Adding a Little Extra Sweetness
In Spanish, add the diminutive endings -ito or -ita to a word to indicate small size or express affection. Just drop the final -o or -a and add the ending that matches its gender.
| My little granddaughter gave me a little kiss. | Mi nietita me dio un besito. |
| Have you seen my little grandson in the bakery? | ¿Has visto a mi nietito en la panadería? |
Small Portions and Softening Requests
Diminutives are very common when talking about food, drinks, or making requests. Using -ito or -ita makes a sentence sound softer, friendlier, and less demanding.
| I want a little slice of bread with a little bit of jam. | Quiero una rebanadita de pan con un poquito de mermelada. |
For example, un rato (a while) becomes un ratito (a little while).
| The grandfather rested for a little while with his little grandson. | El abuelo descansó un ratito con su nietito. |
Emphasizing Adjectives and Adverbs
Spanish also uses diminutives on adjectives and adverbs. Rather than meaning "a little," this adds a cozy emphasis, like saying something is "nice and soft" or "nice and slow."
| This little candy is very soft. | Este caramelito es muy suavecito. |
| We walk very slowly for a little while. | Caminamos muy despacito un ratito. |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io
