Spanish Diminutive Suffixes

Just because something is diminutive in Spanish doesnt necessarily mean its small. Diminutives May Soften Meaning or Show Affection Spanish speakers frequently use the diminutive suffixes such as -ito not only to indicate size but also to make a word less harsh or to indicate affection. Just as you can imagine someone referring to a 6-foot-tall adult son as my little boy or to a full-grown beloved pet as a doggy, so it is that the Spanish diminutives, although often translated using the English word little, often indicate more about the speakers feelings toward the person or object than to its size. The most common Spanish diminutive suffixes are -ito and -cito along with their feminine equivalents, -ita and -cita. In theory, these suffixes can be added to almost any noun, and they are sometimes used with adjectives and adverbs as well. The rules arent hard and fast as to which suffix is used; the tendency is that words ending in -a, -o or -te form the diminutive by dropping the final vowel and adding -ito or -ita, while -cito or -ecito is added to other words. Also commonly used as a diminutive suffix are -illo and -cillo along with their feminine equivalents, -illa and -cilla. Other diminutive suffixes include -ico, -cico, -uelo, -zuelo, -ete, -cete, -à ­n and -ià ±o along with their feminine equivalents. Many of these suffixes are more popular in some regions than others. For example, the -ico and -cico endings are quite common in Costa Rica, and its residents are nicknamed ticos as a result. The diminutive suffixes tend to be a spoken phenomenon of Spanish more than a written one, and they are more common in some areas than others. In general, though, they are used far more than English diminutive endings such as the -y or -ie of words such as doggy or jammies. You should keep in mind some words in diminutive form may not be understood the same way in all areas, and that their meanings can vary with the context in which they are used. Thus the translations given below should be seen as examples only and not as the only translations possible. List of Diminutive Uses Here are the most common ways the diminutive suffixes are used in Spanish: To indicate something is small: casita (little house, cottage), perrito (puppy or little dog), rosita (little rose, rose blossom)To indicate something is charming or endearing: mi abuelita (my dear grandmother), un cochecito (a cute little car), papito (daddy), amiguete (pal)To provide a nuance of meaning, especially with adjectives and adverbs: ahorita (right now), cerquita (right next to), lueguito (quite soon), gordito (chubby)To give a friendly tone to a sentence: Un momentito, por favor. (Just a moment, please.) Quisiera un refresquito. (Id like just a soft drink.)  ¡Despacito! (Easy does it!)To talk to very young children: pajarito (birdy), camisita (shirty), tontito (silly), vaquita (cowie)To indicate something is unimportant: dolorcito (tiny ache), mentirita (fib), reyezuelo (petty king), me falta un centavito (Im just a penny short)To form a new word (not necessarily a diminutive of the original): mantequilla (butter), panecillo (bread roll), bolsillo (pocket), cajetilla ( packet), ventanilla (ticket office), carbonilla (cinder), caballitos (merry-go-round), cabecilla (ringleader), nudillo (knuckle), vaquilla (heifer), de mentirijillas (as a joke) Note: The diminutive -ito ending should not be confused with the -ito ending of some irregular past participles such as frito (fried) and maldito (cursed). Sample Sentences Using Diminutives El gatito es frà ¡gil y es completamente dependiente de su madre. (The kitten is fragile and is completedly dependent on its mother.) Yo sà © de una chamaquita que todos las maà ±anitas ... (I know of a dear girl who every morning ... — lyrics from the childrens song El telefonito or The Telephone.)  ¿Quà © tal, guapita? (How are you, cutie?) Disfruta de cervecita y las mejores tapas por Madrid ...  ¡por 2,40 euros! (Enjoy a nice beer and the best tapas in Madrid — for 2.40 euros! Mis amigos me llaman Calvito. (My friends call me Baldy.) Tengo una dudita con la FAQ que no entiendo. (I have a quick question about the FAQ that I dont understand.) Es importante limpiar la naricita de tu bebà © cuando se resfrà ­e. (It is important to clean your babys nose when she gets a cold.)