petit

small

adjective puh-TEE Common

Usage Note

Petit goes before its noun, like most short common adjectives, and often softens into affection — mon petit is a tender 'sweetie', and un petit café suggests a quick pleasant one rather than a literally tiny cup. It builds le petit déjeuner (breakfast) and the steady petit à petit, meaning little by little.

Examples

"Elle a un petit chien."

Natural Translation

She has a small dog.

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