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Ese muchachito es mi primo.

Ese muchachito es mi primo.
That little boy is my cousin.
From Lesson 149:Diminutives (-ito / -ita)·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about Ese muchachito es mi primo.

How do we get muchachito from muchacho?
To make a word diminutive (to show it is small or to sound affectionate), we drop the final -o or -a and add -ito or -ita. Since muchacho (boy) ends in -o, we drop it and add -ito to make muchachito (little boy).
Why is it Ese instead of Eso for "that"?
Ese is the masculine singular word for "that" when it describes a specific masculine noun, like muchachito. Eso is a neutral word used for abstract ideas or unknown objects (like saying "What is that?"), so it is never placed directly in front of a noun.
Why do we use es instead of está?
We use the verb ser (which gives us es) for identity and family relationships. Since being a cousin is a fixed relationship, we use es. The verb estar (está) is mostly used for temporary states, feelings, or locations.
Does muchachito always mean the boy is physically small?
Not necessarily! While it translates to "little boy", the -ito ending often just adds a tone of affection or endearment. You might call a younger cousin a muchachito even if he is quite tall for his age, simply because you still see him as a kid.

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