The Spanish word 'pedacito' meaning 'small piece' comes from combining the Spanish word 'pedazo' (meaning 'piece') with the diminutive suffix '-ito'. Going further back, 'pedazo' derives from the Latin word 'pittacium', which meant 'piece of leather' or 'scrap'. The Latin term itself was borrowed from Ancient Greek 'pittakion' (πιττάκιον), which originally referred to a writing tablet or label.

The most obvious related Spanish word is 'pedazo', which simply means 'piece' without the diminutive meaning. While 'pedacito' specifically refers to a small piece, 'pedazo' is used for pieces or portions of any size. You'll often hear 'un pedazo de pan' (a piece of bread) or 'un pedacito de pan' (a small piece of bread).

While there aren't any common English words directly related to 'pedacito' through the same Greek root 'pittakion', English borrowed some technical terms from this Greek word. For instance, the rare word 'pittacium' was sometimes used in medieval English texts to refer to labels or small written notes, though it's no longer in common use today.