When you're describing something as 'small' in Hungarian, you'll use kicsi.
This is a straightforward adjective and doesn't change its form based on the gender or number of the noun it describes, which makes it pretty easy to use!
For example, if you say 'a small house,' it's 'egy kicsi ház.' If you're talking about 'small houses,' it's still 'kicsi házak.'
You'll hear and use this word a lot in everyday Hungarian conversations.
§ What 'kicsi' means and how people use it
Alright, let's talk about 'kicsi'. This is one of those super useful Hungarian words you'll hear all the time. It means 'small' or 'little'. Simple, right? But like many words, it has a few layers to it depending on how you use it. You'll use 'kicsi' to describe the size of pretty much anything: a small house, a small dog, a small problem. It's a fundamental adjective you need in your vocabulary from day one.
- Definition
- Small, little. Used to describe physical size, quantity, or even abstract concepts.
People use 'kicsi' constantly in everyday conversations. It's not just for physical objects. You can use it to talk about a small amount of something, a short period of time, or even to express affection. For example, a parent might call their child 'kicsim' (my little one) as a term of endearment. This shows how versatile the word is.
Van egy kicsi házam.
This means: "I have a small house." Straightforward application. You put 'kicsi' directly before the noun it describes, just like 'small' in English.
Adj egy kicsi vizet, kérlek.
Here, it translates to: "Give me a little water, please." Notice how 'kicsi' can also mean 'a little' when referring to quantity. This is a common usage you'll encounter often.
You'll also hear 'kicsi' in a more informal, almost adverbial way, to mean 'a bit' or 'a little bit'. This is usually when you're talking about making something slightly less intense or a small adjustment.
Kérsz még? Csak egy kicsit.
This translates to: "Do you want more? Just a little bit." The '-t' ending here is an accusative suffix, but the core meaning still revolves around 'a small amount'. Don't get too bogged down by the grammar nuances right now; just recognize the pattern.
Another common scenario is when you want to make something sound more endearing or to soften a request. Think of it as adding a 'little' to make things sound nicer.
Egy kicsi kávét kérnék.
Meaning: "I'd like a small coffee." or "I'd like a little coffee." It's more polite and less demanding than just saying 'kávét kérek' (I ask for coffee). This nuance is important for sounding natural.
Let's look at more examples to solidify your understanding:
Ez egy kicsi probléma.
This is a small problem.
Van egy kicsi macskám.
I have a small cat.
Csak egy kicsi időre van szükségem.
I just need a little time.
As you can see, 'kicsi' is extremely flexible. It's one of those words you'll learn early and use constantly. Don't overthink it. Just remember its core meaning of 'small' or 'little' and observe how native speakers use it in different contexts. With practice, it will become second nature.
§ Kicsi vs. Kis
This is the big one! Many learners get confused between 'kicsi' and 'kis'. While both mean 'small', they're not interchangeable. 'Kicsi' is the adjective, meaning 'small' or 'little'. 'Kis' is a shortened, uninflectable adjective, mostly used in fixed expressions or when it acts almost like a prefix.
Ez a ház kicsi.
(This house is small.)
Kis kutya.
(Little dog. - often implying 'a specific small dog' or 'a young dog'.)
§ Inflecting 'Kicsi'
Unlike 'kis', 'kicsi' inflects just like any other adjective. Many learners forget to add the correct suffixes when 'kicsi' is used in different grammatical cases or with possessive suffixes. Remember, Hungarian is an agglutinative language, so these suffixes are crucial.
- DEFINITION
- Adjective 'kicsi' with suffixes.
A kicsi kutyám.
(My small dog.)
A kicsi házba megyek.
(I am going into the small house. - 'házba' implies direction 'into'.)
§ Using 'Kicsi' for People/Age
While 'kicsi' can literally mean small in size, it's also commonly used to mean 'young' or 'little' when referring to people, especially children. Sometimes learners might over-translate and try to use other words for 'young' when 'kicsi' would be more natural and common.
