Diminutives
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
La niña está durmiendo en su nueva.
The little girl is sleeping in her new little bed.
The rule
" A diminutive can mean something is small (casita, little house), but it just as often adds affection, softness, or politeness. You will hear and read these constantly, and recognising the base word under the ending is essential for vocabulary.
The pattern
The most common ending is -ito/-ita. Add it to the stem of the word.
Words ending in -o drop it: perro becomes perrito, momento becomes momentito.
Words ending in -a drop it: casa becomes casita, mesa becomes mesita.
Words ending in most consonants add -ito directly: papel becomes papelito, árbol becomes arbolito.
Words ending in -n or -r usually take -cito: pan becomes pancito, amor becomes amorcito.
Some words need a spelling change to keep the same sound:
Words ending in -co/-ca use -quito/-quita: poco becomes poquito, chica becomes chiquita.
Words ending in -go/-ga use -guito/-guita: amigo becomes amiguito.
Some regions prefer -ico/-ica (Costa Rica, Colombia) or -illo/-illa (Spain). In reading, treat them the same way: find the base word.
Diminutives are not just about size. Ahorita means "right now" (not "little now"), though in Mexico it can stretch to "soon". Un momentito is a polite way to say "just a moment." Solito means "all alone" with a note of sympathy.
Examples
- Tiene una casita en la playaShe has a little house on the beach
- Espera un momentitoWait just a moment
- El perrito está dormidoThe little dog is asleep
- Dame un poquito de aguaGive me a little bit of water
- Está solita en casaShe is all alone at home
- Ahorita vengoI will be right back
- Quiero un cafecitoI would like a coffee
Watch out
- un pocito de agua. un poquito de agua.Poco changes c to qu before -ito to preserve the k sound.
- la chicita. la chiquita.Same spelling change: c to qu.
- Es mi amigito. Es mi amiguito.Amigo adds a u before -ito to keep the hard g sound.