Diminutives & Augmentatives

Question

For diminutives, the endings -ito (-cito, -ecito), -illo (-cillo, -ecillo), -uelo (-zuelo, -ezuelo) imply smallness. While on the other hand, the ending -on (ona) and -ote indicates largeness. So my question is this: How do you know what ending to use for a word? For example, chico (for boy) turns to chiquillo (for little boy); so why not use -ito and turn it to chiquito? Because then you have un poco (for a little) that turns to un poquito (for a little bit); so why is -ito used for this word?

Also, -ito often implies attractiveness or admiration; while -illo and -uelo implies unattractiveness or depreciation, so should be used with care. Can someone give some example sentences for the "unattractiveness or depreciation" implication?

Answer 1

How do you know what ending to use for a word?

The suffix -ito is by far the most common, but -illo is also used when things are, in our view, really small. Both can be used to show appreciation (but they can be used with sarcasm too): chiquito, chiquillo, Manolito, Manolillo... "Listillo", for example, is often interpreted derogatorily. The suffix -(ez)uelo is less common, and it can be both diminutive and a pejorative (e.g. mujerzuela). Beside these, there are other less common ones, like the regional -ico (e.g. bonico), or -ete (e.g. chavalete), and with more restrictions,-in (e.g. chavalín). There are more diminutive suffixes, but all the others are also pejorative.

There are no fixed rules for the use of these suffixes, for they are all subjective and cultural dependent.

Answer 2

You can watch this video lesson Diminutives