French Conversation · Level 68
60 words
French word
minuscule
Pronunciation
IPA/minyskyl/
Meaning
- adjectivetiny
Example
La différence est minuscule entre les deux.
The difference between the two is tiny.
More examples
Il y a un détail minuscule sur cette page.
There is a tiny detail on this page.
Core concept
A mark or object so small that it nearly disappears from view, including a lowercase character.
Common phrases
détail minuscule
tiny detail
lettre minuscule
lowercase letter
Similar words
petit: Small in size or amount in a general sense.
négligeable: So slight in importance or effect that it can almost be ignored.
infime: Extremely slight, with almost no noticeable presence.
microscopique: So small that it cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Definition in French
D'une taille ou d'une importance très réduite ; en typographie, relatif aux caractères minuscules.
Word origin
French borrowed minuscule from scholarly Latin minusculus, whose sense of smallness extended to the style of small letters used in manuscript writing.
Usage tips
- Minuscule can describe an insignificant amount or difference as well as physical size, so context determines the intended sense.