Diminutives (diminutivos) are frequently used in conversational Spanish. They emphasize size or express shades of meaning like affection, amazement, scorn, or ridicule. Diminutives are formed by adding a suffix to the root of nouns, adjectives (which agree in gender and number), and occasionally adverbs. Because formation and use of diminutives varies greatly from one region to another, there are very few established rules about this aspect of the Spanish language. In this section, you will learn to recognize the most commonly used suffixes and their uses. Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

Many root words take on new meanings when diminutive endings are added Many root words take on new meanings when diminutive endings are added.ending in –s (singular or plural), diminutive endings precede the final –s. pan bread panecillo roll pastel cake pastelito pastry cabeza head cabezón/cabezona stubborn (person) palabra word palabrota swear word Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

Diminutives Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

Here are the most common diminutive suffixes. Pedrito, ¿me traes un cafecito con un panecillo? Little Pedro, would you bring me a little cup of coffee with a roll? Ahorita, abuelita, se los preparo rapidito. Right away, Granny, I’ll have them ready in a jiffy. Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

Most words form the diminutive by adding –ito/a Most words form the diminutive by adding –ito/a. However, the suffix –illo/a is also common in some regions. For words ending in vowels (except –e), the last vowel is dropped before the suffix. bajo ➞ bajito very short; very softly libro ➞ librillo booklet ahora ➞ ahorita right now; very soon ventana ➞ ventanilla plane/car/bus window Miguel ➞ Miguelito Mikey campana ➞ campanilla hand bell Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

Most words that end in –e, –n, or –r use the forms –cito/a or –cillo/a Most words that end in –e, –n, or –r use the forms –cito/a or –cillo/a. However, one-syllable words often use –ecito/a or –ecillo/a. hombre ➞ hombrecillo little man pan ➞ panecillo roll Carmen ➞ Carmencita little Carmen flor ➞ florecita little flower amor ➞ amorcito sweetheart pez ➞ pececito little fish Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

Note these spelling changes. chico ➞ chiquillo little boy; very small agua ➞ agüita little bit of water amigo ➞ amiguito little friend luz ➞ lucecita little light Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

For words ending in –s (singular or plural), diminutive and augmentative endings precede the final –s. Carlos  Carlitos besos  besitos Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

Perro = dog perrito = ? puppy

gato = cat gatito = ? kitty

oso = bear osito = ? bear cub or teddy bear

mesa = table mesita = ? little table

señora = Mrs. señorita = ? Miss

chica = girl chiquita = ? little girl

abuela = grandmother abuelita = ? grandma

abuelo = grandfather abuelito = ? grandpa

hermano = brother hermanito = ? little brother

burro = donkey burrito = ? little donkey

mamá = mom mamacita = ? mommy

mosca = fly mosquito = ? little fly

Diminuatives can also be used with names of people and places Diminuatives can also be used with names of people and places. Sometimes these are nicknames, sometimes they are not.

pueblo = town pueblito = ? little town

cerro = hill Cerritos = ? little hills City in Southern California near Long Beach

Juana Juanita

Pepé Pepito

Miguel Miguelito

Lupe Lupita

Augmentatives The most common augmentative suffixes are forms of –ón/–ona, –ote/–ota, and –azo/–aza. Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

Hijo, ¿por qué tienes ese chichonazo en la cabeza? Son, how’d you get that huge bump on your head? Jorge se gastó un dinerazo en una pantallota enorme, ¡sólo para ver partidos de fútbol! Jorge spent a ton of money on a humongous TV screen, just to watch soccer games! Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

Most words form the augmentative by simply adding the suffix to the word. For words ending in vowels, the final vowel is usually dropped. soltero ➞ solterón confirmed bachelor casa ➞ casona big house; mansion grande ➞ grandote/a really big palabra ➞ palabrota swear word perro ➞ perrazo big, scary dog manos ➞ manazas big hands (clumsy) Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

You may notice a tendency to change a feminine word to a masculine one when the suffix –ón is used, unless it refers specifically to someone’s gender. la silla ➞ el sillón armchair la mujer ➞ la mujerona big woman la mancha ➞ el manchón large stain mimosa ➞ mimosona very affectionate Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

The masculine suffix –azo can also mean blow or shot. The letters t or et are occasionally added to the beginning of augmentative endings. guapa  guapetona golpe  golpetazo The masculine suffix –azo can also mean blow or shot. flecha  flechazo arrow wound; love at first sight rodilla  rodillazo a blow with the knee Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

Regional use of diminutives and augmentatives Both diminutive and augmentative suffixes may vary from one region to another and sometimes convey different meanings or connotations. ¡Ay, qué perrito más lindo! ¡Ay, qué perrillo más feo! Oh, what a cute little puppy! Oh, what an ugly little mutt! ¡Qué hombretote! ¡Qué hombrón! What a big man! What a strong/brave man! Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.

chico/a  chiquito/a  chiquitito/a grande  grandote/a  grandotote In regions where diminutives and augmentatives are used heavily in conversational Spanish, double endings are frequently used for additional emphasis chico/a  chiquito/a  chiquitito/a grande  grandote/a  grandotote Copyright © 2008 Vista Higher Learning. All rights reserved.