Spanish Diminutives
Diminutives
- Making it Smaller
If you listen to Spanish enough,
you’ll notice that little endings are often
added to words. These little endings are used to indicate that something
is “little”, or somehow “LESS” of whatever the
word is. These endings end in O or A depending on the original word’s
ending. You'll also listen to "ecito" or "ecita" (A
general rule is that words ending in a consonant or "e" become
"ECITO" or "ECITA").
payaso
clown |
= payasito
little
clown |
 |
beso
kiss |
= besito
little
kiss |
chica
small
(feminine) |
= chiquita
very small
(feminine) |
niña
girl |
= niñita
little
girl |
Click
to listen to an mp3
Practice saying the below words
out load - remember correct pronunciation! (if you've forgotten the rules
of natural stress, look
here)
"ito" |
"ecito" |
"ita" |
"ecita" |
| trabajito |
Juancito |
plumita |
mamecita |
| loquito |
lugarcito |
casita |
almohadecita |
| librito |
avecito |
tortillita |
carnecita |
|
Worksheet/Activity:
Spanish
Diminutives
Quiz: Diminutives
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