A diminutive suffix is a suffix attached to the end of a word to indicate small size, cuteness, familiarity, or even pity or contempt.
Diminutive Suffixes in Spanish
There’s no doubt you’ve heard words like burrito(burrito) and mamacita(mommy, babe), but you might not know that these words use diminutive suffixes!
Diminutive suffixes are attached to a word to indicate small size, cuteness, or familiarity. For example, adding -ito to gato(cat) changes the meaning to kitty(gatito). Diminutive suffixes are also used to show love/affection, pity, irony, humor, ridicule, and deference, as well as to address children and animals.
When using suffixes, don’t forget to follow Spanish gender rules.
Common Diminutive Suffixes in Spanish
Let's take a look at some common diminutive suffixes in Spanish!
Suffix
Where/How to Use It
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
-ito/-ita
With words that end in a vowel, drop the last vowel and add -ito/a. For words ending in a consonant other than n and r, just add -ito/a to the end.
niño(boy) > niñito (little boy)
tamal(tamale) > tamalito (little tamale)
mesa(table) > mesita(little table)
-cito/-cita
Use -cito/a instead of -ito/a for words ending in an accented vowel, n, r, and sometimes e.
mamá(mom) > mamacita(mommy)
pobre(poor) > pobrecito (poor thing)
coche(car) > cochecito(stroller)
-ico/-ica
In some countries, such as Colombia, -ico/a may be used instead of -ito/a.
momento(moment) > momentico(little moment)
-illo/-illa
May be used instead of -ito/a.
pan(bread) > panecillo (bread roll)
calle(street) > callecilla (little street)
-uelo/-uela
For words ending in a vowel, drop the vowel and add -uelo/a. Add -zuelo/a to words that end in an -e or a consonant and -ezuelo/a to words that end in y.
arroyo(stream) > arroyuelo (little stream)
parque(park) > parquezuelo (little park)
-ín/-ina
For words ending in a vowel, drop the vowel and add -ín/-ina.
tonto(silly) > tontín (silly goose)
pequeño(little one) > pequeñín(little kid
Spelling Changes with Diminutives
There are three major spelling changes to be aware of when adding a diminutive suffix to a word.
Here are some examples:
Change
Example
If the last consonant is c, change it to qu before adding -ito.
chico> chiquito
If the last letter is z, change it to c before adding -ecito.
pez> pececito
If the word ends in go or ga, drop the o/a and add a u before adding -ito.
manga> manguita
Let’s take a look at some examples!
examples
Mishermanitasson muy pesadas.
My little sisters are so annoying.
Voy a comprarme unbarquito.
I'm going to buy myself a little boat.
Amorcito,no llores.
Don’t cry, sweetie.
Ayuda a esaviejecitaa cruzar la calle.
Help that little old lady cross the street.
Espérate unmomentico.
Hold on a moment.
No me puedo creer que hayas estado enfermo por tres semanas.¡Pobrecito!
I can’t believe you’ve been sick for three weeks. You poor thing!
Lamujercillanunca salía de la casa.
The miserable little woman never left her house.
Elreyezuelofue destronado.
The kinglet was dethroned.
Me encantan mucholos chiquitines.
I just love little babies.
Remember that suffixes must always agree with the original gender and number of a noun or adjective.
For example:
examples
un torito
a small bull
una vaquita
a small cow
dos gatitos chiquitos
two small cats
una ballena chiquita
a small whale
Let’s Get Regional: Local Variations
Let’s take a look at a selection of some of the diminutives used in Spain!
-Ico in Central-Eastern Spain
While the diminutive-ico is used in parts of Latin America, such as Colombia, CostaRica, Cuba, and Venezuela, it’s also quite popular in central-eastern Spain, including Andalucía, Aragón, Murcia, and Navarra.
examples
¿Sabías que Enrique tiene un hermanico?
Did you know Enrique has a little brother?
Dame un poquico más de café.
Give me a little bit more coffee.
-Ino in Central-Western Spain
-Ino is a diminutive that is used in central-western Spain.
examples
¿Quieres un poquino de agua?
Do you want a little bit of water?
Manda un abracino a tu padre de mi parte.
Send your father a hug from me.
-Iño in Galicia
Although Galiciahas its own language, gallego(Galician), the Galician diminutive -iño has also worked its way into Spanish!
examples
Un besiño, Marta. Nos vemos la semana que viene.
A kiss, Marta. See you next week.
El bebé tiene un mesiño.
The baby is just a month old.
-Txu and -Txo
Although they're not typically used in Spanish, -txu and -txo are two of the most common diminutives you’ll hear in PaísVasco(Basque Country). They occasionally make their way into Spanish conversations via their loving application to people’s names Josetxu, Carmentxuor when little kids address their moms using the Basque word ama(mom) to say amatxu(mama). Many Spanish-speaking families choose to use the Basque terms ama for mom and aitafor dad, depending on what each parent prefers.
examples
Invité a Carmentxu a la fiesta.
I invited Carmen to the party.
¡Amatxu! ¿Dónde está mi mochila?
Mom! Where’s my backpack?
-Uco in Cantabria
Although the vast majority of diminutives used in Spain start with i, the north-central region of Cantabriabucks the trend with its u. In this tiny region, folks use -uco as a diminutive. In Cantabria, you may give a friend a besuco(little kiss) when you see them, or tell your neighbor that their niñuco(little kid) is adorable. The suffix -uco is so Cantabrian, that many even refer to the region as laTierruca(the Little Country).
examples
Mi abuela ha adoptado dos perrucos preciosos.
My grandma adopted two adorable puppies.
Dale un besuco a tu tía.
Give your auntie a little kiss.
Finally, let's take a look at some more words that have diminutive suffixes:
Spanish
English
el abuelito
the grandpa
el amiguete
the buddy
el arbolillo
the little tree
el arroyuelo
the little stream
bonico
nice
el bolsín
the little purse
el caminín
the little path
la camita
the little bed
la cancioncica
the little song
el carrito
the cart
la casita
the little house
el cebollín
the chives
la florecica
the little flower
el gatito
the kitten
el jardincín
the little garden
el jovenzuelo
the youngster
el librete
the little book
el librillo
the booklet
la llovizna
the drizzle
un momentico
a little moment
la neblina
the mist
la niñita
the little girl
la orejilla
the little ear
la patica
the little paw
el pastelillo
the pastry
un platico
the little plate
el pececillo
the little fish
el perrito
the puppy
pequeñuela
little one
el piececico
the little foot
la piedrecilla
the little stone
el puebluco
the little village
un ratillo
a little while
el riachuelo
the stream
el rinconcete
the little corner
la sillita
the little chair
el sobrinín
the little nephew
la tierruca
the little land
la vaquita
the little cow
la ventanina
the little window
el ventanuco
the little window
el viejico
the old man
Want to learn more about Spanish pronunciation and other Spanish relevant topics? Check out the following articles!
