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French vocabulary · Beginner

How do you say "small" in French?

petit

Noun

In French, "small" is petit.

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Pronunciation

Say 'puh-TEE' with two syllables and stress on the second.

Grammar notes

Petit is masculine, petite is feminine. Plurals are petits and petites. It's one of the most basic adjectives in French.

Example sentence

Un petit enfant joue dehors.

A small child plays outside.

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How to remember petit

Petite means small, and small people are often called petite. English borrowed this word directly.

Related words

Browse all French words in the glossary.

See more adjectives.

See more adjectives.

See more adjectives.

Questions about petit

How do you say "small" in French?

In French, "small" is petit. It is a noun.

How is petit written in French?

petit is written using the standard French script.

How is petit used in a sentence?

Use petit as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: Un petit enfant joue dehors. (A small child plays outside.).

Where can I practice French words for free?

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"Small" in other languages

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