Spanish diminutives (-ito) and augmentatives (-ote)
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When altering words to indicate smallness or show affection, this is know as diminutive. On the other side, augmentative nouns indicate something large or undesirable.
To form a diminutive, you need to drop the -o or -a from any noun and add -ito / -ita, which is the most common diminutive ending.
Unaltered noun | Diminutive form |
---|---|
Gato (cat) | Gatito (kitten) |
Chico (boy) | Chiquito (cute little boy) |
Casa (house) | Casita (little house) |
Abuela (grandmother) | Abuelita (little cute granny) |
However, if the noun ends in -r, -n or -e, the affix -cito is generally added:
Unaltered noun | Diminutive form |
---|---|
Ratón (mouse) | Ratoncito (little mouse) |
Café (coffee) | Cafecito (small quantity of coffee) |
Lugar (place) | Lugarcito (little or beloved place) |
Some words will require spelling changes:
Unaltered noun | Diminutive form |
---|---|
Chica (girl) | Chiquita (little girl) |
Lago (lake) | Laguito (little lake) |
Pedazo (piece) | Pedacito (little piece) |
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The diminutives in Spanish may have the following uses:
Mi abuelito se llama Miguel. (My beloved grandfather is called Miguel.)
The diminutive form can also be used to strenghten an adverb or make changes to an adjective
Examples:
In addition to -ito/-ita, there are other endings which can be used to create the dimutive form of Spanish nouns:
Ending | Unaltered noun | Diminutive form |
---|---|---|
-illo / -illa -cillo / -cilla | Bolso (bag) Calzón (shorts) | Bolsillo (pocket) Calzoncillos (underpants) |
-ete / -eta | Amigo (friend) | Amiguete (little friend) |
-ico / -ica | Beso (kiss) | Besico (little kiss) |
-ín / íña | Chico (boy) | Chiquitín (tiny tot) |
Unlike English, we can also augment words in Spanish, which means referring to something/someone large or giving something/somenone a derogative or pejorative meaning.
Ending | Unaltered noun | Augmentative |
---|---|---|
-ón / -ona | Mujer (woman) | Mujerona (big woman) |
-ote / -ota | Libro (book) | Librote (big book) |
-azo / -aza | Éxito (success) | Exitazo (great success) |
-acho / -acha -ucho / -ucha | Pueblo (village) Abogado (lawyer) | Poblacho* (dump town) Abogaducho (inept lawyer) |
-udo / -uda | Cabeza (head) | Cabezudo (big head) |
The -ón augmentative ending is not to be confused with nouns ending in -ón.
Examples:
________________________________________________________________________________________________
*Please note the radical change from -ue to -o. This is an exception, since in derivation radical changes not always occur.
To opt for the appropriate affix, pay attention to the word endings.
1- El perro (dog): El
2- La casa (house): La
3- El niño (child): El
4- El abuelo (grandfather): El
5- El café (coffee): El
6- La gata (cat): La
7- El corazón (heart): El
8- El hijo (son): El
9- El yogur: El
10- El chico: El
Please keep in mind that:
-the diminutive form is generally used to indicate someone or something small or beloved
-the augmentative form is generally used to refer to someone or something large or give it a bad name
Exitazo (éxito: success)
indicates a failure
indicates a great success
Librote (libro: book)
indicates a beloved book
indicates a big book
Abogaducho (abogado: lawyer)
indicates a skillful lawyer
indicates an incompetent lawyer
The question "¿Puedo tomar un vasito de agua?" (May I have a glass of water?)
expresses a polite request
expresses an impolite request
Playita (playa: beach)
indicates a small and beloved beach
indicates a dump beach
Chiquita (chica: girl)
indicates a fat girl
indicates a little girl
Hombrón (hombre: man)
indicates a short and thin man
indicates a big/large man
Cabezudo (cabeza: head)
indicates a small head
indicates a big head
Amiguete (amigo: friend)
indicates an inept friend
indicates a buddy
Besazo (beso: kiss)
indicates a big kiss
indicates a small kiss
Please keep in mind that:
-the diminutive form is generally used to indicate someone or something small or beloved
-the augmentative form is generally used to refer to someone or something large or give it a bad name
Exitazo (éxito: success)
indicates a great success
Librote (libro: book)
indicates a big book
Abogaducho (abogado: lawyer)
indicates an incompetent lawyer
The question "¿Puedo tomar un vasito de agua?" (May I have a glass of water?)
expresses a polite request
Playita (playa: beach)
indicates a small and beloved beach
Chiquita (chica: girl)
indicates a little girl
Hombrón (hombre: man)
indicates a big/large man
Cabezudo (cabeza: head)
indicates a big head
Amiguete (amigo: friend)
indicates a buddy
Besazo (beso: kiss)
indicates a big kiss
To opt for the appropriate affix, pay attention to the word endings.
1- El perro (dog): El
2- La casa (house): La
3- El niño (child): El
4- El abuelo (grandfather): El
5- El café (coffee): El
6- La gata (cat): La
7- El corazón (heart): El
8- El hijo (son): El
9- El yogur: El
10- El chico: El
Please keep in mind that:
-the diminutive form is generally used to indicate someone or something small or beloved
-the augmentative form is generally used to refer to someone or something large or give it a bad name
Exitazo (éxito: success)
indicates a great success
indicates a failure
Librote (libro: book)
indicates a beloved book
indicates a big book
Abogaducho (abogado: lawyer)
indicates an incompetent lawyer
indicates a skillful lawyer
The question "¿Puedo tomar un vasito de agua?" (May I have a glass of water?)
expresses a polite request
expresses an impolite request
Playita (playa: beach)
indicates a dump beach
indicates a small and beloved beach
Chiquita (chica: girl)
indicates a fat girl
indicates a little girl
Hombrón (hombre: man)
indicates a short and thin man
indicates a big/large man
Cabezudo (cabeza: head)
indicates a small head
indicates a big head
Amiguete (amigo: friend)
indicates an inept friend
indicates a buddy
Besazo (beso: kiss)
indicates a small kiss
indicates a big kiss
Please keep in mind that:
-the diminutive form is generally used to indicate someone or something small or beloved
-the augmentative form is generally used to refer to someone or something large or give it a bad name
Exitazo (éxito: success)
indicates a great success
Librote (libro: book)
indicates a big book
Abogaducho (abogado: lawyer)
indicates an incompetent lawyer
The question "¿Puedo tomar un vasito de agua?" (May I have a glass of water?)
expresses a polite request
Playita (playa: beach)
indicates a small and beloved beach
Chiquita (chica: girl)
indicates a little girl
Hombrón (hombre: man)
indicates a big/large man
Cabezudo (cabeza: head)
indicates a big head
Amiguete (amigo: friend)
indicates a buddy
Besazo (beso: kiss)
indicates a big kiss
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