maliit

Maliit is a native Tagalog adjective meaning small in size or extent. It describes physical dimensions, quantities, or degrees, and can be applied to objects, places, or abstract concepts. In everyday speech it appears in phrases such as maliit na bahay (a small house) or mas maliit for the comparative, as in mas maliit ang problema (the problem is smaller).

The word is formed from the root liit, meaning small, with the prefix ma- to yield a descriptive adjective. The related noun liit denotes smallness or the state of being small. Maliit is also used in a variety of idiomatic expressions that convey more than size alone. For example, maliit ang loob niya expresses that someone feels slighted or offended, while maliit ang tingin can refer to having a low opinion of someone.

In usage, maliit can describe tangible objects as well as figurative concepts such as time, danger, or chances, often with the sense that something is limited or minor. Comparisons commonly use mas or lalo to indicate a greater degree of smallness, as in mas maliit.

The term is widely understood across Filipino-speaking communities and appears in everyday conversation, journalism, and literature. It contrasts with laki or malaki, which describe largeness or size in the opposite direction. In translation, maliit is typically rendered as small or little, depending on context.