Aim. The purpose of this work is to identify the role of words with the root 'мал' (on the example of the words малый, немалый, маленький, немаленькая, малыш, малолетство, малолетний) in the dilogy of F. Vigdorova «Family happiness,» «Favorite street.». Methodology. The article establishes the frequency of use of words with the root 'мал' in the dilogy; examines the lexicographic data of the studied words; analyzes the nest of words with the root 'мал' from the point of view of semantics. The research uses the following methods: linguistic observation and description, statistical calculation, and elements of component analysis. Results. As a result of the semantic analysis of words with the root 'мал' determined that they are «“embedded” in the national mentality», showing features of the idiolect of the writer. They identify the reflection of conceptual content of the substantial unit of Russian culture, the national conceptual sphere of CHILDHOOD in the mental-lingualism complex linguistic identity of F. Vigdorova. Therefore, allow drawing conclusions about the traits of her worldview to evaluate the moral-philosophical view of the writer. Research implications. The scientific novelty of the work is that the previously published articles did not present an analysis of the semantics of words with the root 'мал' (on the example of the words малый, немалый, маленький, немаленькая, малыш, малолетство, малолетний) in the literary texts of F. Vigdorova. The research results can be used in the preparation of lectures and practical classes on linguistic semantics, linguoculturology, and the language of fiction in higher educational institutions.