Spanish · A2 · Everyday language
Which Little Thing in Spanish
This guide helps parents teach their children how to describe their belongings using sizes and colors in Spanish. The focus is on how adjectives change based on the gender of the item being described.
What you'll learn
- Identify common personal items like bags, books, and sports gear.
- Correctly place adjectives after the noun in Spanish.
- Match adjective endings (-o/-a) to masculine and feminine nouns.
Spanish phrases for which little thing
Un balón pequeño está en tu bolsa de deporte.
A small ball is in your sports bag.
'Balón' is masculine, so 'pequeño' ends in -o.
Necesitas un balón pequeño para este juego.
You need a small ball for this game.
Notice the adjective 'pequeño' comes after the noun.
Una bolsa pequeña es suficiente para tu cita de juegos.
A small bag is enough for your playdate.
'Bolsa' is feminine, so 'pequeña' ends in -a.
¿Te gustaría una bolsa pequeña para tu ropa de deporte?
Would you like a small bag for your sports clothes?
'Bolsa' uses 'una' and the feminine adjective 'pequeña'.
Un libro pequeño cabe en tu mochila escolar.
A small book fits in your school bag.
'Libro' is masculine, requiring 'un' and 'pequeño'.
Elijamos un libro pequeño para la práctica de lectura.
Let us choose a small book for reading practice.
We use 'un' for 'a' before masculine nouns.
Un lápiz rojo está en tu hoja de deberes.
A red pencil is on your homework sheet.
'Lápiz' is masculine; colors also act as adjectives.
¿Necesitas un lápiz rojo para tus deberes?
Do you need a red pencil for your homework?
'Deberes' is the common term for homework in Spain.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Balón
Ball (usually a larger sports ball)
Masculine noun.
Bolsa
Bag / Tote
Feminine noun.
Lápiz
Pencil
Masculine noun, ends in 'z'.
Deberes
Homework
Usually plural in Spanish.
Adjective Agreement and Placement
In Spanish, adjectives (like small or red) usually come AFTER the noun. They must also match the gender of the noun. Masculine nouns take adjectives ending in -o, and feminine nouns take adjectives ending in -a.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | Un + [Noun] + -o | Un balón pequeño |
| Feminine Singular | Una + [Noun] + -a | Una bolsa pequeña |
| Colors as Adjectives | Un + [Noun] + Color | Un lápiz rojo |
More examples
Tengo un gato pequeño.
I have a small cat.
Gato is masculine.
Ella tiene una gata pequeña.
She has a small (female) cat.
Gata is feminine.