A kicsi gyerek alszik.
(The little/young child is sleeping.)
Ő még nagyon kicsi.
(He/She is still very young/little.)
§ Not Using Comparatives/Superlatives
Just like other adjectives, 'kicsi' has comparative and superlative forms. Sometimes learners might try to force 'more small' or 'most small' constructions which don't exist in Hungarian in the same way. The correct forms are 'kisebb' (smaller) and 'legkisebb' (smallest).
- Kicsi (small)
- Kisebb (smaller)
- Legkisebb (smallest)
Ez a cipő kisebb, mint a másik.
(This shoe is smaller than the other one.)
Ez a legkisebb szoba a házban.
(This is the smallest room in the house.)
§ Confusing 'Kicsi' with ' Kevés' (Little/Few)
While both might translate to 'little' in some contexts, 'kicsi' refers to physical size, while 'kevés' refers to quantity (how much/how many). This is a common pitfall for English speakers where 'little' can be ambiguous.
Van egy kicsi házam.
(I have a small house. - referring to size)
Kevés vizem van.
(I have little water. - referring to quantity)
راهنمای تلفظ
- pronouncing 'cs' as 's' or 'sh' instead of 'ch'
- misplacing the stress on a different syllable
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Which of these means 'small'?
Kicsi directly translates to small.
The Hungarian word for 'small' is:
Kicsi means small.
If something is not 'large', it is often 'kicsi'. What does 'kicsi' mean?
Kicsi is the opposite of large, meaning small.
'Kicsi' means 'big' in Hungarian.
No, 'kicsi' means 'small'. The word for 'big' is 'nagy'.
The word 'kicsi' can be used to describe a small object.
Yes, 'kicsi' is an adjective meaning 'small', so it's perfect for describing small objects.
If you see a 'kicsi ház', you are looking at a big house.
No, 'kicsi' means 'small', so a 'kicsi ház' is a small house.
A ___ macska játszik a fonalgombolyaggal. (The small cat is playing with the ball of yarn.)
We need the adjective 'small' to describe the cat.
Van egy ___ házunk a tó partján. (We have a small house by the lake.)
'Kicsi' fits the context of a small house by the lake.
A gyerekek egy ___ autót kaptak karácsonyra. (The children received a small car for Christmas.)
A 'small' car is a common gift for children.
Csak egy ___ kávét kérek, köszönöm. (I'll just have a small coffee, thank you.)
When ordering coffee, 'small' is a common descriptor.
A madár egy ___ fészket épített az ágon. (The bird built a small nest on the branch.)
Birds typically build 'small' nests.
Elvesztettem a ___ kulcsomat valahol. (I lost my small key somewhere.)
A 'small' key is easily lost.
Melyik szó jelenti azt, hogy 'kis méretű'?
'Kicsi' means 'small'. The other options mean 'big', 'long', and 'short' respectively.
Válassza ki a mondathoz illő szót: 'A ___ kutya ugat a kertben.'
The sentence translates to 'The ___ dog barks in the garden.' 'Kicsi' (small) fits best to describe a dog that might bark.
Melyik szó a 'kicsi' ellentéte?
'Nagy' means 'big' or 'large', which is the opposite of 'kicsi' (small).
A 'kicsi' szó mindig azt jelenti, hogy 'fiatal'.
'Kicsi' primarily means 'small' in size. While it can sometimes imply youth (e.g., a 'kicsi gyerek' is a small child), its primary meaning is related to physical size, not age. The word for 'young' is 'fiatal'.
Ha azt mondom: 'Van egy kicsi autóm', az azt jelenti, hogy az autóm nem nagy méretű.
Yes, 'kicsi autó' directly translates to 'small car', indicating that the car is not large in size.
A 'kicsi' szót csak tárgyak leírására használjuk, emberekre nem.
No, 'kicsi' can also be used to describe people, especially children, e.g., 'kicsi gyerek' (small child).
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