This contribution aims at rationalizing the observations made by in situ IR spectroscopy during CO adsorption over 1.8 nm Pt-Sn nanoparticles by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and describing the environment and electronic properties of surface Pt atoms modified by Sn. Pt surface enrichment upon CO exposure was observed by DRIFTS (diffuse reflectance FT-IR spectroscopy) and rationalized by the theoretical calculations, which also indicated that isolated Pt was favored over Pt pairing in a Sn-rich alloy. DFT frequency calculations allowing the fine assignment of vibrational CO spectra. The results show gradual decay of the linear carbonyl wavenumber from plain Pt (2075 cm-1), through a Sn-poor Pt-Sn (2054 cm-1) and down to a Sn-rich Pt-Sn nanoparticles (2039 cm-1). This decay is accompanied by a weakening of Pt-CO bonds, which confirm the ability of Sn to prevent CO poisoning of Pt when present in a nanoalloy. Moreover, electronic structure analyses evidence a preponderant charge transfer from Sn to Pt atoms, which explains the weakening of both the Pt-CO bond and the CO bond through back-donation to antibonding molecular orbitals. A weaker CO bond would favor CO dissociation and the formation of Pt and SnOx ensembles, which is consistent with DRIFTS data recorded at low temperatures.