pequeña vs chaquita

Question

Can someone clarify exactly what is the difference between pequeña and chaquita? I understand they both mean "small" or "tiny" but is there a correct time to use one or the other? Such as: is one defined for people and the other for objects, or is one designed for describing things tangible where as the other one is for describing situation/emotions/thoughts? Sometimes when I use them I get strange looks. Ugh. Help me.

Minor typo' chiquita'. At least I've never heard 'chaquita'. - annierats, May 12, 2014

Answer 1

Chiquita is a diminitive of ' chica', girl. It can go even smaller ' chiquitita'. It would be used about girls,normally. However, small things are often called ' chica'.

Pequeña means small. Una chico pequeño ( un chiquito). Una mesa pequeña ( una mesita). It can be used about anything.

Esta chaqueta no me queda , es desmasiado chica.

*Chaqueta - rodneyp, May 12, 2014

Thanks Rodney. - annierats, May 12, 2014

Please correct "diminutive." But I like your answer. - Raja-jani, May 12, 2014

Answer 2

Think of them as you would small, little, tiny in English. They are pretty much interchangeable (although not completely), aren't they? Well chiquita and pequeña are pretty much the same in Spanish.

That table is tiny. That table is small. That table is little.

Esa mesa es pequeña. Esa mesa es chiquita. Esa mesa es chiquitita.

Answer 3

, LucyDog111:
 
I agree with Annierats that you seem to have misspelled the word. Like Annie, my answer relies on the correct word being "Chiquita" (but not the banana").
 
The good news is that that word came up at least once just over 4 years ago. The answers then look pretty good to me. Here is a link to that previouus question
and replies ----> Chiquita Q & A's.
 
You already seem to know what pequeño means. I wont repeat what I think you already know. Since the words "chiquita" and "pequeña" are really mostly dissimilar. I hope you dont need any further clarification>
 
Saludos/Best regards,
Moe

Answer 4

So no one seemed to have actually addressed the question as to whether "Chiquita/o" is used for emotions, objects or humans since it means small just as pequeña/o means small. I appreciate the time spent addressing the misspelling but I will need to find a native speaker around here to answer the intended question. Thank you all.