"Diminutives in Spanish"; Spanish lessons Beginner /Intermediate/Advanced.
Suffixes as diminutives in Spanish.
Spanish speakers frequently use the diminutive suffixes such as -ito not only to indicate size but also to make a word less harsh or to indicate affection. Just as you can imagine someone referring to a 6-foot-tall adult son as "my little boy" or to a full-grown beloved pet as a "doggy," so it is that the Spanish diminutives, although often translated using the English word "little," often indicate more about the speaker's feelings toward the person or object than to its size.
The most common Spanish diminutive suffixes are -ito and -cito along with their feminine equivalents, -ita and -cita. In theory, these suffixes can be added to almost any noun, and they are sometimes used with* adjectives and adverbs* as well. The rules aren't hard and fast as to which suffix is used; the tendency is that words ending in -a, -o *or -te* form the diminutive by dropping the final vowel and adding -ito or -ita, while -cito or -ecito is added to other words.
Spanish speakers frequently use the diminutive suffixes such as -ito not only to indicate size but also to make a word less harsh or to indicate affection. Just as you can imagine someone referring to a 6-foot-tall adult son as "my little boy" or to a full-grown beloved pet as a "doggy," so it is that the Spanish diminutives, although often translated using the English word "little," often indicate more about the speaker's feelings toward the person or object than to its size.
The most common Spanish diminutive suffixes are -ito and -cito along with their feminine equivalents, -ita and -cita. In theory, these suffixes can be added to almost any noun, and they are sometimes used with* adjectives and adverbs* as well. The rules aren't hard and fast as to which suffix is used; the tendency is that words ending in -a, -o *or -te* form the diminutive by dropping the final vowel and adding -ito or -ita, while -cito or -ecito is added to other words.
Also commonly used as a diminutive suffix are -illo and -cillo along with their feminine equivalents, -illa and -cilla. Other diminutive suffixes include -ico, -cico, -uelo, -zuelo, -ete, -cete, -ín and -iño along with their feminine equivalents.
Many of these suffixes are more popular in some regions than others. For example, the -ico and -cico endings are quite common in Costa Rica, and its residents are nicknamed ticos as a result.
**The diminutive* suffixes* tend to be a spoken phenomenon of Spanish more than a written one, and they are more common in some areas than others. In general, though, they are used far more than English diminutive endings such as the "-y" or "-ie" of words such as "doggy" or "jammies***."
You should keep in mind some words in diminutive form may not be understood the same way in all areas, and that their meanings can vary with the context in which they are used. Thus the translations given below should be seen as examples only and not as the only translations possible.
Here are the most common ways the diminutive suffixes are used in Spanish:
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)
To provide a nuance of meaning, especially with adjectives and adverbs: ahorita (right now),* cerquita* (right next to),* lueguito* (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: dolorcito (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), caballitos *(merry-go-round), *cabecilla (ringleader),* vaquilla* (heifer), de mentirijillas (as a joke)
Note: The* diminutive -ito* ending should not be confused with the -ito ending of some irregular past participles such as* frito* (fried) and maldito (cursed).
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)
To provide a nuance of meaning, especially with adjectives and adverbs: ahorita (right now),* cerquita* (right next to),* lueguito* (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: dolorcito (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), caballitos *(merry-go-round), *cabecilla (ringleader),* vaquilla* (heifer), de mentirijillas (as a joke)
Note: The* diminutive -ito* ending should not be confused with the -ito ending of some irregular past participles such as* frito* (fried) and maldito (cursed).
5 Answers
Pez---> Pececito (an example of -cito words, usually some words ending in E or Z) .
Ejemplo: ¡Caray! Se me perdió el pececito. - Goodness! I lost my fish.
Just adding a helpful link to a game I ran a few years ago - adding to your very informative link, dear friend.
Diminutives Game for Beginners
Also my contribution:
amigo - amiguito
You have bolsita and bolsito, but left out bolsillo--pocket.
Whoops! I have to apologize. You do have bolsillos.
bosillos vacíos
I will enter my fellow countrywomen Abba's song ' Chiquitita' in this competiton, I give you the Spanish version in this link.
botellita - botella pequeña
(small bottle)relojito - reloj pequeño
(small watch)bolsita - bolsa pequeña (small bag)
bolsito - bolso pequeño
(small bag as in a woman's carrying bag)juguito - jugo pequeño (small juice)
librito - libro pequeño
(small book)muñequita - muñeca pequeña (small doll or small wrist)
.hombrecito - hombre pequeño (small man)
Pajaritos.
