piccoli

Piccoli is an Italian adjective meaning small or little. It is the masculine plural form of piccolo, while the feminine plural is piccole. The word agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number, as in un gatto piccolo, due gatti piccoli, or due gatte piccole. It is used broadly in everyday language to describe size, age, or degree, and appears in numerous idiomatic expressions and regional usages.

As a surname, Piccoli is of Italian origin. Surnames derived from adjectives are common in Italian onomastics, and Piccoli likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a small person or as a family designation associated with the term. The name is attested throughout Italy and among Italian communities abroad, with diaspora presence in Europe, the Americas, and beyond as people with Italian heritage migrated and established new communities.

In modern usage, individuals bearing the surname Piccoli have contributed to a variety of fields, including the arts, sciences, and sports, reflecting the broad dispersion of the name through Italian diaspora networks. The form Piccoli remains familiar in Italian-speaking regions and in communities with Italian heritage.

See also: Piccolo, a related term that functions as both a surname and a common noun meaning “small” or “little.” It may be encountered in similar linguistic and onomastic contexts.