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Spanish Diminutives, Augmentatives, and More…
Spanish DiminutivesIn English we will occasionally alter words to indicate smallness or show affection. This is known as a "diminutive" and we typically do it by adding a "-y" (or something similar) to end of the word. For example: dog → doggy, blanket → blanky, dear → dearie, etc. Note: Don't confuse diminutive endings with the "-ito" endings of some irregular past participles: escrito, frito, etc. Diminutives are much more common in Spanish than they are in English. Different regions have their own unique ways of creating diminutives, but the most common one is a form of "-ito." To create a diminutive, drop the "-o" or "-a" from just about any noun and add "-ito" or "-ita." Add "-cito" or "-cita" to words not ending in "-o" or "-a": el niño → el niñito Note: The diminutive of agua is agüita. Note: The diminutive of mano is manita (because it's a feminine word). Some words will require spelling changes: el lago → el laguito Using Spanish DiminutivesSo why would we use the diminutive in Spanish? 
Little Anita's — slightly redundant name. To indicate something is small or perhaps unimportant: Tengo una casita en la ciudad. Enseñaba historia en una escuelita. …or to indicate something is beloved or endearing: Mi abuelita se llama Marta. Yo amo a mi perrito. …or to strike a friendly or pleading tone in a conversation: Espera un momentito, señor. ¿Puedo tener un vasito de agua? …or to talk to (or talk like) children: ¡Mira el pajarito y el osito! ¿Cuántos deditos tienes? Note: It's also possible to have diminutives of diminutives: chiquito → chiquitito, poquito → poquitito. We aren't limited to nouns, we can also use diminutives to strengthen certain adverbs: ¡Lo necesito ahorita! Está cerquita. …and to make subtle changes to certain adjectives: gordo (fat) → gordito (chubby) Other Spanish DiminutivesThere are also many other diminutive endings used in various places throughout the Spanish-speaking world: -ete/-eta, -cete/-ceta -illo/-illa, -cillo/-cilla -ín/-iña -uelo/-uela, -zuelo/-zuela Note: Costa Ricans are so fond of "-ico" endings, they are known as "Ticos." -ico/–ica, -cico/-cica Spanish AugmentativesUnlike English, we can augment words in Spanish. Augmented words indicate either that something is large or that it is undesirable. Some examples: -azo/-aza -ón/-ona -ote/-ota -ucho/-ucha, -acho/-acha -udo/-uda Other Spanish Suffixes and EndingsThe following suffixes (sufijos) aren't really diminutive or augmentative but they do change the meaning of the words they are added to. -ada adds "-ful" or "load" to a word: See also: Using Past Participles as Adjectives -ado, -ido converts a verbs into an adjective: -al, -tal turns a food into its tree or grove: -ano, -ense turns a place into a resident of that place: -ante turns a verb into an occupation: -anza makes a noun out of a verb: -ario converts a location into an occupation: -azo indicates blow or strike: -dero, -dera turns a verb into a place where that verb happens: -dor, -dora turns a verb into an occupation: -dura turns a verb into its result: -ear turns a borrowed English verb into a Spanish one: -eo turns a specific noun into a more general noun: -ería turns a noun into a store: -ero, -era turns a noun into job or function: -eza converts an adjective into a noun: See also: Absolute Superlatives -ísimo, -ísima intensifies an adjective: -ista turns a noun into an occupation: -mente turns an adjective into an adverb: Spanish PrefixesSome places in the Spanish-speaking world also allow for the use of prefixes (prefijos) to words. Adding the prefixes "re-" and "requete-" is like adding the word "very." You should already know how to handle the prefix "super-." La comida allí es rebuena. MI tía es requeteloca. ¡El examen fue superdifícil! |
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