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Spanish suffixes that add size, emotion, or nuance — -ito/-ita (small/endearing) and -ón/-ona/-azo/-aza (large/intense). Use this page to study the core Spanish words, English meanings, part-of-speech labels, and example sentences for this topic.
Review each word with examples and usage notes where available.
casita, perrito, momentito
little house, little dog, just a moment
The most common diminutive. Adds smallness OR affection. Can also soften requests: "¿Un cafecito?" = "Could I have a little coffee?"
Vivimos en una casita en el campo.
We live in a little cottage in the countryside.
¡Qué perrito tan adorable!
What an adorable little dog!
Espera un momentito, por favor.
Wait just a moment, please.
Softens the request. A "momentito" is both smaller and more polite than "un momento".
¿Quieres un cafecito?
Would you like a little coffee?
Ahorita vengo.
I'll be right there (in a moment).
In Mexico, "ahorita" can mean right now, soon, or later — context determines which! A famous source of confusion.
cigarrillo, chiquillo, callejuela
cigarette, kid, little street
Common in Spain (especially Andalusia) and some Latin American regions. Less affectionate than -ito.
casona, solterón, preguntón
big/old house, old bachelor, nosy person
-ón/ona adds size or excess. Can be positive (grandulón = big lad) or pejorative (preguntón = nosy).
Compraron una casona del siglo XIX.
They bought a large 19th-century manor house.
golazo, exitazo, cochazo
great goal, huge success, fancy car
-azo can also mean "a blow/strike with": un codazo = an elbow in the ribs; un portazo = a door slam.
¡Metió un golazo en el último minuto!
He scored an amazing goal in the last minute!
buenísimo, rapidísimo, facilísimo
extremely good, extremely fast, extremely easy
Not strictly a diminutive/augmentative, but a key suffix for expressing intensity. Add to adjective stem: rico → riquísimo.