This is the 466th most frequent Polish word.
małe
"Małe" means "small" or "little" in English.
Here, 'małe' is the neuter singular nominative or accusative form of the adjective 'mały', describing the size of the neuter noun 'jabłko' (apple).
Mam małe jabłko.
I have a small apple.
In this case, 'małe' is the plural nominative or accusative form of the adjective 'mały', describing the noun 'buty' (shoes), which is plural and masculine inanimate.
Te dzieci noszą małe buty.
These children wear small shoes.
Here, 'małe' takes the plural nominative form to agree with the plural neuter noun 'zwierzęta' (animals).