Diminutives and augmentatives modify the meaning of nouns, adjectives, and sometimes verbs by adding suffixes. Diminutives often indicate small size, affection, or politeness, while augmentatives suggest largeness, intensity, or exaggeration. These forms can also convey emotional nuances and vary by region.
Diminutives
Diminutives express smallness, affection, or endearment. They are commonly formed using the suffixes -ito/-ita, -cito/-cita, and -ecito/-ecita. The choice depends on the word’s ending and regional usage.
- -ito/-ita: Most common diminutive suffix; used with many nouns and adjectives.
- -cito/-cita: Used when the word ends in “-e,” “-n,” or “-r,” or to soften the diminutive form.
- -ecito/-ecita: Added after certain consonants (e.g., “-ecita” in flor → florecita).
Diminutives can also express affection, familiarity, or even politeness, not just small size.
Usage Examples
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| perro → perrito | dog → little dog/puppy | Quiero un perrito.* (I want a little dog.) |
| casa → casita | house → little house | Vivimos en una casita.* (We live in a little house.) |
| flor → florecita | flower → little flower | Le di una florecita.* (I gave her a little flower.) |
Notes
- Diminutives can also make requests or statements sound more polite or less direct (e.g., un momentito).
- Not all diminutives imply literal smallness; context matters.
Augmentatives
Augmentatives indicate largeness, intensity, or exaggeration. Common suffixes include -ón/-ona, -azo/-aza, and -ote/-ota. They can convey admiration, surprise, or sometimes a pejorative tone.
- -ón/-ona: Adds a sense of largeness or strength.
- -azo/-aza: Can mean something large or impressive; sometimes used to indicate a blow (e.g., manazo = “a big hit with the hand”).
- -ote/-ota: Suggests largeness or exaggeration, sometimes with a humorous or informal tone.
Be cautious, as augmentatives can occasionally sound rude or sarcastic depending on context.
Usage Examples
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| casa → casona | house → big/old house | Viven en una casona.* (They live in a big/old house.) |
| libro → librazote | book → huge book | Leí un librazote.* (I read a huge book.) |
| manzana → mazanón | apple → big apple | Compré un mazanón.* (I bought a big apple.) |
Notes
- Augmentatives can express admiration (casona), but also exaggeration or even annoyance depending on tone.
- Some augmentatives become fixed in usage (e.g., casona is common in some regions).
Forming Diminutives and Augmentatives
Steps for Diminutives
- Identify the base word.
- Choose the appropriate suffix (-ito/-ita, -cito/-cita, -ecito/-ecita).
- Remove the final vowel if necessary (usually for -cito/-cita forms).
- Add the suffix, adjusting the stem if needed (e.g., flor → florecita).
Steps for Augmentatives
- Identify the base word.
- Choose the appropriate suffix (-ón/-ona, -azo/-aza, -ote/-ota).
- Attach the suffix directly to the stem.
- Adjust gender by changing the ending to -a for feminine forms.
Summary
Diminutives and augmentatives are versatile tools in Spanish that add nuance, expressing size, affection, intensity, or emphasis through suffixes.
Flashcards (1 of 6)
- Example: Quiero un perrito. (I want a little dog.)
- English: dog → little dog/puppy
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
