In Spanish, we have a lot of words, which are diminutives, and a lot of the are used by us like diminutives, although we do not know that. For example: many people do not really know that “Pañuelo” (handkerchief) is the diminutive of “Paño” (cloth). Another word is “Mosquito”, that is the diminutive of “Mosca” (Fly).
We will see diminutives, in Spanish, when we see the terminations: “ito” or “illo”. Illo: for example “Bocadillo” (Sandwich; but not two slice of bread, with lettuce and tomato or ham and cheese, as it is known in England. No, , in Spain, a “Bocadillo” is composed by a piece of baguette or a loaf of bread, cut in half, with ham and cheese or sausage or roast or grilled chicken, or anything else). A “Bocadillo” is really “an small snack”.
Bocadillos del Kortaberri de Zumárraga, by chalo84, at flickr.com
With the same termination in “Illo” is the word: “Canastillo” (Small basket) or “Canastilla” (punnet or small basket. But also Baby gift basket. Canastillo and Canasto, both come from the word “Canasta” (Basket).
Other words: “Bombilla” (Lamp) is really a little bomb. “Cigarrillo” is a little Cigarette.
“Tornillo” (Screw) is the diminutive of “Torno” (Lathe) –because the “tornillo” rotates such as “torno”--.
Another sympathetic word is: “Manecilla” –about the hans of a clock--; it is the little hands of a clock.
The diminutive “Infiernillo” (Little Hell….) has to do with the Hell, where we alwys thought that “It is so hot”. Then, an “Infiernillo” is like a brazier, but more little.
Another curious diminutive: “Ardilla” (Squirrel); originally, this animal was named “Harda”, but time passed and it was named “Arda” and, much more time after, it was named “Ardilla”, till today.
Another interesting word: “Buhardilla”; it is the diminutive of Buharda, that comes from “Buf” –more than a word, “Buf” is a sound, because it is assumed that so is how wind makes into the smokestack. It has happened because, at the beginning it was “Bufar” and it changed to “Buhar”.
Other diminutive is “Camilla” (Stretcher), from “Cama” (Bed). Also: “Mesilla”(Small table), from “Mesa” (Table).
But sometimes, we use diminutives in a pejorative sense; for example: “Listo” is clever, But….”Listillo” is who wants to get more benefit other people, even cheating.
Another very Spanish word is “Castañuelas” (Castanets). Probably it comes from the tree named “Castaño” (Chestnut).
"Castañuelas", by Radio Patchanka
Another curious case: “Lentejuela” (Sequin); it comes from “Lenteja” (Lentil) and this one comes from “Lente” (Lens).
And “Aleta” (Fin) is the diminutive of “Ala” (Wing); it is used so in order to differentiate fishes from birds.
I hope that you have enjoyed with all of those words.
Till soon, kind regards,
Luis.
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