General "small"
* Petite: This is the most common and neutral way to say "small" in French. It's appropriate for both physical size and age.
* Minime: This word emphasizes being very small, almost tiny.
Referring to height
* Petite: This works well for describing a girl's height.
* De petite taille: This means "of small size" and is more formal.
Other options
* Fraile: This word suggests someone is thin and delicate.
* Mignonne: This means "cute" or "adorable" and implies that being small is a positive quality.
Examples:
* "La petite fille est très gentille." (The small girl is very kind.)
* "Elle est petite, mais elle est très forte." (She is small, but she is very strong.)
* "Elle est de petite taille, mais elle a un grand cœur." (She is small in stature, but she has a big heart.)
Remember to choose the word that best fits the context and the specific meaning you want to convey.