Diminutives and Augmentatives

Diminutives and Augmentatives

1. Diminutives are frequently used by Spanish Speakers

2. Most used by women than men.

3. Most common suffixes used with the diminutve

   • -ito, -illo, -cillo
   • -uelo, -zuelo, -ezuelo
   • -ico, -cico, -ecico

4. Distinction between diminutives and words that merely end with diminutive suffix

   • Maquinilla (razor)
   • Experience and context
     • Casita could be "little house" or "home, sweet home"

5. The nuances of attitude of the speaker or writer

   • Difference of agression toward the object as much as of degree
     • "Homely" vs "seriously ugly"
   • Endearment or familiarity
     • Pedrito, Juanito (Petey, Jhonny)
   • Tone down any perception of insult
     • "No seas malito" (Please in English)
   • A gerund could take a diminutive
     • Vine corriendito = I came as fast as I could

6. English will sometimes abbreviate attenuations

   • Momentito > "Just a sec"

7. The diminutive "Ahorita"

   • Depending on the country, the speaker and the linguistic context
     • Right away, a little later, now
     • A short while ago

8. Augmentatives could be added in certain historical contexts

   • Bogotazo and fujimorazo
     • Background research in translation
     • A word belongs to a local context and will not appear in general dictionary

9. Words that cannot be found in a dictionary which need context in order for them to be understood

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