diminutive nature of the piece or end. So, un petit bout specifically denotes a small portion, making it more precise than just un bout (which could be any end or piece).

Un petit bout is frequently used for physical objects. You might ask for un petit bout de pain (a small piece of bread) or talk about un petit bout de ficelle (a small piece of string). It's perfect for describing fragments or small segments.

Beyond physical objects, un petit bout extends to abstract concepts. For example, un petit bout de temps means 'a little bit of time,' and it can even be used affectionately for people, as in un petit bout de femme for a petite woman, implying a 'small piece of a woman' in a charming way.

💡 * J'ai mangé un petit bout de gâteau. (I ate a small piece of cake.)

Donne-moi un petit bout de papier, s'il te plaît. (Give me a small piece of paper, please.)

On a marché un petit bout de chemin ensemble. (We walked a little way together.)

J'ai besoin d'un petit bout de temps pour y réfléchir. (I need a little bit of time to think about it.)

Ma grand-mère est un petit bout de femme pleine d'énergie. (My grandmother is a petite woman full of energy.)

Are there other ways to say 'small' in French?

Are there other ways to say “small” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “small” in French. However, French, like any rich language, offers a multitude of nuances for size, from specific adjectives for tiny objects to words implying insignificance, or even terms used regionally or in slang.

To explore further, you can conduct an online search for “comment dire petit en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local expressions.

You might find some interesting synonyms for petit or other size-related terms in your research. Always make sure to check a word’s definition and observe its usage in context before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

As you immerse yourself in French media — reading, watching, and listening — pay close attention. You'll undoubtedly encounter various creative ways to describe something as 'small' or 'tiny'.

For a comprehensive exploration of petit and its related concepts, including synonyms and idiomatic expressions, the WordReference entry for petit is an excellent starting point.

I hope this article has shed some light on the diverse ways to express 'small' in French. To conclude, here's a thought from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry that reminds us of the power of the seemingly small: “L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.” (What is essential is invisible to the eye.)

9 ways to say "small" in French