Word: peccadillo (noun)

Associations

A peccadillo is a small or minor fault, mistake, or sin. It is not something very serious, more like a little error or a slight wrongdoing.

• Example 1: "Everyone makes peccadillos, but it’s important to learn from them." Here, it means small mistakes people make.
• Example 2: "His only peccadillo was arriving a bit late to meetings." This means his only small fault was being late sometimes.
• Example 3: "She forgave his peccadillos because they were harmless." This means she forgave his minor faults. The word peccadillo is similar to "mistake" or "fault," but it usually means something less serious than a big mistake or crime.

Substitution

You can use words like "minor fault," "small mistake," "slip," or "trifle" instead of peccadillo. For example, instead of "peccadillo," say "small mistake." But if you say "crime" or "sin," it sounds more serious, so peccadillo is lighter in meaning.

Deconstruction

The word "peccadillo" comes from Spanish, and originally from Latin "peccatum" meaning "sin." The "-illo" ending in Spanish means "small" or "little," so peccadillo literally means "little sin." This helps you remember it means a small fault or mistake.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a small mistake you made recently that you would call a peccadillo?
• How is a peccadillo different from a serious problem or crime?
• Why do you think people might forgive peccadillos but not bigger mistakes?