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меньше. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
меньше, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
меньше in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
меньше you have here. The definition of the word
меньше will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
меньше, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Russian
Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European *mey- (“to lessen, small, little”). Cognate with Sanskrit mī (“lessen, diminish”); Lithuanian menkas (“negligible”); Ancient Greek μόνος (mónos, “alone”) whence English mono-; Latin minuō whence English minute, diminish, etc.; Latin minus, minor, minimum.
Pronunciation
Adjective
ме́ньше • (ménʹše)
- comparative degree of ма́ленький (málenʹkij); comparative degree of ма́лый (mályj): less (to smaller extent), smaller, fewer
Adverb
ме́ньше • (ménʹše)
- comparative degree of ма́ло (málo): less (to smaller extent), smaller, fewer
- Antonym: бо́льше (bólʹše)
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