AUGMENTATIVES AND DIMINUTIVES[213]

[Footnote 213: The terminations ón and ito or ico may be taken by
practically all nouns (avoiding cacophony, as: Pantalonón,
habitacionóna, etc.); the others may not and consequently should not be
used by students, until learnt by practice.]

Bestiecita (little beast)
Bestiezuela (little beast) (disparaging)
Chiquito (little child)
Chiquitín (little child)
Florecita (little flower)
Florecilla (little flower) (insignificant)
Hombrón (big, tall man)
Hombrote (big, tall man) (disparaging)
Hombracho (big, tall man) (disparaging)
Hombrachón (big, tall man) (disparaging)
Hombrazo (big, tall man) (disparaging)
Hombronazo (big, tall man) (disparaging)
Juanito (little John)
Labradorcito (little labourer)
Lagarto--Lagartija (little lizard)
Lío--Liecito (little bundle)
Librón (large, big book)
Librazo (large, big book) (disparaging)
Libracho (large, big book) (disparaging)
Librote (large, big book) (disparaging)
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)

[Footnote 214: Ito is more Castillian. Ico is more Aragonese. They
are both used.]

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.

EXAMPLES--

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 (greyish)
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)