He is petite.

[Tan Elaine]

He is petite.

Is 'petite' used correctly?

Thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Petite" is usually used in the UK to refer to a small women's clothing size. We don't often use the word to describe people. I have never seen a men's clothing section described as petite. I'm going to say no, it's not a natural sentence.

The other reason it looks wrong to me, as a French speaker, is that "petite" is the feminine form of the adjective so would not be used to describe a masculine noun (or a male person).

 

[Rover_KE]

Elaine, did you not like the 10 replies you got from WordReference?

 

[Tan Elaine]

Elaine, did you not like the 10 replies you got from WordReference?

No, the replies contain different views, unlike emsr's reply, which explicitly states that 'petite' cannot be used of a male person.

I'm sorry, about forgotting to mention that I had posted to WordReference.

 

[teechar]

I'm sorry about forgetting to mention that I had posted to WordReference.

.

 

[Tan Elaine]

.

Thanks, teechar, for pointing out the typo and the inadvertent insertion of a comma. I think it's caused by an ageing brain.

 

[teechar]

I think it's caused by an ageing brain.

You're not alone. Sometimes, I think mine is aged beyond redemption. :lol:

 

[andrewg927]

With the caveat that I don't often use French, I would consider "that boy is petite" is okay if the boy is really short and skinny.

 

[emsr2d2]

I agree that it doesn't suggest skinny. In the "petite" section of women's clothes shops, the emphasis is on clothes for short women. The size ranges are no different from the ranges in the rest of the shop (S/M/L/XL or size 8 to size 18) - they're just aimed at shorter women.

 

[GoesStation]

I don't think I've ever seen petite used for a male in American English. It's strictly for women and particularly, women's clothing.

 

[andrewg927]

Petite does not suggest skinny to me.

It just shows I'm not very good at French.

 

[andrewg927]

I don't think I've ever seen petite used for a male in American English. It's strictly for women and particularly, women's clothing.

I may have heard someone call a boy petite. It's very rare but not completely unheard of.

 

[Tan Elaine]

I thought 'petite' was used of females only, but from the replies, it seems that it is not so clear-cut.

 

[andrewg927]

No, petite is almost exclusively used for women, especially women's clothing. In rare cases, you might hear someone address a boy that way but please don't go around calling grown men petite. I would take it as offensive.