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    petit à petit (little by little)

    Grammar & Usage

    adverbial phrase / fixed expression
    neutral

    How it works

    This idiom is formed by repeating the masculine singular adjective 'petit' linked by the preposition 'à'. It functions adverbially, modifying verbs to indicate incremental progression over time. In careful speech, an obligatory liaison links the final 't' of the first 'petit' to the preposition 'à'.

    Sample sentences

    Petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid.

    Little by little, the bird builds its nest.

    Son niveau de français s'améliore petit à petit.

    His French is improving little by little.

    Nous avons rénové toute la maison petit à petit au fil des années.

    We renovated the entire house little by little over the years.

    Quick facts

    liaison:Pronounced with a liaison between the first 'petit' and 'à' as [pə.ti.t‿a pə.ti]
    synonyms:peu à peu, progressivement, pas à pas
    proverbial_use:Central element of the classic French proverb expressing patience and persistence

    Mnemonic

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    Example

    Petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid.

    Little by little, the bird builds its nest.

    Son niveau de français s'améliore petit à petit.

    His French is improving little by little.

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