small

[/smɔːl/]
adjective
pequeno
1. of limited size; not large
She lives in a small apartment in the city.
Ela mora em um apartamento pequeno na cidade.
2. of limited importance or consequence; minor
It's a small problem that we can easily fix.
É um problema pequeno que podemos resolver facilmente.
3. operating on a limited scale; modest
He runs a small business from his home.
Ele gerencia um pequeno negócio de sua casa.
4. young in age
When I was small, I loved playing in the park.
Quando eu era pequeno, adorava brincar no parque.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'pequeno' is the standard term used across all social classes and contexts. Americans often use 'small' to describe both physical size and importance, while in Portuguese this distinction is maintained more strictly. The diminutive form 'pequenininho' is common in informal Brazilian speech to express endearment or emphasis.
NYC Slang
tiny, teeny, itty-bitty
Synonyms / Sinônimos
tinylittlecompactdiminutivemodestminor
Antonyms / Antônimos
largebighugeenormousvastmajor

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pequeno
most common and widely used term
Rio de Janeiro
pequeno/miudinho
miudinho used colloquially for 'small and delicate'
São Paulo
pequeno
standard usage, sometimes diminutive 'pequenininho'
Portugal
pequeno
identical usage; also 'miúdo' for small in size or young

Related Words

smallersmallestsmallnessslightlyminiaturepetite

Related Idioms & Phrases

small talk
small wonder
small fry
the small print
think small
start small
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