petit

Petit is a French adjective meaning small, little, or short in size, extent, or importance. It is used to describe both physical attributes and qualitative degrees, and it appears in many everyday expressions. The base forms are petit (masculine singular) and petite (feminine singular), with plurals petits (masculine) and petites (feminine).

In grammar, petit generally agrees with the noun in gender and number. The usual order in French is that adjectives follow the noun, as in un chien petit. However, petit can precede the noun to convey a diminutive, affectionate, or emphatic nuance, as in un petit garçon or ma petite sœur. The different positions can subtly shift emphasis or tone.

Common phrases and uses include:

- petit à petit, meaning gradually or little by little

- à petit feu, meaning slowly or with little progress

- petit pois, green peas

- petit déjeuner, breakfast

- petit four, a small cake or pastry

- expressions of endearment or familiarity using petite or petit, such as ma petite amie (my girlfriend)

Petit also functions as a surname and appears in toponyms and cultural titles, reflecting its descriptive origin. In French literature and media, the term frequently appears in both literal and figurative senses, from literal size to diminutive or metaphorical smallness.

Etymology commonly traces petit to Old French petit, with roots in the broader Romance language family; cognate forms appear across French-influenced contexts and related languages. The word is widely used across everyday speech, literature, cuisine, and names, making it one of the most familiar French diminutives.