Diminutivos y Aumentativos (not yet recorded)

Bestiecita - little beast

Bestiezuela - little beast

Chiquito - little child

Chiquitín - little child

Florecita - little flower

Florecilla - little flower

Hombrón - big, tall man

Hombrote - big, tall man

Hombracho - big, tall man

Hombrachón - big, tall man

Hombrazo - big, tall man

Hombronazo - big, tall man

Juanito - little John

Labradorcito - little labourer

Lagarto: Lagartija - little lizard

Lío: Liecito - little bundle

Librón - large, big book

Librazo - large, big book

Libracho - large, big book

Librote - large, big book

Llavín - little key, latchkey

Manuel: Manolo - little Manuel

Manuel: Manolito - little Manuel

Madrecita - little mother

Madrecica - little mother

Pajarraco (big bird) - disparaging

Papelón - large paper

Plazoleta - little square

Reinecita - little queen

Tamborcito[214] - little drum

Tamborcico - little drum

We repeat that the peculiarity of Augmentative and Diminutive terminations (with the exception of the Augment. on, which denotes only increase) is that besides the idea of increase or diminution a further disparaging or endearing meaning is implied although not distinctly defined.

These terminations in many cases substitute the use of adjectives to great advantage, and are largely used by Spaniards, especially the diminutives which, for this reason, should be carefully noticed.

A diminutive noun can also be further qualified by an adjective, as:

• Mi padre me regaló este gracioso librito
  My father made me a present of this pretty little book.

Diminutives can be made of Augmentatives and vice-versa:

• Escoba (broom), Escobilla, Escobillón
• Sala (drawing-room), Salón, Saloncillo

If a masculine noun ends in a its diminutive also ends in a:

Un drama - drama	Un dramita
Un poema - poem	Un poemita

But not nouns that indicate male persons:

Papá - Papa

Papaíto -

Although ón and ote are generally augmentative terminations, in the following words and a few more, they are used as diminutives:

Calle - street	Callejón - narrow street, alley
Carro - cart	Carretón - little cart
Isla - island	Islote - little barren island
Torre - tower	Torrejón - turret

Besides Augmentative and Diminutive terminations, there are some terminations which, without indicating increase or decrease, are used to indicate disparagement pure and simple:

Calducho - bad broth

Gentualla - mob

Gentuza - insignificant people

Libraco - nasty book

Madrastra - step-mother

Medicastro - bad doctor

Mujeruca - old wife, gossip

Poetastro - bad poet

The Augmentative and Diminutive terminations (especially the latter) are found added to adjectives and, although more rarely, to other parts of speech also. They must be learnt by practice, however, as they cannot be used indiscriminately.

• El picarillo (picaruelo) quiere el otro cuello que es más blanquito.
  The little rogue wants the other collar which is nice and clean (lit., whiter).

• Como me gusta la blanca nieve acabadita de caer.
  How pretty is the snow just newly fallen.

• Mira á aquella chica tan bien vestidita de azul.
  Look at that little girl so prettily dressed in blue.

• Vino callandito.
  He came in as quietly as a mouse.

• Vive cerquita de nuestra casa.
  He lives quite close to our house.

• Poquito á poco hila la vieja el copo (proverb).
  Little by little the old woman spins her distaff (Slow and sure wins the race).

Translation of the English "ish" after colours:

Amarillento - yellowish

Azulado - bluish

Azulino - bluish

Blanquecino - whitish

Morenito - brownish

Que tira á moreno - brownish

Negruzco - blackish

Pardusco - greyish

Que tira á pardo ó gris - greyishbr

Rojizo - reddish

Verdoso - greenish

Verdusco - greenish

Notice also:

Anaranjado - orange-coloured

Avellanado - nut-coloured, tawny

Celeste - sky-blue

Dorado - golden

Pajizo - straw-coloured

Perlino - pearl-coloured

Plateado - silvery

Rosado - rose-coloured, pink, rosy

Terreo - ashen-pale

Trigueño - brown, wheat-coloured