More than small and big
Endings such as -ito, -ón or -ucho are called alterados. They rarely change only the size. Mostly they show how you feel about something: friendly, tender, softening, admiring, dismissive. English does this with separate words like little, quick, tiny or massive; Spanish builds it into the word.
Softening rather than shrinking
In conversation the diminutive most often softens. A request, a wait or an imposition sounds smaller and so easier to accept. Where English reaches for just, quick or a little, Spanish often uses the diminutive.
Neutral
¿Tienes un momento?
Have you got a moment?
Te quería pedir un favor.
I wanted to ask you a favour.
Softened
¿Tienes un momentito?
Have you got a quick moment?
Te quería pedir un favorcito.
I wanted to ask you a little favour.
Softening, warmth, emphasis
¿Nos tomamos un cafecito?
Shall we grab a coffee?
An invitation, relaxed and friendly.
Mi abuelita cumple noventa años.
My grandma is turning ninety.
Affection, not size.
La farmacia está cerquita.
The pharmacy is really close.
On an adverb, -ito intensifies.
Ahorita te llamo.
I'll call you in a sec.
In Mexico ahorita can mean right now or some time later. Context decides.
Enlarging, admiring, belittling
Viven en una casona de piedra a las afueras.
They live in a big old stone house on the edge of town.
Big and usually impressive.
La obra ha sido un exitazo.
The play has been a huge hit.
-azo intensifies and admires.
¡Vaya cochecito te has comprado!
That's quite a little runabout you've bought yourself!
Ironic, about a big, expensive car.
Pagaba ochocientos euros por un cuartucho sin ventana.
He paid eight hundred euros for a grotty room with no window.
-ucho belittles.
Words that are no longer alterados
Some forms have become words of their own. You can no longer work out their meaning from the base word and the ending.
| Word | Meaning | Not |
|---|---|---|
| palabrota | swear word | big word |
| ventanilla | ticket window, car window | small window |
| sillón | armchair | big chair |
| bolsillo | small bag |
Region and register
In Latin America, especially in Mexico and the Andean countries, you hear diminutives in neutral conversation between adults more often than in Spain. Besides -ito there are regional endings: -illo in Andalusia, -ico in Aragon, Colombia or Costa Rica (un momentico). In formal texts, diminutives with a pragmatic value are usually absent altogether.
