In language structure, a diminutive,[1] or diminutive form (abbreviated dim) , is a formation of a word used to convey a slight degree of the root meaning, smallness of the object or quality named, encapsulation, intimacy, or endearment.[2][3] It is the opposite of an augmentative.
While many languages apply the grammatical diminutive to nouns, a few also use it for adjectives and even other parts of speech.
Diminutives are often used for the purpose of expressing affection (see nickname and hypocoristic). In many languages, the meaning of diminution can be translated "tiny" or "wee", and diminutives are used frequently when speaking to small children; adult people sometimes use diminutives when they express extreme tenderness and intimacy by behaving and talking like children. (See Apocopation).
In some languages, diminutives are formed in a regular way by adding affixes to nouns and proper names; in English the alteration of meaning is often conveyed through clipping, either alone or combined with an affix.[1] English diminutives tend to be shorter and more colloquial than the basic form of the word; diminutives formed by adding affixes in other languages are often longer and not necessarily colloquial.
In many languages, formation of diminutives by adding suffixes is a productive part of the language.[2] All nouns, not just proper nouns can be diminuted. The word "diminutive" is used in a narrower and less vague sense here than when referring to English. The basic meaning of diminution in these languages is "smallness of the object named"; endearment, intimacy, etc. is secondary and dependent on context. For example, the name of one the last Roman emperors of the western part of the Roman Empire—Romulus Augustus—was diminuted to Romulus Augustulus (little Augustus) to emphasise the contrast between the grandness of the name and political insignificance of its bearer; in this case the connotation of diminution is derogatory, not endearing.
Lithuanian is known for its array of diminutive forms. Diminutives are generally constructed with suffixes applied to the noun stem. By far, the most common are those with -elis/-elė or -ėlis/-ėlė. Others include: -ukis/-ukė, -ulis/-ulė, -užis/-užė, -utis/-utė, -ytis/-ytė, etc. Suffixes may also be compounded, e.g.: -užis + -ėlis → -užėlis. In addition to denoting small size and/or endearment, they may also function as amplificatives (augmentatives), pejoratives (deterioratives), and to give special meanings, depending on context.[4] Lithuanian diminutives are especially prevalent in poetic language, such as folk songs. Examples:
Bulgarian has an extended diminutive system.
Masculine nouns have a double diminutive form. The first suffix that can be added is -че, (-che). At this points the noun has become neuter, because of the -e ending. The -нце, (-ntse) suffix can further extend the diminutive (It is still neuter, again due to the -e ending). A few examples:
Feminine nouns can have up to three different, independent forms (though some of them are used only in colloquial speech):
Note, that the suffixes can be any of -ка (-ka), -чка (-chka), and -ца (-tsa).
Neuter nouns can have only one diminutive suffix -ntse.
Serbo-Croatian uses suffixes -ić, -čić for diminutives of masculine nouns, -ica for feminine nouns and names, and -ce, -ašce for neuter nouns.
Feminine:
Masculine:
Neuter:
In Czech diminutives are formed by suffixes, as in other Slavic languages. Common endings include -ka, -ko, -ek, -ík, -inka, -enka, -ečka, -ička, -ul-, -unka, -íček, -ínek etc. The choice of suffix may depend on the noun's gender as well as the degree of smallness/affection that the speaker wishes to convey.
Czech diminutives can express smallness, affection, and familiarity. Hence, "Julka" may well mean "our", "cute", "little" or "beloved" Julia. Diminutives can be diminished further by adding another suffix. E.g.: "Júlie" (Julia) → "Julka" (little Julia) → "Júlinka" (very little Julia).
Every noun has a grammatically-correct diminutive form, regardless of the sense it makes. This is sometimes used for comic effect, for example diminuting the word "obr" (giant) to "obřík" (little giant).
Some examples. Note the various stem mutations due to palatalisation, vowel shortening or vowel lengthening:
/-ka/ (feminine noun forms)
/-ko/ (neuter noun forms)
/-ek/ (masculine noun forms)
/-ík/
In Polish diminutives can be formed of nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and some other parts of speech. They literally signify physical smallness or lack of maturity, but usually convey attitude, in most cases affection. In some contexts, they may be condescending or ironic. Diminutives can cover a significant fraction of child's speech during the time of language acquisition.[5]
For adjectives and adverbs, diminutives in Polish are grammatically separate from comparative forms.
There are multiple affixes used to create the diminutive. Some of them are -ka, -czka, -śka, -szka, -cia, -sia, -unia, -enka, -lka for feminine nouns and -ek, -yk, -ciek, -czek, -czyk, -szek, -uń, -uś, -eńki, -lki for masculine words, and -czko, -ko for neuter nouns, among others.
The diminutive suffixes may be stacked to create forms going even further, for example, malusieńki is considered even smaller than malusi or maleńki. Similarly, koteczek (little kitty) is derived from kotek (kitty), which is itself derived from kot (cat). Note that in this case, the suffix -ek is used twice, but changes to ecz once due to palatalization.
In many cases, the possibilities for creation of diminutives are seemingly endless and leave place to create many neologisms. Some examples of common diminutives:
Russian has a wide variety of diminutive forms for names, to the point that for non-Russian speakers it can be difficult to connect a nickname to the original. Diminutive forms for nouns are usually distinguished with -ik, -ok (-yok) (masculine gender), -chk-, -shk-, -on’k- or -en'k- suffixes. For example, voda (вода;, 'water') becomes vodichka (водичка, 'little water'), kot (кот, 'male cat') becomes kotik (котик), koshka (кошка, 'female cat') becomes koshechka (кошечка), solntse (солнце, 'sun') becomes 'solnyshko' (солнышко). Often there are many diminutive forms: mama (мама, 'mum') becomes mamochka (мамочка), mamen'ka (маменька), etc.
A number of diminutives have a separate and sometimes metaphoric meaning; the word "vodka" (водка) literally means 'little water', and limonka (лимонка, 'little lemon') can signify a pear or a hand grenade.
Adjectives and adverbs can also have diminutive forms with suffix -en’k-: siniy (синий, 'blue') becomes sinen'kiy (синенький), bystro (быстро, 'quickly') becomes bystren'ko (быстренько). Some diminutives of proper names, among many others:
Feminine
Masculine
In the Irish language diminutives are formed by adding án/ín.
In Scottish Gaelic diminutives are used much more frequently than in English. This is a feature that it shares with Scots language, and may have influenced, the suffixes "-ag" and "-ock" in that language.