Ukrainian · Adjectives
Маленький
malenkyi
Small; little
Beginneradjective
Definition
Small — and used endearingly, malenkyi + diminutive suffix.
Example
Маленька дитина спить.
The little child is sleeping.
Etymology
'Маленький' (malenkyi) originates from the Proto-Slavic '*malenʹkij', meaning 'small'. It highlights a linguistic tendency to denote size with diminutive forms.
How & Where It’s Used
The word is commonly used in casual conversations and in literature. It can appear in both formal and informal settings.