#33 – 10 Sweet Endings

33 of 365

Post #33 – 10 Sweet Endings in today’s lesson – Recognize word groups to build vocabulary fast.
You’ll also be able to quickly and easily decipher the meaning of words you’ll come across. You’ll want your notebook today!

These words are all cognates. Remember our Friends?

10 Sweet Endings – suffixes

Words that end in…
-mente = -ly

continuamente – continually
generalmente – generally
igualmente  – equally
normalmente – normally
rapidamente  -rapidly

Words that end in…
-dad = -ty

actividad – activity
necesidad – necessity
realidad  – reality
universidad – university
velocidad – velocity

Words that end in…
-ción = -tion

celebración – celebration
condición – condition
nación – nation
rotación – rotation
solución – solution

Words that end in…
-oso = -ous

delicioso – delicious
famoso – famous
nervioso – nervous
numeroso – numerous
sospechoso – suspicious

Words that end in…
-ia = y

agencia – agency
compañía – company
copia – copy
frecuencia – frequency
memoria – memory

Words that end in…
-ista = ist

activista – activist
artista – artist
dentista – dentist
protagonista – protaganist
turista – tourist

Words that end in…
-ble = ble

increíble – incredible
lavable – washable
probable – probable
responsable – responsible
usable – usableThe following are not cognados, but important to know

Words that end in…
-ería  = the ending for shop names, we had this in a previous post (Tiendas)

droguería – drugstore
ferretería – hardware store (ferro – iron)
lechería – dairy
taquería – taco  stand
zapatería – shoe store

Words that end in…
-ero = often indicates a person/occupation, therefore, it also has the feminine form -era

carpintero/a – carpenter
cocinero/a – chef, cook
enfermero/a – nurse
granjero/a – farmer
ingeniero/a – engineer
mesero/a – waiter, waitress
obrero/a – worker
panero/a – baker

Words that end in…
-ito or -ita = a diminutive ending, it makes something smaller, cuter or is endearing

café…cafecito – coffee…a little coffee
hijo/a…hijito/hijita – son/daughter…little boy/girl (endearing)
un momento…un momentito – a moment…just a second
poco…poquito – a little bit…an even littler bit
tarde…tardecito – a little late

Extra, Extra:
Me paré para tomar un cafecito. – I stopped for a little coffee.

Mi hijito – My little boy (Sounds like mijo/a or mijito/a when a native-speaker is talking)

Note:
In Costa Rica and parts of Colombia you may hear -ico intead of -ito.  Un momentico – just a moment
Costa Ricans – los costarricenses are called Ticos.  It is thought that this is because of their use of the -ico ending.  It’s beautifully unique to them!

The other day at the Newsstand I saw a copy of “The Tico Times”

When you see things like this, be curious and ask.
What does this mean? – ¿Qué significa? o ¿A qué refiere? – What does this refer to?

¿Hablas español? Sí, un poquito.

Action Steps: Get out your Spanish notebook and write down the above groups of endings. Then start looking for words that fit into these groups.

Gracias por acompañarme en la lección de hoy.
Hasta mañana