Augmentatives and diminutives
Nouns can be used in augmentatives and diminutives because they accept inflection in degree, and can be referred to in three different sizes: normal, diminutive and augmentative.
The normal degree of the noun indicates the normal size of an object or being.
The diminutive degree of the noun indicates the diminished size of an object or being.
The augmentative degree of the noun indicates the increased size of an object or being.
List with augmentatives and diminutives
| normal degree | diminutive degree | augmentative degree |
|---|---|---|
| bee | bee, bee, bee | bumblebee |
| friend | little friend | friend, friend, friend |
| animal | animal, animal, animal | animal, animal |
| wing | alula, wing, wing | asona |
| bird | poultry, little bird | avejão |
| bullet | candy | bullet, bullet |
| beard | beard, beard, beard | beard |
| barge | nacelle | barge |
| tent | tent, tent | shed |
| noise | noise, noise | noise, noise |
| lip | pout | smack, smack |
| animal | pet | bug, bug |
| moustache | mustache, mustache | mustache, mustache |
| mouth | mouth, mouth | mouth, mouth, mouth |
| head | little head, little head | big head, big head |
| box | box, box, box, box | coffin |
| mug | mug | mug |
| dog | little dog, little dog, little dog, little dog | canzarrão, canaz |
| face | little face | face, face, face |
| House | hut, little house | big house |
| hat | hat, hat, hat, hat | big hat |
| rain | drizzle, drizzle, drizzle | shower |
| to harvest | spoon, spoon | spoonful |
| glass | cup | cup, cup, cup |
| string | string, string | cord |
| body | corpuscle | body, body |
| child | little child | big child |
| finger | little finger | thumb |
| tooth | tooth, tooth | dentola, dentition, dent, dentition |
| do | knife | knife, machete, machete |
| fever | fever | fever |
| party | little party | party, party |
| flower | floret, floret, floret, floret | flower zone |
| fire | little fire | bonfire |
| cat | kitten | cat, cat, cat, cat |
| man | little man, little man, homunculus, little man | big man |
| newspaper | newsboy | newspaper |
| pencil | little pencil | lapsion |
| book | booklet, booklet, booklet, booklet, booklet | book, bookshop |
| Wolf | wolf, wolf, wolf | wolf, wolf |
| monkey | monkey, monkey | overalls |
| suitcase | suitcase, briefcase, pouch | trunk |
| hand | little hand | handle, handle, handle, handle |
| girl | young lady, young lady | mocetone |
| boy | young man, young man | young man |
| mount | mound, mound | mountain |
| woman | little woman, little woman | woman, woman, woman |
| wall | short wall | wall |
| nose | little nose, little nose | nose, nose, nose, nose |
| paper | paper, paper, paper, paper | cardboard |
| paw | paw | pathor |
| foot | little foot, little foot | big Foot |
| stone | gravel | Boulder |
| door | hatch, hatch | gate |
| boy | boy, boy, boy, boy, boy | big boy |
| rock | little rock | rock |
| living room | room, room, room | Hall |
| scissors | earwig | scythe |
| glass | bottle | windowpane |
| voice | little voice, little voice | voicer, voicer |
Augmentative and diminutive formation process
Nouns in the augmentative and diminutive grades are formed, mainly, by joining augmentative and diminutive suffixes to a word in the normal grade: nose – nose – narigão.
They can also be formed by joining adjectives that indicate increase or decrease: nose – big nose – small nose.
Augmentative and diminutive adjectives
| Augmentative adjectives | diminutive adjectives |
|---|---|
| huge enormous immense colossal gigantic enormous enormous huge immense vast |
small tiny tiny tiny tiny diminutive small insignificant reduced |
Other examples of diminutive nouns
- village: hamlet, hamlet
- tree: arbuscule, tree, little tree
- flag: flag, flag
- barrel: barrel, barrel
- truck: pickup truck
- belt: scintillation
- cross: cross
- devil: imp
- sword: sword
- statue: figurine
- lighthouse: lighthouse, lighthouse
- farm: farm, farm
- son: little boy
- ribbon: ribbon
- leaf: leaflet, leaflet
- chicken: chicken
- rooster: galispo
- globe: globule
- drop: droplet
- grain: granule
- island: islet, islet
- indio: indiozinho, indiozito
- newspaper: newspaper
- slab: slab
- tongue: tongue
- dating: flirt
- node: nodule
- nucleus: nucleolus
- egg: egg, egg
- palace: mansion
- part: particle
- skin: film
- poem: poem
- portion: porziuncula
- question: spat
- root: radicle, radicle
- network: reticle
- king: ruler, little king
- river: brook, rivulet, rivulet
- street: alley
- bag: saquitel, sachet
