malgranda

Malgranda is a term that appears in the context of Esperanto, the international auxiliary language. It is an adverb derived from the Esperanto root "mal-" meaning opposite, and "granda" meaning big or large. Therefore, "malgranda" translates directly to "small" or "little".

In Esperanto grammar, the prefix "mal-" is used to create antonyms. Thus, adding "mal-" to an adjective reverses its meaning. For example, "bona" means good, and "malbona" means bad. Similarly, "malgranda" is the direct opposite of "granda".

The word "malgranda" functions as an adverb in certain contexts, modifying verbs or other adverbs to indicate a small degree or extent. However, its primary use is as an adjective meaning small. It can be inflected for number and case like other Esperanto adjectives, becoming "malgrandaj" (plural), "malgrandan" (accusative singular), and "malgrandajn" (accusative plural).

Esperanto's systematic use of affixes, like "mal-", allows for the creation of a vast vocabulary from a relatively small set of roots. "Malgranda" exemplifies this principle, providing a clear and unambiguous way to express the concept of smallness within the language.