How to "make" something smaller and/or nicer in Spanish? [Oh, yes - diminutives - that's the word]

Question

Let´s take the word

la abuela - grandmother

la abuelita - granny

Is there a pattern?

We use "ito" with masculine nouns and "ita" with feminine?

If I say for instance "la cotorrita" will native speaker know what I mean?

Answer 1

Spanish Diminutives...

• 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)

Also I have heard amigito or amigita for little friend, and also in a meaner way, such as if your boyfriend is talking a another women...¿Quién es tu amigita?

• To provide a nuance of meaning, especially with adjectives and adverbs: ahorita (right now), cerquita (right next to), luegito (quite soon), gordito (chubby)

• To give a friendly tone to a sentence: Un momentito, por favor. (Just a moment, please.) Quisiera un refresquito. (I'd 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: dolorito (tiny ache), mentirita (fib), reyezuelo (petty king), me falta un centavito (I'm 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), cabellitos (merry-go-round), cabecilla (ringleader), vaquilla (heifer), de mentirijillas (as a joke)

More info. http://spanish.about.com/od/nouns/a/diminutives.htm

Answer 2

Paralee gives an excellent explanation in lesson 4:3 on the Learn Spanish Videos. I know I was always uncertain about diminutives, but after taking that lesson, I can understand the pattern now.

This lesson is easy enough to understand, even if you have not reached that level yet. So I would highly recommend it.

Answer 3

Hola Behemoth - the black lovely cat! I think that they will but they may laugh if you make a diminiutive out of their names. Some of them may actually like it.

• Es un gatito muy lindo!! - Nicole-B Oct 12, 2009