Spanish Diminutives and Augmentatives
In this lesson, we’re going to look at Spanish diminutives and augmentatives. These suffixes can be added to nouns, adjectives, and adverbs and usually indicate smaller and larger size, respectively. However, they can have additional meanings depending on the context and choice of word.
Diminutives
The Spanish diminutive usually indicates small size or affection but can also be used for emphasis. When spoken with the proper intonation, the diminutive can also indicate disgust. The correct form of the diminutive varies depending on the base word.
For words ending o or a, drop the final vowel and add –ito or –ita:
Word | Meaning | Diminutive | Meaning |
ahora | now | ahorita | right now |
corto | short | cortito | very short |
When a word ends in –co, change the c to qu then add –ito:
Word | Meaning | Diminutive | Meaning |
blanco | white | blanquito | right now |
poco | little | poquito | little bit |
With words ending in –go, change the g to gu and add –ito:
Word | Meaning | Diminutive | Meaning |
amigo | friend | amiguito | small friend |
lago | lake | laguito | small lake |
Add –cito words ending in –n, –r, –e, or –è:
Word | Meaning | Diminutive | Meaning |
cafè | coffee | cafecito | espresso |
grande | big | grandecito | big and cute |
hombre | man | hombrecito | a small man |
mujer | woman | mujercita | a small woman |
Augmentatives
The augmentative usually indicates large size but can also signal dislike. While most augmentatives are masculine words ending in –òn, you should use –ona when referring specifically to females. To form the augmentative of a word, drop the final vowel and add the ending. If a noun ends in a consonant, simply add the ending.
Word | Meaning | Augmentative | Meaning |
el hombre | man | el hombròn | big man |
la cuchara | spoon | el cucharòn | ladle |
el soltero | bachelor | el solteròn | confirmed bachelor |
la soltera | single woman | la solterona | spinster, old maid |
la mujer | woman | la mujerona | big woman (pejorative) |