Augmentatives show that something is larger, more intense, or sometimes more impressive or even ridiculous. They often add flavor and attitude to speech.
Common Augmentative Suffixes
Augmentative suffixes vary by dialect but ‑ón, ‑ote, ‑azo and ‑ón are among the most recognizable in Spanish. Portuguese and Italian have their own forms.
Spanish: ‑ón / ‑ona
The suffix ‑ón (masculine) or ‑ona (feminine) adds size or force and often an emphatic or even teasing tone. It attaches to the noun stem.
| Spanish Word | Spanish Augmentative | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| perro | perrón | big/awesome dog | |
| casa | casona | big/ impressive house | |
| balón | balón | big ball |
Spanish: ‑ote / ‑ota
‑ote/‑ota is another common augmentative that highlights largeness and can sound affectionate or joking. It also attaches to the noun stem.
| Spanish Word | Spanish Augmentative | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| gato | gatote | big cat | |
| libro | librote | huge book | |
| mujer | mujerota | big/ imposing woman |
Spanish: ‑azo / ‑aza
‑azo/‑aza can mark size but often adds admiration or impact. It’s sometimes used for things or people and can carry praise or irony.
| Spanish Word | Spanish Augmentative | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| coche | cochazo | amazing/ big car | |
| mano | manaza | huge/ strong hand | |
| casa | casaza | huge/ impressive house |
Portuguese: ‑ão / ‑ona
In Portuguese, ‑ão (masculine) and ‑ona (feminine) are common augmentatives that signal largeness or greatness and attach to the noun stem.
| Portuguese Word | Portuguese Augmentative | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| cão | cãozão | big/ impressive dog | |
| casa | casona | big/ nice house | |
| com • cachorro | cachorro | big/ awesome dog |
Italian: ‑one / ‑ona
Italian uses ‑one (masculine) and ‑ona (feminine) to form augmentatives that emphasize size or grandeur and attach to the noun stem.
| Italian Word | Italian Augmentative | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| libro | librone | huge book | |
| casa | casona | big/ impressive house | |
| gatto | gattone | big cat |
Nuances of Augmentatives
Augmentatives can signal literal size, greater value, admiration, or mockery depending on context and tone. Sometimes they add charm and sometimes exaggeration.
Summary
Augmentative suffixes like Spanish ‑ón / ‑ona, ‑ote / ‑ota, ‑azo / ‑aza, Portuguese ‑ão / ‑ona and Italian ‑one / ‑ona turn nouns into larger or more striking versions and color speech with emphasis or attitude.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025