AUGMENTATIVE AND DIMINUTIVE NOUNS.
Augmentativenouns are those that increase the extent of their signification by addingon,ote, orazo, to the masculine nouns, andona,ota, oraza, to the feminine, suppressing their last letter, should it bea,e, oro; as, a boy,un muchacho; a big boy,un muchachon; a girl,una muchacha; a big girl,una muchachona. The terminationazofrequently signifies the blow, or injury caused by the object to which it is added; as, whip,látigo; a very large whip,un latigazo; a stroke with a whip,un latigazo.
Diminutivenouns are formed by addingito,illo,ico, oruelofor the masculine, andita,illa,ica, oruelafor the feminine, to the noun, which suppresses its last letter if it beaore; as, a boy,un muchacho; a little boy,un muchachito,un muchachillo,un muchachuelo; a girl,una muchacha; a little girl,una muchachita,una muchachilla,una muchachuela.
N. B.—The terminations,ito,ita, &c., added to christian names, or those that express relationship, indicate love, affection, and regard towards the object; thus,hermanita, dear sister;Juanito, esteemed John, &c.