Making things smaller or bigger in Spanish
Diminutives and Augmentatives
Post 305/365
Es jueves, 25 de enero de 2018
Hola,
Buenos días y bienvenidos a Spanish Blog 365
Let’s talk about diminutives and augmentatives. These are endings we put the back of a word to make it smaller or to show endearment or to make it bigger.
Spanish speakers are very fond of these endings. You’ll hear them a lot.
1. diminutives – smaller and endearment
These endings range from:
-ito/a
-ico/a – Costa Rica, Colombia (regional)
-cito/a
-illo/a
Note: stem-changes apply to c, g, z – just like we saw yesterday
poco > poquito – a little bit > a very little bit
¿Habla inglés?
Muy poquito
hermano > hermanito – brother > little brother – could mean size, but usually age (younger), but also endearing
abuelo > abuelito – grandpa > grandpoppy – endearing
Juan > Juanito – John > little John (when he was young)
Miguel > Miguelito – Michael > little Michael (when he was young)
gato > gatito – cat > kitten
amigo > amiguito – friend > little friend (talking about kids)
cuchara > cucharadita – (table)spoon > teaspoon
limpio > limpiecito – clean > beautifully clean
pobre > pobrecito – poor > poor (little) thing
una flor > una florecita – a flower > a (cute) little flower
una ventana > ventanilla – a window> a small window or a ticket window (at theater or train station)
una silla > una sillita – a chair > a little chair
cigarro > cigarillo – cigar > cigarette
2. augmentatives – larger in size, can also mean unattractive
These endings range from:
-ón/a
-ote/-ota
a silla is a chair and a sillón is a big armchair
una caja is a box and a cajón is a crate or a big box
This ending can be used to refer to people’s behaviors. It’s based on a verb.
burlarse > burlón – to mock, to make fun of > mocking, always making fun of
There is a Mexican story about the crying woman:
llorar > la llorona
grande > grandote – big > really big (and can be meant in a unattractive way)
una palabra > una palabrota – a word > a big, (bad/dirty) word
Nota final: The Costa Ricans are called the Ticos. It is understood that they got this name because they use the diminutive -ico/a instead of -ito/a
un momento, por favor – just a moment, please
un momentito, por favor – just a quicky, short moment
un momentico, por favor – Costa Rica, Colombia usage
Action steps: When you listen to people speak, notice the use of these endings. Enjoy!
Déjame un comentario.
Gracias y hasta mañana,
Carolina
