adding "ito" and "cito"

Question

Why do they say perrito and pajarito but cafecito?/ When do you add "ito" and when do you add "cito" to make things tiny? Is there some rule or just random?

Hi nif, please respect the rule for correct spelling on this site. - 00494d19, May 18, 2010

Answer 1

If the word ends in an unstressed A, O, or any consonant besides N or R, then it gets and -ito or -illo usually

Perrito, Amiguito, Carrito, Chiquito, Gatito, Miguelito

If the word ends in a stressed or unstressed e, i, u; a stressed A or O; or an N or R, then it gets a -cito or -cillo usually.

Cafecito, Juancito, mamacita, pobrecito, jovencito

But sometimes you just get odd ones like Pueblecito for small town that don't make sense

gracias! - natalie2014, May 18, 2010

nlf: To be fair I think you should un-accept my answer and accept this one, it's much better for people looking for the answer in future. - Richard-Thomas, May 18, 2010

Answer 2

Just guessing here but it possibly depends on whether the original word ends with a vowel. Try saying "perrcito" or "cafeito" aloud - they just don't work.

but perro and cafe both end in vowels...? - natalie2014, May 18, 2010

I guess the difference is that the final 'o' is dropped from perro, then ito is added. If you kept the 'o' and added cito I don't think anybody would mis-understand you. - Richard-Thomas, May 18, 2010

Answer 3

My name is Ian but very soon after arriving here some people started calling me Iancito and not Ianito. I didn't even notice the "C" to begin with.

I don't know about other countries but in Bolivia almost anything can have an "ito" added to it. Coca Cola becomes Coca Colito for example.

I have a friend who calls himself Coco so now I call him him Cococolito.

Some people add "ito" to the point of being annoying. I guess they think it's cute. - KevinB, May 18, 2010